[Jenny1565]

Preparing and obsessing is one of the few things that we have control over at this point, but don't make yourself sick. My husband and I did the 3 pants and 3 or 4 shirts and simply changed our under clothes and were fine. You will be so much happier if you don't have lots to lug around. We carried a huge purse (glasses, contact stuff, meds, snacks, toothbrushes) with us on the plane and a backpack with all our papers. The most important thing is your paperwork and the essentials that you can't live without. Anything else can be purchased or replaced. We took $4,500 (we brought home $1,700) for the first trip, carried with passports and plane tickets on our bodies at all times (money belts and fanny packs are great). As for appliances, we were always able to purchase food, although not necessarily what we are used to, so no hot plate was needed. I have long hair and I wore it up the whole time, so no need for blow dryers ad curling irons. I was advised that you could simply buy a blow dryer over there for about 10 bucks, and then just leave it behind. We didn't have much time for primping and changing clothes anyway. Great snacks were small bags of peanut M&Ms, cashews, jerkey, granola bars, and bottled water. Water was usually available. I took 4 bottles, stowed in luggage and we replenished with a couple of bottles when ever it was available. We ended up with an 8 hour car ride with no bathroom stops. I was glad that I had not drank much. Cokes and Pepsis were also available. As for gifts, we took baby vitamins, (3 bottles) for the children at the orphanage, a blanket to leave with our daughter that we had been sleeping with so it smelled of us, and privately gave a $100 tip to the orphanage director when we left. Our rep bought $30.00 worth of gifts for us, for various people and it was great, we didn't have to worry about gifts and we know that it was appropriate. I think it was usually Estee Lauder makeup. We were told what gift the orphanage wanted for the second trip - they need cash to buy essentials. Gifts are usually exchanged on the second trip anyway. Remember that this is not your country, be flexible and your agency reps will take care of you. Sorry I am so long winded!