Packing to wazoo

Six hours of packing, and I'm almost finished. Plug converter/adapters, multiple phrase books, reservation confirmations, hand sanitizers, medications, tickets, to wazoo. Thank goodness for travel compression bags or there wouldn't be room for clothes. Charlotte said, "Great, Now I can pack more." I began with every intention of just six outfits for 19 days...it kind of expanded to 8. I couldn't believe how difficult it is to find gift items that aren't made in China. I figured I would need gifts for a family I'll visit in Hong Kong and for guides or other hosts. Yajie suggested a cup unique to the US or Buffalo, but that's not easily packed and most of them are not made here. I finally settled on WBFO's CD's of local artists performing the blues, some pens, pencils, and keychains imprinted with the Buffalo skyline, and pins with the NYSTEA logo and our motto, "Theatre Transforms Students' Lives" for new friends met at the conference. I can't wrap them till I go through customs; so I had to pack tissue paper and ribbon too.