Help! Canterbury and others, packing questions!
 

Canterbury, I skimmed through your posts to see whether you had addressed this issue and didn't see anything. Forgive me if you did and I missed it.

DD has started seriously packing for her Tuesday departure. It's beginning to look very unlikely that she's going to be able to get everything in two suitcases and a carry-on. Besides the fact that she'll be gone for four months, because she's doing the internship, she needs to take office appropriate clothing as well as casual.

Was your daughter able to get everything she needed in her luggage? And, if not, have you or are you going to ship a box? I'm curious how others have handled this.

She would rather not take another suitcase because she's going to be spending the first two days in Dublin and then going to Galway for the internship. So, even without the extra suitcase, she's going to have a lot to lug around.

And then there's the issue of laundry. The woman who made all the arrangements in Ireland is going to be taking her for housing appointments on Friday. So we still don't know exactly what her situation will be. But it looks like she'll be in an apartment with other students or young working people. Does anyone know whether she'll be likely to have access to laundry facilities? And, if not, how difficult it is to find a do-it-yourself laundramat? (There's a current thread on the Europe forum that makes it sound as though those are not easy to find in much of Europe.) She's wondering whether she needs to pack lots of underwear, etc. in case doing laundry is inconvenient.

Last but not least, there's the issue of the weather in Ireland which neccessitates warm clothes in layers!

Any and all thoughts, suggestions, opinions, recommendations would be greatly appreciated!:)

CAPH -

Hope I can help. I suggested to Amy early on (three months prior to her trip) that she should take a small 22" and we will ship a large box that would be waiting for her when she arrived. "No, Mom. I want all my stuff with me." Since I am not a nag, I never mention things twice, even if they are really great ideas.

She started practice packing a week before her departure and, as I anticipated, she was over her weight limit by at least 15 lbs. She also had another small rolling tote filled at that time.

I did make her practice going up and down our stairs with all her stuff to simulate changing trains. That was the true awakening for her! After that, she had no problem doing without some things.

She was then faced with what to bring as carry on, or should she bring another suitcase, etc. What about her computer and books, etc. She used a brand new 26" suitcase by Delsey (bought for $50 at TJ Maxx).

For carry on: We bought her a lovely computer briefcase and she carried that on with her heavy wool coat, a couple books, iPod, phone, water. She had a small Coach sling bag as well with money, ID, etc., quart bag of toiletries.

So, she had to cut back quite a bit. Slowly I helped her cull her clothes, linens and toiletries (she insisted on bringing her own even though she could buy them at her school upon arrival).

Here's how we compromised (and yes, I managed to hold my tongue through it all, but dying to say "I told you so!"

Checked 26" suitcase: She took a bare minimum of spring weather clothes (4 T-shirts, skirt, sweater), many colder weather clothes, heavy tights, boots, running shoes, casual flats, slippers, dress shoes, 4 pr jeans, two sweaters, 10 tops, casual warm jacket, a suit and dress in case she makes future business contacts and her toiletries (which were in an approx 8x10" bag). She had one pj bottom and two pj tops.

She took two towels, face cloth, her own pillow and her own blanket. She also had many DVD's which totaled about 3 lbs in weight. She bought her sheets there (30 euro) with no problems.

I was concerned because the big suitcase still weighed just under 50 lbs and she had two changes of trains to make. Plus, she had her computer bag and a her purse. Luckily, she is a freakishly strong girl and just sailed through it all.

Okay. Now I am faced with shipping her things. It's just some extra warmer weather clothes, back up computer CD software, a "going away" scrapbook her friends made, lots of books (I found English language paperbacks to be around 14 euros in Europe for a $7.95 book.)

I tried DHL and UPS which came in between $250-350 for an estimated 50 lbs. Delivery in about 3-4 days.

I found a better deal with the US Postal Service. About $50 for 30 lbs. Delivery in 3-4 days.

Her actual stuff left home weighs less than 20 lbs so I have no problem shipping that. I, of course, will sneak in a little money, as I usually do (don't tell Dad) so she can do some fun shopping there.

Also, DH and I are planning to see her in April and will bring whatever she wants at that time also.

Whew - hope I haven't bored you to tears, CAPH! I would also like to wish your daughter well and I would LOVE to hear about her internship and all. Our DD is majoring in International Business so what your daughter is doing is very interesting.

Let me know if you need anything else. If I think of more, I'll post again.

Bon Voyage to you daughter CAPH!

c.

kybourbon's daughter studies in Spain and I think there was a thread about how she packed. I'll look for it.

