Dublin: The Jameson Irish Whiskey Distillery

While in Dublin, like the Guinness Storehouse, I highly recommend visiting the Jameson Distillery.  We also used the hop on hop off tour bus and went to the Jameson Irish Whiskey distillery. After a short movie on the history of Jameson, I got the opportunity to go on a guided tour of how Jameson is made. First, Jameson Whiskey started in 1780 when John Jameson established the Bow Street Distillery in Dublin. During our tour, we saw that there are many different kinds of Jameson Whiskey, including Jameson god reserve and Jameson 12 year old distiller reserve. I learned that Jameson is the best selling Irish whiskey in the World. After the guided tour, my friend and I got picked to be part of only 9, out of at least 50 people, to be a whiskey tester. We got the privilege to sit at a special table to taste a Scottish Whiskey, an American Whiskey (Jack Daniels), and Jameson Irish Whiskey. We sat at a table in front of everyone else. After tasting those four different times in different orders, it was a unanimous decision, all 9 of us liked Jameson the best. I thought Jameson was the best because it was the smoothest. All in all, I received a signed certificate with my name on it stating that I am a certified Jameson Irish Whiskey tester. I will never forget that.

After both tours, we went back to the hostel to get ready to go out. That night we went out to the Tumble Bar area.  I highly recommend you visit Temple Bar. There is The Temple Bar which is located on Temple Bar Street. Throughout the evening, we went from bar to bar listening to live bands. I thought it was awesome how all of the live bands were playing American music. At the end of the night, we visited five different traditional pubs. If you want to have a great time in Dublin Visit Dublin, go to Temple Bar Street. 

Inside the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

Our second day in Dublin we could not wait to go to the Guinness Storehouse at St. James Gate.Guinness Storehouse (I highly recommend you go if you visit Dublin). By the Dublin Spire there is a couple small pizza places, I recommend you go to those, to get some food. The pizza was pretty good and it was a slice and coke for 4 Euros. Then, after breakfast, I remember us walking to the local supermarket to buy some water and cereal bars for the rest of the weekend. I also recommend you do that because it will save you some money.  I noticed that there was a lot of security at the supermarket, which is not common for back in the United States. I brought a six pack of bottle water back to the hostel and when I opened one it exploded all over me and the floor. I soon learned, after a good laugh with everyone, that I actually bought Irish sparkling carbonated water. I did not like the taste, I had never heard of carbonated water before, but I still drank everyone. Then our group of 12 went out and bought Dublin Passes. When in Dublin, get the Dublin Pass and go on the hop on hop off bus tour.  You will be able to see all of the major sites of Dublin in a couple days. We hopped on a hop on hop off bus tour, that was right outside the tourist building where we were. We hopped off at the Guinness Store house. During the first part of the tour, I learned the history of Guinness and how it is made. I remember the first part of the tour showed me how Arthur Guinness started brewing ales in 1759 at the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin. Guinness is made of Guinness stout, made from water, barley, hops, and yeast. You will see all of these steps during the awesome tour. It is then treated with isinglass finings. A portion of barley is roasted to give the beer its dark color. After the tour we went up to the Gravity Bar on the top of the Storehouse. I was really interesting to talk to the bar tender who told me  that, individually, one bar tender at the Gravity Bar pours 300-500 a day at Guinness. On a busy average weekend day, Guinness pours around 4000 pints. From the Gravity Bar, you can see all of Dublin so I highly recommend you go there. Guinness Merchandise

Behind: Berkeley Castle in England & Dublin, Day 1

If you travel to the west of England (almost to Wales) I recommend you stop at Berkeley Castle in Berkeley, Gloucestershire.  Our group was given the opportunity to travel there and get a tour of this significant castle. I recommend you go here if you like seeing history on beautiful English county land.  It was very interesting to learn that the same family (The Berkeley Family)  has been living at Berkley Castle for over 900 consecutive years. The family lives on the one side while tours are given on the other. While touring the amazing castle you will get a history of it. During the tour we saw the room King Edward the second was murdered there by people sticking a hot iron in his you know what.

