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Packing
Suggestions
Continental Airlines limits the number of bags that
you can take with you: one small carry-on and two bags that you check.
They are very strict about this at the Houston airport. Do not put any
metal object in your carry-on; for example, no pocket knives, nail clippers,
tweezers, scissors or razors.
Coming out of Mexico City, they will allow you to pay for extra bags
or boxes, but this can get expensive.
There is an additional problem: if everyone carries
two over-sized pieces of luggage, they simply will not fit on the buses.
Therefore, it is important that ALL of us plan carefully what we
take so as to use our limited space efficiently-- and to leave room
to bring back our souvenirs.
Furthermore, over-sized luggage will be hard for you
to handle by yourself. You alone are responsible for controlling your
baggage. It is a good idea to have one-dollar bills handy at the Mexico
City airport to get someone to help you with your bags. We must carry
them about a block --upstairs, across a bridge, and then downstairs.
Keep up with the group as we are doing this maneuver. Do not get distracted;
don't go to one of the many shops at the airport. Don't go outside on
the sidewalk. We will all stop at the restrooms before crossing the
bridge. The bus drivers have permission from the airport authorities
to stay only a limited time at the airport. They simply cannot wait
for stragglers.
If you will be staying at the hotel, please have a
dollar for each bag in your hand to pay the bell-boys at the hotel when
we arrive, because they are very efficient at moving the luggage upstairs
to your rooms.
When planning what to pack, take into account the
following:
1. We will be there only 27 days.
2. Take clothes for about 10 days. If you wash your clothes twice, you’ll
have it made. American-style laundromats are not readily available.
HOTEL: Often students arrange with the housekeepers at the hotel to
take the laundry home, wash it and bring it back -- fairly inexpensively.
If you do it through the hotel (not the housekeepers), it will cost
about one dollar a piece of clothing. Also, it is convenient to wash
out small articles in the bath sink of your hotel room and hang them
to dry in the shower. HOMESTAY: If you stay with a family, discuss clothes-washing
with the family when you arrive. There is always a shortage of water
in Puebla, so you must respect whatever the mother (or person in charge)
wishes as far as your washing is concerned. Families will expect you
to bathe and wear clean clothes every day.
3. Take light-weight clothes that you can wash easily: for example,
khaki pants, cotton skirts.
4. Puebla is about 6000 feet above sea level, and we will be than in
the rainy season. This means pleasantly cool temperatures. Especially
at night, you will need a sweater or even a jacket. Take at least one
light-weight sweater, and perhaps a folding umbrella.
5. Take at least one pair of very comfortable walking shoes; also one
pair of everyday shoes that perhaps can double for dress shoes. Take
some tennis shoes; sandals just won’t work on a pyramid!
6. Guys: take a sports jacket --if you have one-- and a tie. Take a
jacket that will keep you warm at night and look nice if you go out.
Take shirts that have collars.
7. Gals: take one dress-up outfit, or something that you can combine
to look dressy. Take one light-weight business-looking outfit, or something
that can be adapted to look this way.
8. If you worry about color schemes, stick to the same colors so that
you don’t have to bring a lot of matching shoes and purses.
9. DO NOT WEAR SHORTS IN PUEBLA. ON FIELD TRIPS, DO NOT WEAR SHORTS
OR HALTERS. Bring only 2 pairs of shorts and perhaps 4 collarless T-shirts,
to wear IF you go to the beach.
10. There are many pharmacies and large supermarkets in Puebla so you
can buy bath articles there.
11. The rooms at the hotel have hairdryers in the bathrooms, so don't
bring one. Also, don't bring an iron. You can ask for one at the hotel
if you need one.
12. Consider packing a few souvenirs from Sam or Texas to give away
to your new friends.
13. If you are going to stay with a family, take two gifts for them:
one to give the mother when you arrive, and one to give her at the party
on June 24. Also, consider writing a poem, drawing a picture, taking
a special photograph to give at this party.
14. Don't bring a walkman. If you insist on doing so, do not use it
on the airplane, at the airports or on field trips; you could miss important
announcements.
15. Do not bring jewelry that has monetary or sentimental value!
Puebla is a cosmopolitan city and you will find yourself in the middle
of it. You will blend in better and feel better about yourself if you
dress appropriately. Part of the objectives of the SHSU PFS is that
you make contacts with professionals in Mexico. All students will visit
businesses and meet business persons. You will feel more confident when
you meet them and they will take your questions and interest more seriously
if you look professional.
All this does NOT mean that you need to go out and buy new clothes.
This only means that you need to look carefully at the clothes that
you have and make wise choices before you begin packing.
For more information, contact
Dr. Frieda Koeninger
SHSU Puebla Field School
Dept. of Foreign Languages
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Tx 77341-2147
Office: Evans 308
tel (936) 294-1443
e-mail: fol_fck@shsu.edu
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