So a few days ago I was in dire need of a suitcase that I could use on my trip. If you didn't already know, AFS has very strict rules on your luggage that you take with you. It's even stricter than the airline itself. Granted, they have good reasons as to why they have such harsh restrictions. Still, my luggage, packed, has to be 44 pounds or under. And trust me, my luggage will not be under. If anything, it will end up being over and i'll end up having to taking things out. Because of all this, I had to find a suitcase that was 5 pounds, hard case (so that it doesn't get dented too badly), and still had enough room for me to pack for a year.I ended up buying a 5 pound bag (weighed with my handy-dandy luggage scale) that is gray, hardshell, 4 wheels, and has a handle so that I can carry it like a duffel. If you can find/order a rolling duffle, I suggest you do it. If you end up needing to run, and fast, something that you can pick up and carry instead of wheel or carry with the top handle (which doesn't help anyone) is your best option. And let me just tell you, Marshalls or T.J. Maxx are the BEST places to buy luggage if you know its going to be beat up and stored away. They are always cheaper and of really good quality (at least our stores are), they even have
Where I am being placed in is very very warm, and the lowest it gets temperature-wise in the winter ranges from 45-55 celsius and the rest of the months it ranges from 65-75 as it gets warmer from colder months. But the time when I will be arriving the temperatures range from 80-95 and sometimes reaching higher! This means that I will be packing mostly light clothing and my mother is expected to send me my winter clothing later, as those items are a lot heavier. In addition to the 44 pound suitcase, we are aloud to take a carry-on bag with the RIDICULOUS measurements of 8 inches x 16 inches x 21 inches and a weight of 22 pounds (which I don't really mind), but the size of it?! I am planning on taking a top loading hiking type of bag and now I'm not sure if I can do that anymore. Ugh. I mean, it's not that I need to pack for a whole year, it's just that it's hard figuring out how much you will really need and how much of the things you've packed will never get used.
After we bought the suitcase, I had a very interesting feeling about my trip to Spain. I wasn't all that scared or sad -nor am I now- it just hit me that when I bought that suitcase I realized how big of a deal it is for me to be taking a year off of my regular life and diving into a whole new one that I know absolutely nothing about. But I guess thats where I find fun in this, I'm really not a person who's all for surprises -I don't like them at all- so going on a trip like this that I know will really surprise me is a little nerve-racking, especially since these surprises will be given to me in a box full of words that I don't know quite yet.
I know that it will be a great surprise and will give me a new perspective on my old life at home and on my new mind that will develop in the 10 months I will be there!
Please feel free to comment! I'm open and grateful if anyone who visits my blog can give me any type of advice related or not to this blog post.
