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Packing, Phase One!

CanCan, 26 June 2008,
Categories: Moving overseas

I need to share my progress with you. Feel free to give me lots of moral support.

I have packed ONE bag! Here is what is inside of it:

Huge Duffle Bag #1. Weight: about 50 pounds

Contents:

Children’s clothing:

9 pairs of shorts, size 2T
5 pairs of pants, size 2T
4 long sleeved shirts (2T)
12 short sleeved shirts (2T)
3 jackets (2T)
3 sets of PJ’s (2T…need more)
2 swim suits (18 m)

7 pairs of shorts, size 4T
4 pairs of pants (4T)
10 short sleeved shirts (4T)
1 sleeveless shirt (4T)
4 long sleeved shirts (4T)
1 pair PJ’s (4T…need more)
1 Jacket (4T)
1 long sleeved shirt (size 5)

The weather in Laos ranges from “very hot” (about 109 degrees) to “kind of nice” (the lowest temperatures are around November/December, when the day starts out a bit chilly but is in the mid-60’s by afternoon). We need jackets in the evenings, especially when we have to travel by motorbike or tuk-tuk.
I am trying to pack enough clothes and a variety of sizes for 2 years. I still need to pack 18m, 3T, and a few more size 5. Currently my children wear about 12m/18m and 3T.

Children’s shoes:

Reef flip flops, size 5/6
Reef flip flops, size 11/12

We wear sandals and flip flops almost exclusively in Laos, so I sprung for some high-quality ones. The Lao culture considers feet to be the lowest part of the body. It is very rude to show someone the bottom of your foot, to step over someone, or to move/pick up something with your feet. Shoes are removed before entering a home, temple, and some stores (like a boutique). Sandals and flip flops make this easier. Plus, it is very hot!

Children’s toys:

Smart Art Easel by RoseArt (w/ paper roll…this thing is heavy!)
8 markers
5 paint brushes
one pallet
one child’s canvas apron (from Home Depot!)
6 pack Crayola Washable Paints
play parachute
Sesame Street toothbrush holder (Christmas present for the boys for Christmas, 2008)

A lot of the toys we have access to in South East Asia are either very cheaply made or down right unsafe. Education is very very important to me, so as this list gets longer, I hope you will see carefully selected playthings with some semblance of educational value. However, we do not plan to home school.

Holiday Items:

holiday table cloth (fabric/cheap lace)
Thanksgiving place mats (4)
Thanksgiving/Harvest cloth napkins (4)
Autumn place mats (2)
Christmas place mats (vinyl…2)
Christmas/snowman cloth napkins (2)
24″ tabletop Christmas tree
straw ornaments (6)
Jesse Tree ornaments
Christmas table cloth (plastic)
small wooden bowl shaped like a pumpkin (Kmart find while bargain hunting last year)
red plastic chip and dip bowl

I have found that since Thanksgiving is strictly an American holiday, it is impossible to find Thanksgiving stuff for purchase in Asia. It’s something you don’t really think about until you have been there for a while, and you want to give your kids some knowledge of their own home culture.
Christmas isn’t really observed in any way where we live. We typically get one day off just because we ask for it. Now that I am a mom, it is important to me to give my children a semi-traditional Christmas. I don’t want them to be totally clueless when they are in school in the USA one day. The upside is that there is zero commercialism leading up to the Christmas season, so the temptation to buy too much is a lot less!

Remember, this is only one bag! 5 more to go!

Keeper of the Home in an Apron by Carolyn West »