Winding down

The day is winding down and it’s been a hot one in Michigan. We started with breakfast on the patio – before the heat began to rise. Then about ten we opted for turning on the air conditioning for the first time this year.

One of the bedrooms has been the collection point all week for the “stuff” that will go. Today was the day to vanquish the piles. First I collected all the extra teaching supplies and gifts for administrators and university people and stuffed them in the bag that will go with Kris. Trail mix, herbal teas, note cards, novelty buttons, and a stack of university view books and marketing materials from schools around the USA. Then markers, tape, glue sticks, scissors, paper cutter, rulers, travel brochures for posters. All the stuff that makes education fun, and that won’t be readily available for us on the other side.

Our suite becomes the team office while we’re in China. A local friend brings his printer year after year and we set up shop. Nearby stores have paper supplies and other things team will need so we try to only bring what we can’t get there.

After the team bag was full and weighed in at 42 lbs, I tackled the clothing for us. I lay out everything we’re going to take on a bed, sorted into his and hers. Then I take the list from the handbook and go over it to make sure I’ve not forgotten anything. Finally, I divide every single type of clothing and put half of my clothes and half of David’s in each bag. That way, if one bag got delayed, we still have something to wear.

Learned that lesson the hard way years ago moving to the Philippines. I packed all the shoes for the whole family in one bag except for what was on our feet. That bag somehow went to Hong Kong for several weeks instead of arriving in Manila with us. Ever try to find shoes for big American feet in a country where most women wear size 5? Don’t bother!

Finally I sort out what will go in my hand carry. My husband is in charge of his own which consists of computer/camera/electronics related stuff. I do the in-flight needs, curriculum book, meds, small quantities of toiletries in a quart zip lock bag, my own computer, a book to read, hair dryer, travel iron, and anything else that will fit.

Oh, and my Coleman French press coffee pot and a bag of coffee for the first morning. Somehow, facing the first day in China is just a little easier with a good cup of coffee!