Some Advice

As I write from the tropical streets of St. Louis, Missouri there is nothing more soothing than the thought of strolling through a flowery meadow in the Andes Mountains or paddling up the Amazon River only to be greeted by a pack of rabid monkeys and a flock of green-tailed macaws. But as an experienced traveler I am aware of the novice yet detrimental mistake of not planning ahead. This means failing to make a list of essential items that you may need while living abroad. In effort to prepare myself for my upcoming excursion to South America and to edify others, I have compiled a short but valuable list of the less obvious essentials.

Jelly beans- A delicious snack and will cover ransom in most developing countries

Water color paints- For when you stumble across a beautiful sunset

Two kinds of deodorant- Often our bodies become adapt to deodorant chemicals after using it for a while and thus the once fresh scent becomes masked by our horrific body odors. I learned this the hard way.

Willy Wonka Golden Ticket- You never know who it might impress

Baby Picture- Nearly all cultures are fond of babies and it could be a good source of backup identification.