1. Packing
Packing was probably easiest. I think that we would qualify as people that dress very simply. We don't need our favourite shirt or accessories. I don't think any of us are aware of whether our shoes match our outfits. Since we have spent a lot of time hiking and canoeing, we have a decent amount of clothing that dries quickly which is perfect for washing on the go. For each person we packed:
- 4 quick dry shirts
- 2 pairs of quick dry shorts
- 2 pairs of pants
- 1 fleece
- 7 pairs of underwear (I found quick dry for the boys at Wal-Mart!)
- 7 pairs of socks
- 1 bathing suit
- 1 sarong (to use as a super thin towel that dries very quickly)
- 1 raincoat and pair of rain pants
- 1 pair of sandals
- 1 pair of light hiking shoes/boots
- 1 toothbrush
- 1 water bottle
- Tuque, buff and thin gloves
- Long underwear
- Hat and sunglasses
- Headlamp
We also packed:
- Toothpaste and dental floss
- Sunscreen and aloe vera
- Bug repellant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Brush and elastics
- First aid kit including a Swiss Army Knife and sewing kit
- Tweezers and nail clippers
- Paracord (for a laundry line and other random needs)
- Sunlight bar (for washing clothes)
- Toilet paper
- 2 decks of playing cards
- 5 dice
- 1 frisbee
- 1 mini volleyball
- 2 iPads and charging cords
- 2 cell phones and charging cords
- Cameras
- Plug adapter
- Steripen (a UV light to sterilize water)
- Ear buds for David and I and ear phones for the kids
- Two South American guide books
- David also brought a razor and shaving cream
- Amanda also brought some eye liner, pair of nicer earrings and a thin quick dry dress, just in case
- Amanda brought her Diva Cup with some tampons and liners.
For the kids we also brought:
- 1 stuffy each
- Math booklets
- 4 scribblers
- 10 pencils, pencil sharpener and 2 erasers
- Package of pencil crayons
- Sketching pad
- Travel journal
We also added the "Libby" app on our iPads so we can read books online for free.
We separated our clothes and packed them in mesh bags. We had one mesh bag for each person, one mesh bag for swimsuits and sarongs and one mesh bag for warm clothes (long underwear, tuques, buffs and gloves).
All of this fit into two large hiking backpacks and two small day packs.
2. Health
Travel insurance ended up being one of the most difficult challenges for us. We found that Manitoba Health will only cover us for 3 months. Some people can apply to be covered for up to 7 months (snowbirds), or even longer, but only if you are doing humanitarian work (for the length of your stay) or if you are a University Professor doing research. Unfortunately worldly education for yourself and your children doesn’t qualify. We are considered ex-patriots. Because Manitoba Health wouldn’t cover us longer, all other insurance companies wouldn’t top us up for the typical price and coverage. Many companies quoted us about $5000 or more. We found the best deal at CAA Manitoba, but it is very limited. A plan that typically covers people up to $5 million dollars will only cover us $20,000.
Immunizations were also challenging. I looked on the website for the government of Canada and it lists different clinics within Canadian cities that will provide the Yellow Fever vaccine. I found a clinic near our home that was on the list, and being a person who avoids long lines and the business of downtown, I thought that I would avoid the government clinic and give this one a try. Looking back, it would have been best to just go with the government clinic (WRHA). We booked our appointment in June, but unfortunately the clinic switched the time and then cancelled our appointment. We weren’t able to make another appointment before August which was really cutting it close. When we finally met with the doctor, he mentioned that we should have come in a lot sooner to get this done (while I bit my tongue and tried not to argue that the reason we were so late was because the clinic cancelled our earlier appointment). Next, the doctor asked for our itinerary. He wasn’t too happy to hear that we didn’t have an itinerary, and don’t plan on having one. In the end we were able to get all of the immunizations we needed except Yellow Fever because there is a shortage. Since it cost a lot of money to get travel vaccinations ($40 per person for the consultation and a fee for each vaccination) we weren’t too excited to go to another clinic only to pay for another consultation. But this ended up being alright because David did some research and found that we could get Yellow Fever vaccinations in Lima, Peru. And there are some clinics that provide the vaccination free of charge!
