I'm going through another OCD moment here. Anyone who knows Bree van de Kamp (now Hodge, since remarrying) of Desperate Housewives knows what I'm talking about.
As I'm leaving next month for yet another stretch of European immersion, the stress of travel preps is slowly creeping in. Unlike my husband who flies almost every year both out of and around the country, I am not a frequent flyer. Prior to last year, the last time I boarded a plane was in 2004 -- my first time to go abroad. This will be my second time to go out of the country and visit the continent and my experience four years ago is definitely an advantage. I'm extra mindful of the culture and environment, the climate especially, and the clothes that will go along with it.
Yes, I am not into luggages. Anything that involves packing bags to me is a horrible nightmare. So what I did four years ago was to list down all my travel essentials in a handy notebook, which I started doing about a month before my trip. I noted down all personal effects that came into my mind practically everyday until I've had it all in the bag! I was scared of some things that I might forget. As early as three months before the trip, I already purchased a huge luggage. That's how obsessive-compulsive I was.
And now, I'm at it again. I remember that small notebook very well and I know I stowed it away somewhere. Vincent tells me to just forget about it and make another checklist, but I stubbornly insisted on sticking to it because I know I can never come up with another one like it. And so for days, I have been turning stuffs upside down around the house. I even went back to my cousins' house one day and burrowed my head down on all my stuffs that I have yet to move out from there, but the quest was in vain.
I haven't given up on it, though. This morning, I saw one storage box that I haven't checked out yet. I had a strong feeling that it could be in there. And eureka! My husband's head was shaking left and right while I was taking pictures of my precious notebook, page by page. Hahaha!
TOILETRIES --
CLOTHES --
"Why do you need to bring three pairs of pajamas?! One is enough!" My Chilean friend gushed when he saw this on the list.
PERSONAL EFFECTS --
Tabo (dipper) is a must bring must have!
"Have you seen Europe in the map?!" (as brownouts are taboo in developed countries), again asked by my bewildered Chilean friend.
"That's my security blanket," I told him.
SALVAGE GOODS --
At least I had something stacked away to eat before seeing the supermarkets there.
MEDICINES --
One thing I learned is that these things are expensive in their local pharmacies.
ACCESSORIES --
I didn't have a digital camera back then.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS --
I brought lots and lots of ID pictures and photocopies of original documents, and I sure didn't regret bringing them along.
SCHOOL AND LEISURE STUFFS --
Denise and Vincent actually did the packing for me at that time. This one was Denise' handwriting (lola, naalala mo pa ba 'to?). She listed down all that should be stuffed in both the large and small luggages.
I can sleep well now. I have THE notebook! Weeeeee!!! :-)
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