Busy Days

[bjarvis]

My flight to Bangalore (via Paris) is early Monday afternoon. There has been so much last-minute domestic work to get done before I depart, but I think I've finished the list.

These included:

• Setting up automatic bank transfers & bill payments to make up for the fact my paycheck will be deposited and credit card & mortgage payments will all occur while I'm still on a plane somewhere between DC and Bangalore.
  
• I prepared & submitted our square dance calling billings to DC Lambda Squares and Chesapeake Squares for the month.
  
• I cleaned up my laptop since it will be travelling with me. I removed anything even vaguely risqué, encrypted anything resembling work or personal files and backed up the lot to the Internet so I can retrieve them again if necessary when I'm in India.
  
• Ditto for my Android tablet and mobile phone.
  
• I've chucked a lot of unnecessary papers from my clipboard. My trusty clipboard has been with me since early high school as my primary means of recording notes and managing tasks. I won't need my various square dance notes for this trip, or a lot of other domestic stuff. There's only a few sheets of work-related notes left, and a lot of fresh paper.
  
• I've cleaned out my wallet, taking only a select few items, including the euros and rupees I collected last week.
  
• I have submitted tax returns for kent4str and myself (cuyahogarvr's returns are vastly simpler and can be submitted by telephone).
  
• I have photocopied my passport & visa, the two credit cards I'm taking with me and two vital gov't-issued IDs. One copy goes with me in case I lose something, the other stays at home.
  
• I have cleaned out my toiletries kit, dumping a lot of items I won't need. Some items (like my anti-malarial meds) will travel with me as a carry-on, the rest of the toiletries will be stowed in checked baggage.
  
• Price tags have been removed from the eight Washington DC gift items I'm taking with me as presents to my Bangalore colleagues. Because of travel regs, I can't gift-wrap them before travelling so I'll have to think quickly once I'm in Bangalore about how to prepare them for presentation.
  
• I've nearly finished packing my suitcase. I'm taking clothes for about six days; I'm planning to have laundry done while I'm there. Nearly everything is office wear --dress pants, dress shoes, socks, a selection of nice shirts. On a last minute suggestion, I've also stuffed in five ties and two sport coats in case the office is more formal than I suspect. Once I'm done with my razor and beard trimmer Monday morning, my suitcase will be complete.
  
• I've dumped all of the unnecessary items from various pockets of my backpack into a large bowl sitting on my desk beside me as I type this. My tablet & power supply, camera & tripod, misc cables, earphones, a spare flash memory stick and the electrical adapters to deal with French and Indian electrical systems are packed. And a tonne o' business cards since I'm told it is customary to exchange cards with anyone to whom you are introduced.
  
• I have checked in for my flight and have printed my boarding pass.

So... what have I forgotten?

Comments

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

1) Breathe
2) Don't forget to pee

India is actually a really fun place to be, although the initial smell can kill you. You get over it pretty quickly though. Take lots of pics, eat good food, and drink beer, or boiled tea, and not water, unless you see it come out of a closed (bonded) bottle.

I think you're good to go!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yup, keep to the well-cooked foods, drink only sealed bottles, carbonated/processed or boiled drinks. And use the bottled water to rinse the toothbrush.

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

Use bottled water to rinse your razor, too. Isn't travel fun!

If you get any time in Paris, go to Berthillon for the cassis sorbet.

http://www.berthillon.fr/mag/fr/page-112620.htm

[wescobear.livejournal.com]

Immodium - don't leave home without it.

Safe travels.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yup, got the nuclear-power prescription stuff already in my carry-on. And pain killers in case I have a kidney stone issue or just want to dull the pain of living.

Your towel, Mr Dent?

[(Anonymous)]

Earplugs for the plane? Hand sanitizer? You might be surrounded by screaming, nose-runny children for the 9 hours from Paris to India. I can't predict the Bangalore likelihood of being asked questions that I was, like how much money you make, how old you are (not married???), if there's free sex in Amedika, who's the best disco dancer, if they have rocks in Amedika, if white skin is better, why English is the world language, what caste you are, if you'll take someone's baby back to Amedika, or why Amedika hates everyone else. J

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I guess I should wish you a Happy Birthday early! Have a safe trip and enjoy the adventure!

HUGS!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[jwg.livejournal.com]

What you forgot was to think about having a great time visiting a completely different world than you are used to.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Last night, I was reviewing procedures for the use of the squat toilet, should I encounter one. Yup, it's a different world!

[canseefour.livejournal.com]

Have a great trip and enjoy the experience!

[bix02138.livejournal.com]

sounds like you've considered just about everything (and by that i mean you and i have forgotten the same things).

one thought with regard to the gifts: many stationery stores (and giftier places) sell square sheets of wrapping paper. you could pick some up and fold it to fit in your luggage. that way you'd need only scissors and tape in bangalore.

of course, martha stewart could tell you how to make festive giftwrap out of the in-flight magazine.

[pklexton.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday! I'm jealous - have a safe trip and tell us all about it.

[excessor.livejournal.com]

Have a great time. Where are you staying?

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I'll be at The Chancery Pavillion (http://www.chanceryhotels.com/pavilion/).

[excessor.livejournal.com]

It looks nice!

[markgarciachris.livejournal.com]

For the gift wrapping... you could pre-cut some sheets of wrapping paper to fit the gifts, wrap them around paper towel roll and pack them in your suitcase. Then all you need in Bangalore is some scotch tape and your American gifts can be wrapped American style.

[markgarciachris.livejournal.com]

Of course, you're probably on a plane by now... so.... never mind!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

It's a good idea though... I wish I had thought of that!

Next time...!

[apparentparadox]

Have you contacted your credit card company so that they'll approve charges from overseas? Have you set up your cell phone as well (if it will work over there)?

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

My phone isn't compatible but I believe my Dear Employer will have a local one waiting for me when I arrive.

The appropriate credit card issuers (one Visa, one Mastercard) were both alerted last week that they may be used in Paris, France, and Bangalore, India.