My brother and SIL sent stuff over to my niece in Copenhagen. We also took another huge suitcase full of stuff that she wanted when we went to visit her just after Christmas. She had to ship stuff back home when she came back to the states. Not sure by what company or means they shipped it by.

My daughter spent five months in Spain last year and needed winter clothes, summer clothes, dress clothes. She also had to take numerous textbooks because she was required to do her US school work in addition to the Spanish school work. She took her laptop and other electronics.

For carryon, she used her backpack which contained things you can't live without and her computer case. She was able to put a few books in her computer case (she had about 5 textbooks)and a few in her backpack. The carryon weight allowance was 40 lbs.

For checked luggage she had two cheap (Walmart/Kmart) wheeled 30" duffels (they dont' weigh anything) which cost about $25 each. She packed half of her summer/winter clothes in each in case once case got lost on the flight over. The weight allowance was 50lbs per checked bag. The overweight fee (Delta) was only $25 for 50-70lbs. which was much cheaper than shipping a box. We put adjustable luggage straps around the duffels while in transit to keep them from coming open.

She was picked up at the airport and delivered to her host family. When she was ready to fly home, she just loaded everything into a taxi. Arrange pickup at the airport and spring for taxis while she is needing to transport things.

We were told not to send packages as the students could be charged customs fees formore than the contents were worth.

Thank you sweetie pie! :-)

The following is what I wrote a couple of hours ago. Our internet signal has been fading in and out all day. As I was responding, it went out and didn't come back for quite awhile.

Thank you so much, canterbury! Believe me, you did <b>not</b> bore me to tears! I was hanging on your every word! I really appreciate hearing from someone who's just gone through it.

I was especially interested in seeing what rates you came across for shipping. Definitely sounds like the USPS is the way to go.

Thanks too for your good wishes for my daughter. I've been following your thread and was so glad to hear that your daughter is settling in well.

DD's internship is with the Rape Crisis Network so not really business related. But I'll keep you posted anyway! Apparently she's going to be doing work related to changes they're hoping to make at an upcoming election. So it should be very interesting.

Starrsville, thanks to you too!

Since I wrote that (just managed to copy it before the internet went!), crefloors and kybourbon have responded. Thanks so much to both of you.

kybourbon, I really appreciate your detailed response. I was especially interested in your comments about the overweight fee on the airline and the customs costs on a box.

Our daughter is being met at the airport. But she's supposed to stay at a hostel in Dublin for two nights before moving on to Galway. We talked it over and agreed that we'd feel much better having her stay in a B&amp;B those nights with all of her stuff.

The woman who's meeting her at the airport is going to Galway with her. But we don't know whether she's driving or if they'll be taking a train or bus.

After reading all of this, I think the first thing we need to do is email her again and ask whether she's meeting our daughter at the airport with a car and how they're going to be getting to Galway. Obviously, it makes a big difference in terms of how much she's going to have to drag her stuff around.

Again, thank you to all of you who've responded. You've given me a lot to think about!

Each airline has different carryon/luggage restrictions so be sure to check. Most allow 1 carryon and 1 personal item and 2 checked bags. The personal item can be a laptop or purse, but not both if you have a carryon also. I think Delta allowed more carryon weight than most other airlines My daughter always puts her purse in her backpack when checking in so it doesn't count as 2 items. Each airline will also vary on the overweight luggage charges.

A friend mailed a package to her daughter in Ireland a few years ago and her daughter had to pay $50 to pick it up. I mailed a small box to my daughter in Spain with the USPS and it was around $10 for a cassette size box.

When she's selecting items to layer, choose items that she can also wear as separates. A cute little cami is great for a weekend jaunt and will look professional under a cardigan or blazer for work. The cardigan could also be worn alone as a nice sweater, or under a blazer for a more professional look.

Bring dark jeans rather than the lighter denim shades - they look more professional and she might be able to get away with them with a blazer for dress casual.

Basically, the more items she can do double duty with, the better.

A trick my grandmother taught me (it's something they used to do before washing machines) is to wear a nylon pant liner under your dress slacks. That way your body never touches your slacks and they don't need to be laundered as much. The liners can be washed in the sink and airdryed. You can get them at jcpenney online or catalog.

I would definitely check the overweight charge vs. mailing (for both directions).

CAPH - glad to be of help. Here's a couple more things I thought of:

kybourbon recommends two checked bags and I think that would be great if she has help at the airport. I am sure the weight surcharge on any airline would be less than shipping it. So, if your daughter can handle it that would be a great idea. DD had to go FRA-Maastricht with two changes of trains so she kept things to a minimum (if you consider 50+ lbs minimum!).

