Packing

As we're nearing the end of the outreach we find ourselves packing up our belongings once again.  It's always interesting to see what items we brought along that we actually never ended up using or needing and the items that we are VERY thankful for having brought.  Here are a few of the Applegate's Must Have's for outreach.


BACK PACK:
Our back packs serve as our carry-ons, day packs, 1-2 overnight pack, and on this outreach it's also served as our diaper bag.

 

HANGING TOILETRY BAG:

I first learned about this item from a fellow student on my own DTS.  I made the purchase and haven't ever regretted it.  I pack it and when we get to a new location I simply unnzip it and hang it up.  It's also great for when we have a community bathroom and we have to carry our toiletries to the shower rooms. No more juggling my shower items while I walk to and from the showers.

PACK TOWEL:
I have to admit I didn't jump on this bandwagon until we were getting ready for this outreach.  Knowing that we were packing for 8 weeks worth of things for all three of us in two packs I was looking for ways to save space.  I wish I would have gotten one sooner!  They dry super fast, which we really appreciate for those travel days when you shower in the morning and then have to pack up everything for traveling.  And then the obvious that it saves space.

HEAD LAMP:  This is what I would recommend to anyone going to DTS.  Yes a flashlight is nice too, but a head lamp.  Let me tell you, when you are walking around in dark, carrying a bunch of items, you really appreciate not having to hold a flashlight!  Also, when you share a room with 12 other people, and everyone is asleep, but you want to read or you need to see to go to the bathroom (especially in a squatty potty) you definitely appreciate your headlamp!

BABY  CARRIER:

New to our must have list for our family would be the baby carrier, or maybe we should say toddler carrier.  Anyways, we went back and forth on this one, but after talking with a couple other families who have been to Nepal/India we decided to go for it.  It's so nice to have as we walk everywhere.  Especially in Nepal, when we were walking up and down hills, and strollers wouldn't make it on the rocky, puddle filled paths. 

As for Eliana, Grandma sent her a lovely package for outreach that has passed the toddler test and is still going strong!  Toys we have for her include:

-A kids travel marker board that folds up with the markers and wipe cloth is great while traveling and it's easy to stick in my back pack to bring along to the seminars

- Foam Stickers!  Grandma sent some foam stickers that we played with for weeks before actually taking the backing off.  Then we had fun using them as actual stickers and it's ok for them to stick to pretty much any surface as they are easy to peel off.  Even after the stickiness has worn off we still are playing with them.  

-2 of her favorite books

-1 baby doll

-crayons & a small notebook

 -5 finger puppets

  Once arriving at our first seminar location in Nepal I also purchased some cheap blocks, a small ball, and a play kitchen set that has some mini pots and silverware.  Overall I'm very happy with the toys we decided to bring.  

What did we bring that we haven't used?  Well, we thought the weather was going to be MUCH MUCH cooler, so we have warmer clothing, layering clothing, that we haven't even touched.