I’ve traveled a lot throughout my 21 years of life. From traveling domestically with my family to traveling internationally by myself, I’ve had many different experiences. With my first solo trip within the United States in at least a year, I started to notice the things that always make the cut in my suitcase, no matter where I travel (or really it’s the things I’ve had to go buy at QFC, because I realized I couldn’t live without them). So, without further ado, here are 8 things I have noticed that I can’t live without on my travels.
- Dry Shampoo
Bathing is different in every culture. It is very much dependent on the weather, the availability of resources and the cost of said resources. To paint a picture, here are some of my experiences. When I was in Morocco, I took a shower every three to four days (Don’t worry, this was normal). This was because water is expensive. Additionally, women in Morocco typically go to public baths called Hammams (public baths that are essentially like big saunas) once a week or so. In Senegal, it was a little different. We were told that Senegalese take showers up to two or three times a day, because it’s so hot. However, water is also expensive there. I also was not a fan of the combination of wet hair and humidity (there’s nothing like laying down on my bed with wet hair in an already 80 degree room). Lastly, on the farm, we have a well where our water comes from, and we have a lot of it. But sometimes it’s cold and I don’t want to have a wet head. Biodegradable shampoo often does not agree with my hair either. For all these situations, dry shampoo does the trick.
- Travel Towel
Normal towels are bulky. They take up a chunk of your packing space that could be dedicated towards something else. Plus, when you get them wet, you must let them completely dry, otherwise they will smell like mildew. The solution to all of this is a travel towel! Travel towels are thin and roll up to nothing, leaving more space for other necessary items in your luggage. They are super absorbent and dry quickly, so if you use it the morning before you leave, you can pack it once it dries. I purchased mine from Liedl, in their special items section. It’s huge and I’ve used it to double as a beach towel too, because it’s so easy to clean. Highly recommend!
- Aloe Vera
I always forget to pack aloe vera. This is the worst to forget, because typically, I am traveling to a sunny place where I will be outside all the time. Despite the fact my mother constantly reminds me to put on sunscreen, I get burned a lot. A lot. Aloe is great to have as it cools your skin after being in the sun all day. It prevents peeling, which is the best, because I hate that more than anything. I usually just buy the store brand aloe vera and it works just fine!
- Electrical Tape
Those who know me know about my infamous electrical tape. I don’t intentionally bring it along with me, it just happens to be in the pocket of my purple backpack. It’s usually forgotten about until I suddenly need it. The story with the electrical tape is that it was a gift from a friend my junior year of high school after I joined Drumline as a cymbals player. I used it to wrap my fingers when they were still delicate and prone to blisters after gripping the straps for so long. I have taken this electrical tape to the Dominican Republic twice, to Morocco, to Senegal and now to the farm in Washington. It’s fixed broken flipflops, torn rainboots, posted papers to walls, taped things into journals and planners, and probably more things that I am forgetting about. I also learned that it’s what you use to fix T tape, which is essentially what carries the water through the beds of crops. Electrical tape, however, is only used to fix small holes. This is accurate, because while electrical tape isn’t a permanent solution to my problems, it can fix small ones temporarily (I tend to offer it as a solution no matter what, however).
- Chacos
Chacos are the most indestructible shoes I have ever owned. I had wanted them for a while, but they were so expensive, but my dad got them for me for Christmas two years ago. I wear them with everything. And I wear them everywhere. My Chacos have tripped over the brick pathways of Allegheny College, stumbled over the uneven sidewalks of the medina, sunk into the sand of the Sahara Desert (I think there is probably still sand from the desert embedded into the strap holes, meant to be there forever), trekked all over Dakar (I eventually gave up on wearing any other shoes in Senegal, because they would be destroyed within one 35 minute walk to school), slapped by tall grass on a motorcycle, and squished into an ambulance to 7 surrounding villages for vaccination rounds, trellised tomatoes, transplanted crops and been caked in dirt all at the same time. And they are still in almost perfect condition. When I have to buy new ones (hopefully never, because these Chacos have been through everything with me), I will probably cry. They can double as work shoes, farming shoes, adventure shoes, dress shoes, water shoes, whatever you want shoes. I love my Chacos and you will too.
- Journal
This is the most important item on any travel. Traveling is filled with new experiences, which comes with a lot of emotions and things that need to be processed. Personally, I can’t do it in my head. I must write it out to understand what I am going through. In Morocco, I wrote every single day before bed to record what I did, how I felt about it and why. I struggled in Morocco, because I was challenged to think about service in ways I hadn’t before, and it was hard. Writing it all out helped me later understand my purpose in being there and the lessons that I needed to learn to take forward with me in new experiences. In addition to all of that, I also have a written record of my time in Morocco that I will be able to keep forever. I haven’t read it yet, but one day I will. I encourage anyone who is going on any new experience, whether it’s to summer camp or to a new country or even just everyday life to find a way to keep a record of what’s going on. You’ll thank yourself later.
- Small gifts
Someone recently asked me about what I wish I would have taken to Senegal with me. And my answer was small gifts. Yes, I brought gifts to my host families, which is always important. They are opening their home to you and treating you as part of their family. But I also wished that I had brought other small things to give away to people that I got to know along the way. Those who I had built relationships with, whether it was someone from work or someone I had met and appreciated throughout my time in a certain place. In Senegal, it would have been the doctor and nurse that I worked with. My friend who was studying to be a pharmacist, who took me to the pharmacy and taught me about it. My other friend who was a senior in high school but would always practice English and Wolof with me at the health post. These individuals who were kind to me and who became my friends. Small gifts can include things from your home state, candy or food from the United States. Just enough to say thank you for their kindness and friendship.
- A book
Over the past year, my Dad has given me a different book to correspond with the travels that I was going on. For Morocco, I read Out of Africa. For Senegal, I read The Good Earth. For Washington, I have Walden (Or I am trying to get through it). These books are always the best, because I usually find something in each of these books that reminds me of what I am experiencing or reminds me of the place I am in. Books are great for long rides in various modes of transportation. But they are also great for trading with friends. When I was traveling on the weekends in Morocco, the friends I was with would often trade books to read and discuss them. It’s a good way to connect and create conversation. (If you need some recommendations, check out my last blog post here!)
Of course, there are more things I can’t live without, but these are ones that have been consistent throughout my travels. What are some things you can’t travel without?
Sweet Tea & Suitcases 