Underwear: DD brought 6 bras and at least 30 panties (you know how tiny thongs are so she went crazy). Maybe 6 pairs of socks. She also had 3 camis to layer.

Toedtoes: the tip about wearing a nylon liner is similar to what DD did. She brought thin knit tights for layering for warmth under jeans as well as skirts and is in fashion, too.

For carryon: DD had a lot of stuff for carrying on, but now I remember that she said her flight (Lufthansa) was half full (she had a whole row to herself!) so they probably allowed her to bring what she wanted.

So, kybourbon has a great point - check with the airline.

As far as coming home in June, DD will obviously have more stuff than she went with. Some of it will be taken home when DH and I visit in April. The other stuff - we've encouraged her to find people to give it to.

CAPH - just curious: If you don't mind saying - Is your daughter's internship paid or volunteer? Not that I'd need to be paid for spending four months in Ireland, LOL! Also, did she get that though her school or on her own? DD has 3 internships to choose from this summer, 2 paid and 1 not.

Update on Amy: She is to start class today. She grumbled a little about that because she was already in the planning stages of another trip - to Grenoble in two weeks with her new Aussie friend and German hottie, to visit another American student. Sounds like homesickness is at bay so far!

CAPH - please keep me updated on your daughter's journey. How exciting for her! Here's the only part of the Irish blessing I remember:

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back

Safe travels DD CAPH.

Thanks again, everyone!

canterbury, her internship is volunteer but it counts as a semester of school. In other words, she's paying tuition (albeit less than if she were actually at school) to do it. But she didn't exactly get it through school. Her counselors felt that an internship made much more sense than having her go overseas to take the same psychology classes that would have been available to her here. But her school didn't have an existing program in Ireland. So they helped her with what they could (arranging the financial end of it in terms of her grants, loans, etc., setting her up with a woman in Ireland who finds internships, housing, etc.). But, for much of it, she was on her own. The school wants to start a program in Ireland. So they pretty much told her from the start that they'd do everything they could to help her. But that they expected her to help them set up a future program.

Wow, CAPH - sounds like your DD is quite industrious! To have pursued something like this that &quot;didn't really exist before&quot; as well as pay for her tuition, knowing that it will benefit her in the end. HUGE kudos to her! She will be very successful in life I'm sure.

Since we have two more daughters who wish to study overseas, I'm always interested in what the kids do. Thanks for sharing that, CAPH.

You are all more expert on this than I am certainly, but I have to think where there are students and working young people living... somehow, somewhere, everyone is doing their laundry
:-)

That's what I figure too, Suze! Surely, either there have to be laundry facilities in the apartment building or there has to be a laudramat. But, as I said, the thread that's currently on the Europe board makes it sound like do-it-yourself laundry facilities are hard to find. And they've pointed out that paying someone else to do it isn't cheap. So maybe these students and young workers take their laundry home to their parents?!:D

Canterbury, my daughter goes to an alternative education college. No credits, no tests, no grades. There are requirements. And each student works with a committee of advisors. But the student basically designs his or her own course of study. So the internship my daughter is doing is not nearly as unusual there as it might be somewhere else.

suze - My daughter was required (by her school)to live with a host family so there weren't other students around. She had a long commute from the two colleges she attended and would have preferred living near other students or school. Her host family was to provide breakfast daily, dinner weekdays and laundry service. Many host families in Madrid do this to supplement income not really as a cultural exchange. Her host family didn't speak English and she wasn't allowed to invite guests over so it wasn't the best experience.

CAPH52 - At the airport, she managed her luggage with one to the carts available. I'm not sure she could have managed any train travel with that much luggage. One of her bags was over 50 lbs, but the other was under and they didn't charge extra. We offered to shuffle the contents at check-in but they said it wasn't necessary. I think I would print out the luggage weight info and take to the airport. Many times the employees don't know the exact rules and having it in print could resolve any problems.

I think Rick Steves has a list of laundromats on his website (or did at one point). If not, I'm sure there is a list in his Ireland book. Lonely Planet would be another good place to look since they cater to backpackers or ask on their Thorntree forum.

kybourbon, I understand the situation would be different staying with a host family. But I thought from reading CAPH52's post that her daughter will likely be living in an apartment building with other students and young working people. My thought was only that they all must do laundry somehow somewhere.
:-)

I don't know much about alternative colleges. Still, CAPH, I think your daughter is very brave to tackle something like this.