On the day before I begin an adventure to China I was trying to think of what else needed to be accomplished. In planning for this 10 day trip I researched how to pack, what were the best shoes to travel in, the best backpack to take, what to do on a 14 hour plane ride, how to speak Chinese, do gmail and Facebook and Instagram really not work in China, what the heck is a VPN, do I really need to bring toilet paper…you get the idea. And from all that I made the following observations:

Whoever came up with the idea of a travel capsule wardrobe must have never met me! You are supposed to select a few interchangeable items of clothing then you can maximize the number of outfits. The same shirt with different pants and different accessories. The scarfs are probably just to hide the Peking duck sauce I am sure to spill on me on day two.

2 pair of shoes! 3 max! I love my shoes, but I’m down to 4. Oh and I went with Allbirds and Toms. We’ll see if the bulkier running shoes would have been a better choice.

Get it all in a carry on! Get real.

VPN purchased, check.

Toilet paper, check.

Chinese. If all I have to say is hello and thank you then I’m ready!

中国在这里我们来了. China here we come.

(At least I hope that google translate is correct and that is what it says.)