packing

I don't care that Disney lied about my Prince Charming, I'm more concerned with the fact that forest animals won't come and clean my house... Or pack my bags for that matter!!

My pile of stuff to pack keeps growing...

The date to leave is getting closer...

And nothing has magically packed itself in my bag yet... Grrr...

My Partner's rule about my pile of stuff to take away was that it wasn't allowed to grow so high that it touched his sword that is hanging on the wall.  So when the pile started to make the sword swing precariously on the wall, I spread out wards instead of upwards.

Packing is hard. I always write a Kit List and yet I always manage to forget something!  My issue at the moment is HOW much to pack though.  I'm going away for three months, which really is quite a long time! So I have to keep justifying to myself why i need everything that I'm packing...

Here is my current Kit List  (This will grow the closer I get to going away!!)

Clothes:
- 3 Shirts
- 1 Guide Uniform Shirt
- Jeans
- Navy Pants
- Under Shirts and Thermals
- Pj's
- Socks
- Beanie, Gloves, Scarf
- Bathers (must be an Australian thing but I always pack a pair of bathers, no matter what the temperature!)

Shoes:
- Snow Boots
- Indoor Sneakers
- Hiking Boots
- Thongs
- Nice Shoes

Bits and Bobs
- Toiletries
- Head torch
- First Aid Kit
- Music Books

Hand Luggage
- Computer and Cord
- Phone
- Camera, Battery, Memory Cards, Cord
- Flute
- Sunglasses
- Purse
- Travel File with Itinerary
- Notebook and Pencil Case

As it is going into summer here in Australia, absolutely no shops are selling long sleeve shirts or long pants anymore! Thankfully I already bought navy blue pants to take away and I already have my comfy pairs of jeans to take but I am seriously lacking in the shirt department.  I have maybe two long sleeve shirts in my whole wardrobe.  I mean, winter in Perth isn't really winter though... But still I feel a little under prepared clothing wise/

However the most important thing I have to pack is definitely the swaps and swap badges.  Over the last couple of months I have been going through my old badges and my mother's old badges, turning the house upside down to find badges that I can take away and swap for new and exciting ones to add to my camp blanket. Or pile of badges waiting to be sewn onto my camp blanket!!  What kind of Guide event would it be without swaps though!?

I have to admit as much as I hate packing, Unpacking is worse!

a world of possibilities

In less than 23 days, 2 hrs and 51 mins, (hey who's counting!) I will be at the Perth, Western Australia, International Airport checking in my baggage and boarding a flight to London, eventually ending in the small village of Adelboden, Switzerland.  It is here I will be spending the next three months (December - March) volunteering at the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts  (WAGGGS) World Centre - Our Chalet.

 

Our Chalet in Winter

Ever since I was a little Girl Guide, we learnt about the four WAGGGS world centres: Paxlodge in London, Our Cabana in Mexico, Sangam in India and Our Chalet in Switzerland, 

It was always my dream to visit each and every one at some point throughout my life.   

Now that I am 20 years old, one semester away from finishing my degree at University,  I am finally getting that chance. 

During Christmas break, I will be leaving Perth on the 30th of November, flying to London, where I will stay for 6 days, before travelling to Zurich then Adelboden in Switzerland where I be part of the Winter Volunteer Team at Our Chalet. 

I hope you enjoy reading about my trips and experiences as much as I know I am going to enjoy having them!!