Dublin: While in Europe, I highly recommend you travel to the amazing cultural city of Dublin Ireland. Many small airlines Ryan Airlines ,easyJet Airlines offer very cheap flights from many cities around Europe and especially England.  About 12 of us took a flight from Bristol, England to Dublin. There are many taxis that will get you to pretty much anywhere in the Dublin area. We stayed in a hostel called Jacobs Inn in the heart of the city. I recommend you book early and if you have a group, book a room all together at hostels. Our hostel was located by the Dublin Spire. It was very easy to walk home at night because we just looked for the tall spire. When in Dublin, I recommend you go to McDonalds because they have curly fries(that as far as I know they do not have in America) that are so good. I remember there was security guards at McDonalds, which was interesting because, I had never seen armed security at McDonalds before.  After dinner we went to a pub that was also a nightclub. It was right by a large green Heineken sign right by the river.  While at the club we requested our favorite American songs and that the DJ played pretty much all of them.

London: The Palace of Westminster, Behind The Scenes

While I was studying abroad, our group of students was given the opportunity to tour inside the Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London. This day was very exciting because not many people get the chance to go behind the scenes and see inside such an historic and famous place. When we arrived, I remember there was a lot of visible security guards and many cameras facing everywhere. We went through security and got our picture taken for our visitor passes we wore around our necks. We were taken into the House of Lords after walking right where Queen Elisabeth walked just about a week earlier to open up Parliament. I could not get over all of the detail on the walls and ceilings; everything was there for a reason and important. The House of Lords had red benches and seeing the Queen’s thorn was amazing. The entire chair is gold and so detailed it is like nothing else. There were a few big red flat cushioned benches where some the Lords sit to revise and initiate legislation.  The paintings of past Kings, Queens, and other significant figures in British history were amazing and huge. As we walked through the House of Commons it was really cool to stand at the podium where the Prime Minister of England stands for debates and speeches. The House of Commons had green benches where over 600 democratically elected Members of Parliament (MPs) meet to debate and make laws. There was a red line on each side of the House of Commons in front of the benches. It was so cool to learn that the space between the two red lines is exactly the length of two swords; back then when MPs would argue they would both draw their swords from each side of the benches and their sword's tips would just touch. When Parliamentarians signal they want to speak by standing up; it is called “catching the speakers eye”.  We were not allowed to take any pictures inside the Houses of Parliament but I took many mental pictures that I will remember for years to come. This was an amazing behind the scenes experience, I recommend you try to go see the Palace of Westminster because you will not see anything like that anywhere else. 

Inside my 2nd Day in London.

 London, England can get expensive very quick. Especially for a college student, like myself. So my second day in London we woke up and went to breakfast at McDonalds. McDonalds is everywhere in London and I think it tasted better than the United States ones.  After discovering how awesome the London Tube was on the first day, I remember us deciding that we were going to use the Tube instead of walking as much. When you go onto the London Tube listen for the guy saying “mind the gap”” (watch my step on and off) when the tube arrives. It is pretty funny. It was very easy to use, and I recommend using it while in London for all of your travel needs. I liked how the tube routes were color coded and how they announced the name of the next stop. I guarantee your confidence with using public transportation will shoot through the roof, like mine did because London is huge and getting around it easy is really cool.  After taking the tube to the Mall we went to the Buckingham Palace Parade. It was really cool to see the Parade and how it's a tradition in England. We saw the changing of the guard. I recommend you plan out your day to see it because it is really cool.  I remember us then visiting the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square, the most famous square in Britain. Trafalgar Square was cool because it had huge sculptures and a huge ship in a bottle. I remember noticing that most of the paintings within National Gallery were of nudity. I thought it was interesting because it is very different in the art galleries in America. After the National Gallery, we went to Harrods. I thought Harrods was the coolest shopping center I have ever seen. Harrods is the largest department store in the world and you can get pretty much anything from there. For example, I remember learning that you can order a tiger or an elephant at Harrods if you wanted to. It was interesting how Harrods had pretty much anything a person can want. If I was a billionaire’s son, I would go there on my birthday and Christmas.  I highly recommend you go there when you are in London.  That night we went to an Ice Bar. I recommend you go to it. It is called Absolut Ice Bar. Everything is made of ice, I remember saying that I have never seen anything like that in my entire life.

Links: Luggage to bring to Europe (Link Post)

When packing for Europe, you are going to have to make decisions on what to bring and to leave behind. Now, the basic stuff , toiletry items, can be bought over there in pretty much any city with a convenient store or a super market. Now all of these products I brought fit in a suitcase with wheels and a backpack. These links will provide you with all of your packing needs:

First, I brought a The North Face Suitcase: The North Face Suitcase
I like this suitcase because it was very sturdy and still light. It had nice big wheels for rolling around the airport and a nice big handle for stairs. It was also very easy to spot on all of the luggage returns at airports. It was nice how it had a big zippered compartment and some secret compartments as well. It also expanded giving it more volume, which was nice to have that extra room for souvenirs.

