So you’re taking that first mission trip. Your heart’s desire is finally actualized. It’s the first time outside of the country. Ticket–check. Passport–check. Visa–check. Itinerary–check.
Traveling internationally is both an adventure and challenge. The basic idea is to be prepared for things that you may not readily find or have difficulty obtaining because of language or cultural differences. I’ve jotted some basics for first timers on a mission trip, or for any other reason, that may help in making the trip less stressful.
I’m a list person. Sometimes I even have lists for lists. I keep a travel packing checklist in my computer and print out a copy every time I fly. It’s organized by category and all I do is check off the items I need for the particular trip as I pack. The categories are: clothing, personal care, first aid OTC meds, prescription meds, documents, work-related items, equipment, items for developing countries, and miscellaneous. I keep small travel packs of personal care items and first-aid meds ready to go that just get put into my baggage. It helps keep my life organized so I can pay more attention to other things.
Before you go:
- Let your credit card company know you will be in _____, so that if you have to use it, your card won’t be denied due to fraud alerts. Calling the card company on the spot for approval can be a royal pain.
- Arrange for international phone usage, especially if you don’t have access to applications like wechat or whatsapp.
- Photocopy your passport info and photo page in color, as well as necessary visa pages. Keep them separate from your passport.
- Get travel health insurance. It’s not expensive and provides added protection if ever needed.
- Do some homework. Check out the location, its uniqueness, its history, its weather patterns, and its cultural context. You will appreciate your travels more and you will be less likely to make a cultural faux pas.
For the flight, have things handy in your carryon that you will likely need.
- Planes can get pretty cold on a long haul and window seats are especially cold. Airlines usually provide a little puffy rectangle, good for stuffing behind your low back, and a thin cloth that covers your feet or your shoulders, but not both. One of those horseshoe shaped pillows works, but better yet, a small roll pillow. I bring a fleece blanket. They roll up fairly tight and provide better comfort.
- Compression socks are particularly good to prevent your feet from looking like pontoon boats by the time you deplane. Wear loose-fitting clothes even though you may have to sacrifice cute for comfort.
- Get a bottle of water at the gate kiosk. Drinking water regularly during the flight helps prevent dehydration and swelling.
- Airline food is notoriously dicey. Bring some snacks and food bars to hold you over in case the selection is particularly nasty.
- Personal items you use to freshen up (things like toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, wipes, etc.) can make you appreciate feeling human again at the end of a long flight.
- Bring a USB cable to keep your electronic devices operating without draining the battery life.
- A battery operated book light is great because it clips onto the book and focuses the light on the book. The overhead lights are annoying to others.
- Bring a pen! In fact, bring a few because invariably someone will borrow yours and walk off with it. Whenever you fly internationally, you will be required to fill out declaration forms and pens are never provided. Have your passport number, the address of your destination, emergency phone numbers, and the flight number handy. You will need that info repeatedly as you fill out forms.
- Delayed or lost luggage could be a disaster, so bring your work-related documents, as well as anything valuable, in your carry-on luggage. Clothes can always be purchased, but losing your notes and related documents is no fun. Be sure to check the overhead and under seat storage for your belongings before you deplane.
- Bring some foreign currency with you. It can be purchased at the airport leaving and arriving, as well as some agencies. I like to keep a small amount separate for such things as tipping and cab fares. Some countries have exit fees that must be paid in their currency. Be sure you find out before you have to leave. Also, be aware that in other countries, not every store accepts credit cards due to fees that they have to pay for its use. Ask before you get on a line to purchase if you want to use a credit card. Personally, I don’t use credit cards in foreign stores if I don’t absolutely have to do so, and if I do, it is a card that I reserve just for travel and definitely NOT a debit card. Major hotel chains are usually pretty safe.
Overall, some good common sense goes a long way—things like:
- Be aware of your surroundings like who is near you
- Hold objects like bags or purses on the side of the building and not toward the street
- Notice the exit locations wherever you are
- Use a crossbody purse instead of that cute little handbag
- Leave your jewelry home
The funny thing is that even though you think that you are prepared for every possible event, each trip teaches you something new. You’ve brought too much, too short or long, not enough this or that, too whatever, but if you have the basics down, it makes the unusual or the suddenly much more bearable. I take fairly detailed notes as I travel for two reasons. It helps me remember what happened where, and also informs the next trip. So as you take that next mission trip to the other end of the world, bon chance, bon voyage, and Godspeed!
Copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento. All rights reserved.