Season 2 Episode 4: How to pack for origin continued

Welcome back to The Newsletter! This article is a follow up to “How to Pack for Origin in a Personal Item”, written by guest author Hannah Matthews.


Hi there! I’m Hannah, and I’m delighted to guest-write for The Newsletter this week. In the previous edition, Jay shared his tips for packing for travel to origin. While I agree with all of the tips he shared, I personally find packing for a 2-week trip in a personal item to be a little extreme. So I’m here to share how I pack for work travel in a carry-on, along with a few bits of advice and perspective. 

I’m not a coffee buyer, but I do travel internationally for work. I’m a Water Programs Senior Manager at charity: water, a non-profit on a mission to end the global water crisis. My job takes me to East Africa – most often Uganda and Tanzania – about twice a year for 1-3 weeks at a time. My time is pretty evenly split between days in conference rooms talking program strategy and days in the field visiting water infrastructure and speaking with community members. charity: water’s work focuses on rural areas (8 out of 10 people without basic access to clean water globally live in rural areas), so I typically find myself well outside major cities, taking long car rides to visit remote communities, staying in hotels where hot water is far from a guarantee. If you’ve traveled to origin as a coffee buyer, I’m sure this sounds familiar! 

After years of experimentation, here’s what I’ve found works best for me on these trips:

Clothes
While Jay extolls the benefits of merino wool, I’m partial to lighter fabrics for my travel to the field. I’m a big sweater, so anything I can do to wick moisture and allow airflow is important. 
On top, I wear a lot of linen and gauzy cotton. I also personally like that these options tend to be a bit more feminine and professional looking. And a bonus: they’re easy to handwash in a sink and are very quick to dry. 
On bottom, I have a longstanding love affair with the Outdoor Voices RecTrek Pant. They hit the right balance of structured and comfortable, and they take a miraculously long time to get smelly. Paired with the right top, I think they can look like pants you’d wear to the office. 
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Shoes
My approach to the shoes I travel with has changed over the years. I used to bring hiking boots or waterproof sneakers for my days in the field, wanting to be prepared for anything. Many of my colleagues are Blundstone diehards. However, I constantly found myself surrounded by folks wearing flip flops, flats, even wedge heels and managing just fine. My feet got overheated and swollen on long, hot car rides in restrictive footwear. Now, I almost always wear sandals in the field. While Chacos are well-known for their impressive tread and stability, a lot of brands are now making more stylish versions of performance sandals. I have a great pair from Sorel, but Teva and Merrel also have good options. 
As a runner, I do always pack a pair of running sneakers, in case I find myself at a hotel with access to a treadmill. I find that these work perfectly well if there’s a day that involves longer or more strenuous walks that I’d prefer a closed-toe for. 

Like Jay, I also bring a pair of EVA Foam Birks. They’re comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and can be used as a shower shoe.

Some thoughts on style
As a young(ish) woman traveling to places where I know I’ll be easily identifiable as a foreigner, there is a lot that goes into the way I choose to dress while traveling for work. Of course, functionality is paramount, but I also spend time considering how I will be perceived. I take care to dress professionally and modestly, perhaps more so than is strictly necessary. This approach doesn’t leave a ton of space for personal style, and that’s ok with me, though I know it may not feel right to everyone. 


Menstrual products
If you menstruate, travel prepared! I would not expect to have access to the same brands or types of period products that you use at home. Personally, I’m a menstrual cup girl. I like that it takes up minimal space in my bag, and I never have to worry about running out of what I need. I also bring a couple pairs of Knix as backup in case I’m expecting a very long day without good opportunities to change my cup and I don’t want to be anxious about leaks. 

Sleep
When you’re crossing several time zones and trying to stay engaged on 10+ hour work days, getting the best quality sleep you can, whenever you can, is so important. I’ve found the perfect neck “pillow” for long flights, as someone who prefers the aisle seat but also wants to sleep most of the journey. I travel with melatonin, in case jetlag hits hard and I need a little support getting on the right sleep schedule. When things get really dire, original formula Dramamine is your friend. I always pack it anyway for motion sickness on car rides, but it’s great to have in your back pocket when you can’t fall back asleep at 2am. Noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs come in handy when there’s a discoteca next door bumping reggaeton all night, or when you’re desperately trying to take a nap and the call to prayer sounds. Think about the things that really matter to you: if you’re particular about your pillow, bring a decent travel one (Jay shared the one he likes in his packing list); if you can only sleep in total darkness, get yourself a comfortable eye mask. While there will always be unknowns, bring the things that will set you up for the best chance of success.
Creature comforts It’s easy to feel like you’re always “on” while traveling for work. So, it’s important to bring things along that will help you unwind at the end of the day while you soak in some precious alone time. For some, this might be some reading material, a sketchpad, or a journal. For me, it’s an external hard drive full of movies and tv shows I’ve had since my Peace Corps days. In my mind, nothing is more comforting after a long day than curling up under my mosquito net and watching Harry Potter for the umpteenth time while snacking on a favorite treat from home. I’ve even gotten into the habit of packing a few skincare masks to up the relaxation factor. 

My packing list:
Everything fits in the Monos Carry-On Luggage and this backpack as a (truthfully, slightly too big) personal item.
I’ve not included things in this list that feel a bit obvious, like: toothpaste, laptop, cell phone, outlet converters, etc.
Clothes, shoes, accessories:
2-3 long-sleeve linen shirts
3-4 lightweight short-sleeve tops
2 tanks for layering
-2 casual t-shirts 
1 sweatshirt
2 pairs RecTrek pants
1 pair black jeans 
1 pair “weekend pants” – these are pants I would leave the hotel in but that are lightweight, easy, and casual. I have a pair similar to these.
1 pajama set
2 pairs of shorts for exercise or hotel room lounging
2 sports bras
1 cotton bra
3-4 pairs socks
About 100 pairs of cotton underwear (iykyk)
1 baseball cap (bonus points for one with a bit of personality)
1 lightweight scarf (can be used for sun protection or to add a bit of extra modesty if the situation calls for it)
1 pair sunglasses
Running sneakers
EVA Foam Birkenstocks
“Field sandals”
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Other must-haves: Ursa Major face wipes – for the plane, for the car, for when the hotel suddenly doesn’t have water Supergoop sunscreen A nice, small notebook for jotting notes in the field Larabars and jerky sticks Liquid IV (seaberry is a totally underrated flavor) Pepto Bismol chewable tablets, Ciprofloxacin (just in case!), Malaria prophylaxis (where relevant for trips over 1 week)
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