Tips for traveling to and from country
- Check the flight regulations for carry-ons for every airline that you are flying with to and from country. Some may have lower weight maximums, or only allow one carry-on instead of two.
- When packing your carry-on consider the fact that you will be carrying it with you for 35 hours.
- Cards and other travel games are nice to have for lay-over’s (and for free time in country, there are no other forms of entertainment available)
Packing List
The table below displays average monthly climate indicators in ADDIS ABABA based on 8 years of historical weather readings.
Temperature by: Fahrenheit / Centigrade
ADDIS ABABA 8 98 N, 38 80 E, 7726 feet (2355 meters) above sea level.
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From this you can see that it will be quite cool and at night even cold. Also it will rain so a jacket and good rain shoes are needed. Pack appropriately!
Guidelines:
-Everyone is limited to one 50lb bag (preferably one that rolls and is easy for you to manage on your own)
-You may be asked to check an additional bag of resources and materials we need for the trip (we thank you ahead of time for your help)
-You may bring mp3players/ipods or other forms of personal entertainment for the plane
Suggested Items:
-Baby Wipes (to keep you fresh and clean between showering opportunities)
-Antibacterial Gel
-European Outlet Converter (for anything that will need charging)
-Dual Watt electronics (basically anything that gets plugged in needs to be able to switch to a 220 current)
-Passport Pouch (something to keep you passport safely attached to you)
-If you have an “UNLOCKED 3-Band Phone” you can use your sim card in an Ethiopian cell phone (ask your cell phone provider)
-Camera (for your prayer letters and for personal documentation)
-Protein Bars and other snacks to keep your energy up (especially if you’re a picky eater)
-Bedding/Sheets (these will be provided by housing, but are old and worn)
-Dramamine (for the plane if you get air sick or have a hard time sleeping)
-Toilet Paper (might not always be readily available)
-Travel Febreeze (to keep your clothes and bedding fresh)
-Ear Plugs (if you’re a light sleeper)
-Travel Clock
-Extra contact lenses if you wear them
Required Items:
-Travel Bible
-Pen and Journal
-Email addresses of supporters to keep them updated (there will be internet cafes for you to use)
-Personal First Aids Kits (band aids, pepto bismol, antihistamines (you never know what you may be allergic to over there), Advil, calamine lotion, Benadryl, etc)
-Bug Spray with 50% “Deet” or higher (Deet repels Mosquitos)
-Sunscreen
-Wrist Watch (you won’t have your phone to check the time)
Personal Attire
Even though we won’t have much to help us stay fresh and clean it will not be acceptable for us to look sloppy. We will be representatives of the ministry and must there for look well put together and professional when doing ministry on campus and with students.
However, looking nice does not mean that you need to have a different outfit for every day of the trip or for every day of the week. Most Ethiopians repeat their clothing often, and so we will be doing the same. We will have people that will launder our clothing (hand wash and line dry), so one week’s worth of clothing will be all that we ask you bring.
Adults don’t wear shorts in Ethiopia, and so don’t plan on wearing them except for occasions in which we are acting strictly as tourists (which won’t happen but a few times) or when we’re around our house.
Men’s Clothing:
-5 nice shirts (polos or button ups)
-a couple plain hanging out/sleeping shirts and tourist day shirts
-2 pair of slacks (khaki)
-1-2 pair of jeans
-2 pair of shorts for tourist days or sleeping or maybe soccer that can get wet and dry quickly
-socks & undershirts
-Modest and warm sleep wear
-tennis shoes for tourist days
-Sketchers type shoes for campus and church
-Sturdy sandals (not flip-flops) [OPTIONAL]
-6 boxers or briefs (careful b/c they will be hung out to dry outside!)
-bathroom stuff (all that you would need for 3 weeks, don’t expect to buy refills)
*might want to keep hair short b/c showers aren’t always available
-a light jacket for the evenings that get cool
-Sweatshirt or something WARM
-RAIN WEAR: umbrella, waterproof jacket, shoes that work for rain/mud
Women’s Clothing: (when in doubt err on the side of modesty)
- 2-3 Skirts (below the knee)
- 2 Dresses (below the knee, and no spaghetti straps unless you have a shirt to wear underneath it, this is for church so can be more fun patterns)
- 1 Pants or Capris (not tight)
-7 Tops (these can be button up, or basic tees but they need to look nice and professional, lighter fabrics will be more comfortable. NO scooped or V-necks that go further below than the collar bone. Longer shirts are better)
-3 T-Shirts (that can get dirty or for you to lounge in)
-1-2 pair of shorts (ones that can get wet or dirty and easily dry and clean)
-1-2 pairs of jeans (not tight)
- Nice sandals (meaning not Old Navy Flip Flops) that are comfortable to walk long distances in. [OPTIONAL-can wear shoes all the time if you want to]
-Nice closed toes shoes that are also comfortable to walk in and that can get wet, it will be MUDDY/rainy season (the street may be too dirty to wear sandals all the time)
-Shower Shoes (can be Old Navy Flip Flops)
-Tennis Shoes (for our tourist days)
-All the toiletries that you will need for the entire trip, do not expect to buy refills
-Travel Hair Dryers (need to be able to use the 220 currency)
-NO FLAT IRONS unless you’re able to find dual currency irons
-Anything else you’ll need to keep your hair looking nice, there will be no hiding your hair under a bandana
-Modest Underwear (these too will be hand washed and line dried so keep it cotton and discrete…maybe even buy a pack of briefs at Wal-Mart)
-Sports Bra
-Socks for tennis shoes
-One extremely modest bathing suit and cover up
-Modest and warm pajamas
-Light jacket (for the nights that it cools down)
-Sweatshirt or something WARM
-RAIN WEAR: umbrella, waterproof jacket, shoes that work for rain/mud