I also brought a Patagonia backpack:Patagonia Cross Town Backpack
(Mine was black) This backpack was nice because it had a variety of pockets and compartments. I also liked how it had straps on the outside to strap shoes on, for example. I am pretty sure it was waterproof as well because all of my things were dry when it rained in London.

I brought a Under Armour Toiletry kit: Under Armour kit
This was nice because it zippered shut, resulting it in sealing everything inside. My body wash actually exploded and nothing leaked outside of it. It was also easy to whip off and it had a lot of room inside for all of you toiletry things.

I bought a Nike duffel bag at the mall in Brussels, Belgium: Nike Duffel Bag
I purchased this because I could not all of the things I bought on the trip in my suitcase and backpack by three quarters of the way through my 37 day long trip to Europe. I recommend you buy something like this bag because it was cheap and available at pretty much any mall. Another idea is to buy it before you go and pack it within your suitcase.

Optional: I did bring these but some of my friends did or they were recommend for us to bring.

Packing Squares: Packing Squares/Blocks for suitcase
My friends said they were nice because they separated everything in their suitcases. They said they like how it keep everything organized and in order.

Big zip lock bags:Zip Lock sealed bags
These were recommended for us to bring. These were recommend to bring because they will keep your clothes dry in the event of it raining while in route at the airport.

Inside my 1st Day in London, England.

Traveling to London can be crazy and stressful. But if you are prepared, you will have an awesome time and really enjoy the amazing city. A group of around 20 of us planned out the hostel we wanted to stay at in London before we left for Europe. To find a hostel, I recommend using Google and searching “cheap priced hostels in London”. On the first Friday of my trip, I woke up early and starting packing for London. Everyone in our group traveled on a bus there to the heart of Piccadilly Circus. Our hostel was called Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel, right in the heart of Piccadilly Circus. I recommend you book a hostel or hotel that is close to main attractions because it is nice to be able to walk. When I first arrived in London, I was surprised how many people were walking around me. I learned quickly to be more aware of everything going around me. When we arrived at the hostel, I thought it was a little creepy looking and that it looked like a prison. I soon learned that everyone else’s first impressions were the same. My open mind soon got rid of those thoughts and it was awesome how I got to stay with my friends.
After getting some lunch, me and a small group of friends walked around and saw Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abby, The Houses of Parliament, The Clock Tower, and the London Eye.  We got to see all of these major places because we had a map and planned our route out. It was interesting to learn that Big Ben is actually the bell inside the clock tower. I thought Buckingham Palace and the Mall were really beautiful. I thought it was really cool how the guards outside the Palace were holding assault rifles out in the open, because when I went to the White House, I did not see any physical security like that. Tonight some friends and I went to a bar/nightclub called Avon.  This bar was cool because there was shot girls walking around and they had a bunch of seats that you and friends can chill on. I thought it was cool how there were so much security outside of the bar.  During the nighttime hours, I noticed that there were a lot of people hassling others and I, on the street, for some money and/or some drugs of some sort. I recommend being very observant and being aware of your surroundings.  

Behind the Scenes: Bath, England.

Staying on the theme of traveling to small towns, while in Europe. Bath, England is a very cool city to visit because it brings you back to the history of the Romans. Bath, England is the site of where Roman Baths were. During the Roman Empire, it is where the Romans went to gather water and take baths from that came out of the earth. Our group took a bus to Bath. It was really interesting to learn that the Roman baths are supplied with hot water that comes from around 3000 thousand meters below the surface. These baths have been  buried for around 1500 years, so they are in really good condition. I remember it being interesting to learn how the temperature is 117 degrees F (46 degrees C) of the water.  There was also a pump room there where the locals, back then, used to come from all over to drink the water. If you travel there, I recommend you attend an information session before you see the baths. The information session will provide a little history on what you are about to see Instead, I think the guide see especially if you have never heard of the city before. I appreciated what I was seeing during the tour of Bath because I knew a little background on it.

