A Broad in Venice: The Art of Packing

When I asked for advice about packing, several people told me that rolling, instead of folding, your clothes saves room. But I was looking for a little bit more than that.

Packing for an extended trip abroad requires an acute understanding of the material possessions necessary to live comfortably. I will not only be living, but also taking six credit hours of studio art classes. This means that I not only have to consider the basic jeans and toothbrush, but also the things it takes to be a successful student.

After making my list and checking it twice, these are the three things I suggest you consider most while compiling your next adventure kit.

1. Footwear

Going to a city like Venice, I am expecting my trusty toes to provide the majority of my transportation. Strolling down stone pathways alongside the canals and touring endless churches and museums means I’m going to want a little more than my flip-flops.

Before packing your adventure-kicks, make sure you consider the terrain and seasonal climate you are going to. While hiking miles through the mountainous forest, ankle-supporting, waterproof boots are going to be your best friend — just like your comfortable sandals while meandering around the pool bar in Mexico.

2. Gadgets on the go

In this day and age we have a lot of small electronic devices that we feel are necessary to cart with us everywhere we go. For this trip, I will be bringing seven electronic devices which will require five separate chargers and two more cables — a lot of stuff when you see it all in one pile.

However, not a single one of these devices will work in Europe, oh no, because a rectangular plug does not fit into a round hole. To make my American plugs get power in Italy, I had to purchase an outlet converter and a voltage adapter. Be sure to check the situation where you are going, being in a foreign country with a backpack of dead electronics would be really disappointing.

3. Luggage: to lug or to loose?

We’ve all heard the horror stories of the bag that never made it, and the week vacation someone spent in the same underwear. According to the 2009 U.S. Department of Transportation, an average of 0.379% of passengers file a mishandled baggage complaint. While that number isn’t too nerve racking, I discovered that my particular airline had the second highest number of complaints out of any company
in the sky.

My defenseless bag will be transferred in several cities between Indiana and Italy, and the risk of my losing my 20 cutest articles of clothing was too much to stand. I purchased insurance for my bag through the booking agency, to hopefully outwit Murphy’s Law and guarantee my bag’s safe commute.

But only time will tell, folks. My bags are packed and I’m ready to go. In less than 100 hours I hit the skies, and my packing skills will be put to the test.

Hopefully I will have everything I need to be a broad in Venice.