3. Travel Plans
Where to go first? Since we were going south, and since we were going to be leaving close to Charlie’s birthday, we thought that we would stop in Orlando to go to Disney World and Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. We found great tickets on Flighthub.com and UndercoverTourist. After that we had no idea until we learned about the Yellow Fever vaccine. Lima, Peru became an ideal first destination. The only thing we had to consider was that most countries need to see proof that you are leaving the country with an exit ticket (like a return ticket or an onward ticket by air or bus). Not having an itinerary proved to be a problem once again. David did some more research, and our plan was to be ready to book a flight at the airport to show that we would be leaving, and cancel it after we have shown our intinerary. My honesty alarm is going off! But you do what you need to do! And I know that we are not trying to beat the system to abuse it. We won’t stay longer than our allotted time or be a burden on the government.
4. Tying up Loose Ends at Home
There were many things to take into consideration at home.
Travel insurance ended up being one of the most difficult challenges for us. We found that Manitoba Health will only cover us for 3 months. Some people can apply to be covered for up to 7 months (snowbirds), or even longer, but only if you are doing humanitarian work (for the length of your stay) or if you are a University Professor doing research. Unfortunately worldly education for yourself and your children doesn’t qualify. We are considered ex-patriots. Because Manitoba Health wouldn’t cover us longer, all other insurance companies wouldn’t top us up for the typical price and coverage. Many companies quoted us about $5000 or more. We found the best deal at CAA Manitoba, but it is very limited. A plan that typically covers people up to $5 million dollars will only cover us $20,000.
Immunizations were also challenging. I looked on the website for the government of Canada and it lists different clinics within Canadian cities that will provide the Yellow Fever vaccine. I found a clinic near our home that was on the list, and being a person who avoids long lines and the business of downtown, I thought that I would avoid the government clinic and give this one a try. Looking back, it would have been best to just go with the government clinic (WRHA). We booked our appointment in June, but unfortunately the clinic switched the time and then cancelled our appointment. We weren’t able to make another appointment before August which was really cutting it close. When we finally met with the doctor, he mentioned that we should have come in a lot sooner to get this done (while I bit my tongue and tried not to argue that the reason we were so late was because the clinic cancelled our earlier appointment). Next, the doctor asked for our itinerary. He wasn’t too happy to hear that we didn’t have an itinerary, and don’t plan on having one. In the end we were able to get all of the immunizations we needed except Yellow Fever because there is a shortage. Since it cost a lot of money to get travel vaccinations ($40 per person for the consultation and a fee for each vaccination) we weren’t too excited to go to another clinic only to pay for another consultation. But this ended up being alright because David did some research and found that we could get Yellow Fever vaccinations in Lima, Peru. And there are some clinics that provide the vaccination free of charge!
3. Travel Plans
Where to go first? Since we were going south, and since we were going to be leaving close to Charlie’s birthday, we thought that we would stop in Orlando to go to Disney World and Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. We found great tickets on Flighthub.com and UndercoverTourist. After that we had no idea until we learned about the Yellow Fever vaccine. Lima, Peru became an ideal first destination. The only thing we had to consider was that most countries need to see proof that you are leaving the country with an exit ticket (like a return ticket or an onward ticket by air or bus). Not having an itinerary proved to be a problem once again. David did some more research, and our plan was to be ready to book a flight at the airport to show that we would be leaving, and cancel it after we have shown our intinerary. My honesty alarm is going off! But you do what you need to do! And I know that we are not trying to beat the system to abuse it. We won’t stay longer than our allotted time or be a burden on the government.
4. Tying up Loose Ends at Home
There were many things to take into consideration at home.
- What to do with our house: Not a problem. We have an amazing niece who is currently a university student who has graciously accepted the invitation to move into our place with her boyfriend.
- Education for our children: I am hoping that being an elementary school teacher, I can cover this one...
- Informing the Canadian Government that we will be gone and signing up for warnings and travel advisories.
- Setting up pre-authorized payments for our bills like Hydro, Water and Waste, and the telephone company.
Now all that is left is getting on the plane and leaving on an adventure of a lifetime!
Wow! Awesome packing list, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteVery cool that you could just get the vaccination in Lima. Take that Canadian government! But that was a smart little work around, being prepared to book a flight at the airport. You can understand why they do it, but still kind of silly. To tell you the truth Manda, I am actually kind of surprised how much you guys packed. I totally thought you would be the ones who purchased local. I am very much like you, and like to bring what I have and not create excess waste. Anyways, loving the updates!
ReplyDeleteYes, it ended up being a lot, but it packs pretty small! We will definitely replenish locally when we run out of things we have!
ReplyDelete