After Bath, we went to Mud Docks, in Bristol, for dinner. I had my first burger with an egg on it and it was awesome. I am going to go back home and have eggs on burgers sometimes now because I really enjoyed it. If you travel to Bristol I highly recommend you go to Mud Docks at least once. They also have really good beer there that I recommend you try if you walked there. Mud Docks is located right on the river walk right in the downtown of Bristol, England. 

Behind the scenes of my fist day of school.

If traveling abroad to study in the summer time, you most likely will stay in one room during the day and different professors will come and go. This post will give you a behind the scenes perspective of what to expect on your first day of classes when traveling abroad  to Europe. I remember my first day at the University of West England. The University of the West of England (UWE)   That day our director spoke first in class.  He focused his discussion on survival tips while in Bristol, England.  I recommend you look up some basic survival tips for the city/ Europe as a whole if you do not get taught them. Some of the basic, yet important things I recommend you learn is for example: they call beer is lager and that is a lot stronger there. I recommend you learn the different kinds of taxis in your specific town. Another important thing to know and learn is what are the recommended tipping percents for the bars/pubs, restaurants and taxis.  I think it is a good idea to start learning the culture in the particular country you are in; that is what we learned the first day with a group exercise on culture; which was an Arabic number exercise, where we had to figure out which symbols mean which numbers in Arabic. We tried a dried prune and marmolite. Both foods were not so good but local people love them. Hey, can’t hate it till you try it, I always say! I feel as if they are an acquired taste anyways. Other differences are they call it first, second and third year here instead of freshman, sophomore, junior, senior. In that rist day of class, I remember us learning about Intercultural Communication and the definition of culture. Also, we talked about how culture can be explained into three categories: products, behaviors, and ideas. Tonight when my roommate and I arrived back to our host families home, we had a really different kind of chilly with rice for dinner. The one thing I liked about it was it was completely different than my mom’s back home. At dinner, we discussed the differences in laws. I learned that it is legal to have an open drink walking through town; which is also completely the opposite of what the law is in the United States. When going out at night, I recommend you carry a local map or have a phone with maps on it because that night my roommate and I got lost walking home from a really cool bar named Sloans. 

Recommended sites to visit and see in Bristol, England.

Staying with the small town tours, I recommend you go on a couch tour of Bristol. With the first few days in Bristol, we saw the Clifton suspension bridge and we took a tour of the Georgian house.  I remember it bring really cool to see an empty river. The river through Bristol is empty because  the river drains in the morning and fills back up in the afternoon. If you like learning a lot of little history, you would like how the couch tour also took through the historic city where I learned the difference between Victorian style home and Georgian style homes. The reason why the homes are called Victorian is because they were built in the Queen Victoria era.  I recommend you go to the market named “Sweet” and try the world’s hottest hot sauce. That is exactly what a few friends of mine and I did one day. Warning: Drink milk after words, they sell it in the market, because water just makes it worse. The sandwiches at restaurants were very interesting looking and I liked most of them out of the ones I tried. They are not like sandwiches in the United States at all.  There was egg and tomato one and cucumbers and fish. On the way home from the market, I rode on a double Decker bus. I think that they should have them in America. While having dinner with my host family, I thought it was interesting how my host family mom or dad is the one how serves everyone at dinner. Also, I recommend you start looking at and studying the coins (British Pounds) because there are many different sizes and shapes. For example, they have a one pound coin instead of a one dollar bill. 

First Weekend Abroad. (Inside Bristol, England)

When going abroad, I recommend you go on little local tours in the cities you are staying in. Since Bristol, England was a medium sized city with a lot of history, the first weekend, our study abroad group decided to all go on a  Pirate Walk, by the river in Bristol. If you ever visit Bristol, England, I recommend you go on this walk.  Bristol Pirate Walk Information  I remember learning many interesting facts on this walk.  One of the first things, I thought was interesting, was that, according to Pirate Pete,  John Cabot was the one how really found America. I remember others and I not really believing him, but it was still interesting.  Bristol is a very interesting and cool city because it had huge tides, back in the day before, dams were built. The boats were in mud when the tide went down; and that is why there is a restaurant alongside the river called Mud Docks. Mud Docks is a really good place to go. They serve eggs on burgers there.

Also, I remember it being interesting to learn that ship captains used to throw their crew overboard instead of the slaves because the slaves were worth money.  It is really interesting that Bristol’s location was picked because they were afraid of the Vikings coming in. That night we went to the Penny Farthy Pub and watched a Chicago Black Hawks. Then, we went to bar named the Bar Hum Bug. If you go to Bristol, I recommend you go there because they had beach themed parties.

