Job Discussion Forums

[teachwrite]

Last year, I downsized a two-bedroom appartment full into "what will fit in my car." After six months of driving around the US visiting friends, camping, and writing songs, I decided to sell the car and downsize my belongings into "what will fit in two 99lb suitcases." After six months of teaching English in Guatemala, I came back to the states to save money, to buy a laptop, and to further downsize. As a result, I've become fixated on getting my life and possessions into the smallest possible configuration for travel. I realize some of these items are costly, and if you're a broke teacher in a hut somewhere and you hate me for posting this, just remember that we all go through cycles of wealth and poverty. I was begging for change a year ago at the LAX airport, and I'm sure it'll happen again someday. But for the moment...

Here are some of my favorites, but please feel free to add to this list:

LUGGAGE

1) Must be under 62 inches total length+width+height for airline travel
2) Must have over 75 liters of sotrage capacity
3) Ideally has multiple methods of trasnport (wheels, shoulder straps, etc)

Favorites include:

1) The ridiculously huge Osprey 90 liter "Porter": this thing is just a gigantic "backpack" but it has side handles to carry like a normal piece of luggage

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/PorterSeries/Porter90/

2) The slightly smaller but dual-configuration "roller" AND "backpack" Sojourn 28" 80L (liter)

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/SojournSeries/Sojourn2880L/

3) And if money is no option, and you think you might need to climb Mt. Everest once in a while, the Crescent 110L (but it doesn't have wheels):

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/CrescentSeriesMens/Crescent110/

For most women, the Luna series is the equivelant:

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/LunaSeriesWomens/Luna85/

4) Eagle Creek's Grand Voyage 90L is a bit smaller than the Crescent, but also a lot less expensive:

http://www.eaglecreek.com/bags_luggage/adventure_travel_packs/Grand-Voyage-90L-10054

5) Eagle Creek also makes a straight roller bag that's a whopping 100 Liters and still measures under 62 inches.

http://www.eaglecreek.com/collections/centerline_series/Load-Warrior-LT-30-20143


SPACE SAVERS

I read on another post on here from someone who had purchased "space bags" and she said she was getting a lot of great use out of them. I found them online:

2) https://www.spacebag.com/spacebag

They also have a manual "roll up" version that looks a little less effective, but then you don't need to have a vacuum cleaner handy. "Excuse me, can I borrow your Hoover for an afternoon?"

2a) https://www.spacebag.com/travelbag/910453/


COMPUTERS/LAPTOPS/MUSIC

After lugging a heavy desktop (21" flastscreen and all) down to Guatemala, I swore "never again." I've moved on to Dell Laptops which work well with Digitech (ProTools) Mbox soundcards, but Sony makes a ridiculously small laptop that's worth a glance for the average user:

1) http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=567&parentCategoryId=16154

I also noticed finding a good pair of small speakers was next to impossible in Guatemala (they cost an arm and leg there). Granted these are pretty pricey and a bit larger than what some might go for, but the Bose Companion II series really cover the spectrum, especially the low-end (almost too low). You can dance at a house-party to the output of these little suckers:

2) http://www.bose.com/controller?event=VIEW_PRODUCT_PAGE_EVENT&product=companion2_multimedia_index

Musicians may appreciate this tiny collapsable guitar stand. I love it:

3) http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Hercules-Stands-GS401B-Mini-Acoustic-Guitar-Stand?sku=453077

CAMPING

These tiny compact sleeping bags are great:

http://www.vango.co.uk/products/sleepbaginfo.asp?typename=69

And a compressible pillow rocks, especially for those long bus trips or airplane flights:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47871089&parent_category_rn=4723203&vcat=REI_SEARCH

I gotta get back to work, but please add anything you've found to be crucial for a teacher living abroad!

[papergirl]

I see this is a fairly old post, but I just want to thank you for these helpful suggestions. I'm about to move to Osaka and it will be my first time moving/living abroad. I didn't even know where to begin with purchasing luggage, and I see that Eagle Creek's products consistently receive high ratings from customers, so I decided to go with that. Lifetime warranty, too, I believe!

Thanks again for the packing tips!

[naturegirl321]

Great info. I dread packing. That's the good thing about staying in one country for a while.

[Justin Trullinger]

Not to get nit picky, but...what is the mini guitar stand for? If you're travelling with the guitar, you've got a case it can live in... or lean it on something, for heaven's sake.

Mine sits on a specially designed, ergonomic...sofa.

Sometimes travelling light is about knowing what you don't need, not just finding a smaller version.


Best,
Justin

[spiral78]

Yeah, I wondered about that too...how essential is it??!! Not being a musician myself, I honestly can't judge.

I agree that it's probably more about being able to prioritize what you really need more than miniaturization.

[ITTP]

Hi teachwrite!

I'm curious as to why you were begging at LAX airport and how successful it was begging there for you.

Apologies if you don't wish to speak about it.
It just caught my curiosity...

A guitar is essential btw
(isn't the stand for busking?).

Hezke Velikonoce!/Lovely Easter!

Neville
ITTP Prague
Jungmannova 32
Prague 1

[Anda]

I find that I keep my good stuff at home and travel with bags from second hand shops. In this ESL game you can move a lot and find your self in different climates often. The best way is to buy stuff wherever you start working.

Computer: get one or two USB hard disks and some SD cards for storing English programs and lesson material. Buy a cheap table top computer second hand where ever you work.

In many places you can get stuff stolen when you are settling in so it is no good traveling with a lot of expensive stuff.

[Justin Trullinger]

[naturegirl321]

Or you could just stay in Ecuador and not have to worry about packing.

[Justin Trullinger]

[MELEE]

I just had to pipe in and say I bought an Eagle Creek pack in 1995. It's a roller/backpack with a zip off day pack. I've used it extensively, including the daypack on really nearly a daily basis since buying it and the thing is still in great condition! Almost 15 years later!. The day pack has faded slightly when you put it next to the big bag, but not so much that you notice it when it's on it's own.

At the time it was a big slurge for me, but it sure has been worth it.
I love my luggage!