Preparations

Preparing to live in another country for a year is a daunting and anxiety-inducing task. Some people shrug their shoulders and go with the flow. I am not that way. I am literally losing sleep over packing. I am trying to fit my life into 3 bags. Some people can manage with one or two. I need three. The thought of buying clothes while in Germany makes me sick. The exchange rate is NOT in my favor and clothes are very expensive in Germany. I would like to buy just a few items while abroad, not a new wardrobe! I am thus trying to fit as many clothes into my suitcases as possible along with everything else I am trying to bring. Think of all the things you use on a daily basis...now try to imagine fitting all those things into 3 suitcases. My travel power strip with international plugs took up almost half of one of my suitcases all by itself. I swear that my belongings have doubled in size and weight now that I am trying to fit them into a confined space. One also needs to do a little research. Like what kind of plugs do they have in Germany so that you know what converters to buy. Seriously though, if we all already speak different languages, can't we at least all use the same outlets? It would make things a lot easier for me.

I also have been reading articles on Germany and have booked my flight and hotel in DC. For a one way flight to DC and one night at a hotel I only ended up shelling out $200. This is pretty cheap considering hotels in DC are pretty expensive. You can find hotels outside of DC for cheap but then you have to get a cab or bus into the city. Not my cup of tea. After using an online coupon code, I ended up getting my hotel for $100 for the night and it is in the heart of DC.

One thing I have done to make the trip back to the United States in 2012 easier is I bought a mini wardrobe from the thrift store. That way, when I return home, I can leave those clothes back in Germany (because they are so inexpensive) and have more room for the things I will be taking back to the United States.

Travelers tip. I bought almost everything I needed for Germany on eBay. Soooooo much cheaper than going to a department store. I bought my outlet converters, travel books, and everything else I needed at much lower prices on eBay. Check it out!