My First day abroad and meeting my host family.

When I arrived at in London’s Heathrow airport, I remember liking it. I felt very welcomed to Britain. The bar tender was very nice at the restaurant a group of us sat at.  I learned that tipping is not required in pubs and bars. The first day, I remember seeing a lot of smaller cars, with smaller engines, compared to the United States. I realized that people here are a lot more relaxed and laid back. When meeting my host family I soon noticed that they are a lot more polite to each other than my family is. It was amazing how skinny the roads are here compared to the U.S.  My host family was very nice. They picked me and my roommate up in a camper. They slept in the camper outside in the driveway so me and my roommate can get our own rooms. My host dad was a doctor of psychology. I remember him saying that  he was born in South Africa. He taught at the University I attended while over there. He did research on personalities. My host mom worked out of her home as a chiropractor. They had two daughters. I remember them telling me that they have lived in England for around 20 years My host dad was very intelligent.  I spent my free time the first day talking to them about the differences we have in health care, politics, and manners. I met some cool students, the first day; I noticed that  a lot of them have similar personalities as me so I knew, right from the first day, that this trip was going to be a lot of fun.   The first night we went out to the Hobligoblin in downtown Bristol England. I recommend going there because it is a very chill place and they have really good beer. My first day in England was so long.  I got about 30 min of sleep in 36 hours. So when you travel to Europe, be prepared to get little sleep the first day. 

Good tips on host families. (Gifts and Suggestions)

This blog applies to any student that is thinking about going to study abroad or is planning on going to Europe to study and staying with a host family. Now, my host family lived in Bristol, England. It is one of the most popular cities in Europe, yet at the same time, it has a small town feel and look. Before I went, I learned that people in England are very for the environment. I think they have such a better recycling program then back in the United States. Plus, they do not like to waste by using plastic bags when shopping for groceries. When I heard of that, I thought  there would be no better gift than a reusable shopping bag. I also thought it would be a good idea to bring them something from my home town in the United States. The following are some gifts ideas that, I think, are perfect to bring to a host family, no matter where they live in Europe. First, I brought them a Chicago Blackhawks towel, because right before I went they won the Stanley Cup. I also brought them  two re usable store bags. One was Chicago Bulls and the other was Chicago Bears. I also brought them a Chicago Bears beer koozie because, I heard, they do not have a lot of those over there. I also suggest you bring them a local book on the city you live in. Pretty much any favorite or close by sports team things will work.  At the end of the trip, I recommend you buy them a cheaper bottle of wine, if you say them drinking wine. My host family really appreciated the gifts I gave them because they were from my home town (Chicago). All in all, I suggest you do not bring any gifts that will break in your suitcase while in route to arrive there.

What "I wish" I had known before I went to Europe. Top 10

When going onto trips, there are always things that you wish you would have brought with you. The good thing about going to a place like Europe is that you can buy pretty much any small thing that you forgot. Now, I went to study abroad in Europe and I stayed with a host family in a Bristol, England. They were nice enough to allow me to use their computer; we were encouraged not to bring one. I decided to make this list to help you not forget things and to give you some ideas of what to think about bringing to Europe. Whether you are going for school, or just a long vacation, this list gives inside key things that I wish had know before I went to Europe. 

¨  Wish I had my laptop

¨  Plan to spend more than you think on drinks and food

¨  Wish I left more room in suitcase

¡  Had to purchase another bag in Brussels

¨  Pack toiletry stuff in sealed plastic bags

¡  My body wash exploded in my toiletry kit

¨   Take a couple hundred out of ATM at a time (its less ATM fees)

¨  Bring a coin pouch or plastic bag for all of the pounds/euro coins

¨  A light jacket with a hood if it rains

¡  Bought a zip up hoddie at the University I studied at. 

¨  Small umbrella (Because the weather changes without warning)

¨  Wish I had a neck pillow for the bus rides and train rides

¨  Google major places in the cities you plan on visiting. (so you know what your seeing)

Other things to bring other than clothes. (Summer) - (LIST POST)

I recommend you pack most of this stuff in a backpack and carry it on the plane with you. Except for your toiletry kit. I also recommend you scan of all of your important documents and email them to yourself.  Bring copies of your prescriptions just in case you have to show customs.

