Packing: The Next Generation

This week is all about starting my least favourite process of moving and travelling: packing. One of the benefits of booking my flight with Air China is that they do not seem to have taken on the new regulations limiting checked luggage to one piece, no matter how far you are travelling. However, I started off in England with two pieces of luggage and by the time I was packing to come home the regulations had changed for the airlines offering flights back to Canada. I am hoping to pack efficiently and only bring one big piece of luggage.

Along the way, though, I have been hearing about several things I have to think about packing that weren’t on the list for England. At the top of the unusual things I have been told to pack with me is North American deodorant. Yes, apparently all deodorant is not created equally, and I have heard from different sources that most North Americans who have moved to Japan find that the local brands just don’t do the job, especially in the humid Japanese summers.

The next thing on the list of bring-from-home items is basic clothing items. I’ve been told that I may be able to fit into some of the largest sizes of clothing in mainstream Japanese shops, but that I can’t necessarily depend on all the shops having a range of sizes similar to Canada. Apparently the sizing of clothing in Japan is also much different than here. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to bring as much in the way of clothes this time around. My wardrobe grew during my time in London, and I assumed it would be similar this time around.

One thing I was used to having readily available in London was English language books. As an avid reader I was hoping to save some weight in my luggage by looking for books on arrival in Japan. However, I am hearing now that it’s not very easy to get English books or magazines in most parts of Japan, and if you do you will pay a premium. So, I’m hoping I will have some space left for books amongst my other belongings.

So, these are some of the unusual items I will be stocking up on, and until the transporter is invented for real (hence the Star Trek reference) I will endure the packing process.

The countdown clock now sits at 25 sleeps and counting….!