how to pack well

Or, "how to pack twelve months and four seasons into two suitcases... period."

I really haven't a clue as to how I'm going to make it happen. With that said, my packing skills have considerably improved in the past decade. I went to Mexico earlier this year and managed not only wear all the clothes I brought in a tiny suitcase, but also have two or so outfits daily. Yes, I'm bragging a little bit ;). My most noteworthy packing feat took place during spring break of 2009, however; I spent 12 days traveling throughout four different European countries with only a small carry-on. Budget travel brings about awfully impressive accomplishments.

So although I may not be an expert, I am confident I can offer helpful advice while also pumping myself up to perform the impossible (a.k.a. pack twelve months and four seasons into two suitcases) and enjoying the outtakes from that spring break.

Two handbags. The clutch, filled with the essentials: passport, cash, credit cards, cell phone, etc., should fit inside the satchel or tote for easy transport purposes. Keep any travel documents, reading material, gadgets (with chargers), sunglasses, and a snack in the larger handbag. You're going to want to keep both close by en route, so make sure it can fit underneath a seat in front of you.

One carryall. How could you possibly fit all the clothes you might need in only one piece of carry-on luggage? Well, it's pretty simple actually. Put aside undergarments, pick one or two color schemes, and then...

1. Dresses. No matter the climate of your destination, a few basic, casual dresses and one nicer dress will roll up easily and can be functional in warm weather (obviously) as well as in cold (think tights with boots).
2. Accessories. Since you're most likely down-sizing, bring a few key interchangeable pieces like scarves, statement necklaces, and belts to diversify your outfits. I'd leave the expensive ones at home though.
3. Shoes. Only three pairs, my dear, including the ones you're wearing. Choose wisely.
4. Products. Get ready to streamline your beauty routine and plan for a more natural look. Only pack the necessary items like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, lipstick (for fancier nights), concealer (for post late-night days), and a hair product (unless your texture is nicer than mine and you can go without). Oh, and soap! I've never been to a hotel that didn't have it but some hostels may not. Everything must abide by regulations size-wise.
5. Jeans. I'm a big jeans girl so I always bring one pair of which I wear on the plane. You can apply your pant-of-choice to this rule.
6. Pajamas. Don't forget them. Better yet, have them double as workout clothes.  Woolite is perfect for washing these and other clothes in the sink.
7. Other stuff. I doubt it'll fit so either go without or layer it upon your travel outfit. My own usually includes jeans (as mentioned above), a tank, sweater, scarf, a jacket, and comfortable though not completely unstylish shoes with socks (a must at security checks these days). I choose to wear the most heavy items as they often take up the most room in any suitcase.

To be honest, I'm actually not planning on any packing for Paris tonight (I prefer to do so last-minute, remember?) , but I will be packing for my very last getaway of the season. Late tomorrow morning my friend Steph and I are driving up to Boston to visit a few of our sorority sisters. Is it not just totally ironic that I took a weekend trip there before my last study abroad experience, too? I think it's a sign, though I have no idea of what. Ha. Anyway, wishing you a great one!

gastronomie across the park

Guess what, ladies and gents? I've officially received my French visa... allowing me to go and thoroughly indulge the nerdy student within me, and to live a life somewhat like the video posted on the Facebook page. What a relief.

Yesterday, after bidding adieu to the lovely people at the French Consulate, I took a stroll through Central Park. The summer weather was perfect--warm, sunny, little if any humidity--and the air smelled oh-so sweet. (Next time you're not in a rush in New York, I highly suggest you commute from the Upper East to the Upper West, or vice-versa, in this way.) I was heading across town to stop by Gastronomie491 to see the vibrant and wonderful Katie, and after realizing how adorable the market/café is, decided to sit down for an early lunch as well.

My order? Housemade falafel with tahini, arugula, and red onion in a pita alongside a house salad. I was starving, and it was delicious. The service is noteworthingly good, too :). My waitress gave me a sample of their muhammara.

From there, I walked up to my aunt's apartment to see her and her three boys before they left for their 2-week vacation to Rome. It was so nice to catch up, especially as she's the aunt who lived abroad in Barcelona for ~2 years in her 20s. They'll be back a week before I leave so it wasn't quite a "goodbye," but with three weeks left, the pressure to spend time with people I love is on, in a big way.

nerd alert

In a little less than a month, I will be in graduate school. It's both terrifying and exciting. I actually enjoyed studying for the GREs, as I confessed in a vlog, and as such am thoroughly looking forward to learning in an academic setting again. I'm even thrilled with my required reading: The Googlization of Everything (And Why We Should Worry). I highly recommend the book, too! Although I haven't quite finished (it is not a quick read), I am finding it absolutely fascinating and filled with countless things we all should really be more aware of. Anyway :)...

You may not know this already, but I'll be working towards a Master of Arts in Global Communications. Why? Because, as I've said before, I believe most of the world's problems could be avoided were it not for our own inability to understand one another. I personally seek new experiences and cultures in order to expand my own understanding. And I use this blog as a means to (hopefully) promote yours. The other day, my brother "the philosopher" gave me a passage from Suzuki's Studies in Zen. It's amazing how much it speaks to my scholarly motivations:

"As long as we are gregarious animals, and therefore social and rational, everything we experience, be it an idea, an event, or a feeling, we desire to communicate to one another, and this is possible only through a medium. We have developed various mediums of communication, and those who can command them at will are leaders of humandkind: philosophers, poets, artists of all kinds, writers, orators, religionists, and others. But these mediums must be substantiated, must be backed by real personal experiences. Without the latter, mediums are merely utilized and will never vibrate with vitality. 

Some mediums are more readily counterfeited than others, being subject to all devices of ingenious simulation. Language as one such medium lends itself most easily to misrepresentation, intentional or otherwise. The highest and most fundamental experiences are best communicated without words; in the face of such experiences we become speechless and stand almost aghast.

Another consideration on the subject of means of communication is that however eloquent a medium may be it will not have the desired effect on anyone who never had an experience somewhat similar in kind although fainter in intensity. Like a pearl thrown before swine, eloquence is wasted. On the other hand, if two people have had an experience of the same nature, the lifting of a finger will set the whole spiritual mechanism in vibration, and each can read the other's inner thought."