¨  Toiletry Kit Under Armour Kit

¡  It worked great because it sealed and it was easy to clean if something spilled inside.

¡  Basics  (I brought regular size)

¨  Don’t forget a nail clipper

¨  Toothpaste

¨  Toothbrush

¨  Body Wash

¨  Shampoo

¨   Shaver + shaving cream

¨  Q-tips

¨  Tide-to go stain remover pen

¨  Cologne or Perfume samples

¨  Get from the store, nice cause they won’t break and they are small

¨  Deodorant

¨  Lotion Aloe/Everyday Lotion

¨  Great because it will help in you get sunburn.

¨  Sun block

¨  Allergy medicine

¨  Especially if you get bad allergies.

¨  Listerine mouthwash strips

¨  Other (hair straighter/ blow-dryer)

¨  I Pod   iPod Stuff

¡  Travel Guide apps

¡  Google maps

¡  Arm band for running

¨  Important Documents (scan and email yourself copies)

¡  Passport

¡  Drivers License

¡  International student ID

¡  Visa/Master Debit Card

¡  Visa/Master Credit Card

¨  Sunglasses

¨  Any prescriptions

¨  Laptop

¨  If have: Blackberry/Iphone (get international package for Google maps/email)

¨  Camera My Camera

¡  large memory card  4-8GB, I recommend. Memory Card

¨  Small umbrella (put in suitcase)

¨  European/International Travel plug International Travel Plug

¨  Money belt Money Belt

¨  Towel (for hostels)

¨  Dr. Sholes  Dr. Sholes for shoes

¡  Great for your gym shoes (because you will be walking a lot) 

How to pack and what clothes to bring to Europe. (Summer)

It is very important to pack the right clothes for a long trip to Europe. I traveled to Europe for about 40 days. Now, when you start packing your suitcase, I highly recommend you leave a few inches of open space for souvenirs. If you have a suitcase that expands, pack with it not extended and still leave a little room. Trust me, I had to purchase a duffle bag in Brussels, Belgium, because I did not anticipate myself purchasing as much souvenirs as I did. I recommend you put jeans and shorts on the bottom of your suitcase. Role t-shits up and place them on one side and fold nice dress shirts up, stacking them on the other. I recommend you put your shoes in a plastic bag so they do not dirty up your clothes. Sandals can also fit well on top. Underwear and socks fit well in the zippered area of a suitcase. I put my toiletry case on top of my clothes as well. All in all, this organization fit well in my 70 liter (79 liter extended) suitcase.

·         2-3 zip up light jackets/hoodies

·         3-4 pairs of jeans

o   I recommend different colors

·         A few (2-3) pairs of shorts

o   A nicer pair and a couple everyday pairs.

·         Your favorite T-Shirts

o   I recommend no school logos            

·         Polos /shirts to go out at night in

·         At least 10 pairs of Underwear + socks

o   Sometimes your laundry situation is unclear.

·         Gym shoes  (make sure you have them broken in)

·         Sandals Reef Sandals

o   Nice because they had a bottle opener on bottom (lots of beer in Europe require one to open)

·         Dresser shoes 

What kind of luggage to bring.

When going abroad to Europe, one of the first things you want to do is to organize the types of luggage to bring. It is very important to organize what type of luggage to bring early. Check your airline web-sites luggage specifications, limits and weights; because you do not want to get charged outrageous prices when you arrive to the airport.  I am going to show what kind of luggage I brought to Europe. I did not have any problem carrying this luggage up stairs when I had to. It is also important to make sure your suitcase, backpack or luggage is not too heavy, because I guarantee you will need to carry them up stairs, yourself,  at least a few times while in Europe. I brought a backpack that was a Patagonia Coss-town. It was nice because it had straps on the outside to tie shoes/other things on. It was also really durable and easy to whip off when I spilled on it. My Backpack

I also brought a The North Face Suitcase that had an extended volume of up to 79 liters, which was plenty for about 40days,  and it was still pretty small, light, and durable. It had nice big wheels, as well, that came in handy alot. I also brought an toiletry case  Under Armour Kitbecause it is nice to have all your toiletry items organized and sealed. Trust me, you want them sealed, it was so nice to have my body wash sealed in a zippered toiletry case when it exploded. Otherwise it would have gotten all over my clothes, when most of the time I did not have laundry. Now some people bring suitcase organizer blocks. I do not think they are necessary to purchase, my clothes were fine without them.