The Smart T raveler’s C haperone Packing Light Andrew Lawrence I spent the summer of 2018 in St. Petersburg, Russia studying international politics at the State University of Economics. It was by far my most memorable experience abroad and while cathedrals, bridges, and nights on the town constitute most of my memories of Russia, there is one image that has continued to haunt me whenever the time comes to pack my suitcase. It is the memory of a three-piece luggage set; you know the kind: matching small, medium, and large. They were red, standing all together in the airport terminal and on top were perched a duffle bag, a backpack, and a purse. In order to understand the significance of this scene one must be made aware of the fact that all of this luggage belonged to a single person. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I stood ready to embark on the same exact journey accompanied only by a single, small carry-on bag. I would later learn that the owner of this veritable catalog of commodities was embarking on her very first trip abroad. The journey to Russia would be my sixth trip to Europe and the disparity between the amounts of luggage we considered appropriate is almost certainly a reflection of these facts. Packing light can be difficult, especially for first- or second-time travelers. Striking the right balance between coming prepared and being flexible can make all the difference in minimizing stress. Too much stuff distracts us from enjoying the moment and bags full of things weigh us down, limiting our freedom, and isn’t freedom what traveling is all about?
“isn’t freedom what traveling is all about?” * * * *
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