In the past I (Jake) have shared a “10 things Jake can’t live without” list (similar to GQ’s “Essentials” series on YouTube) to give people a glimpse at what I think is essential as someone who lives and works internationally. I thought it would be fun to share it again here.
My Essentials:
Bible -- I believe that my ability to connect those around me is limited by my own walk with the Lord, a walk which is heavily dependent on God’s Word. I think it’s worth the weight in a suitcase to bring a couple physical copies of the Bible (I’ve got my devotional Bible and ESV study Bible), and Bible apps are super helpful as well.
Water Bottle -- A good water bottle is a must when you a) travel frequently, and b) live in the tropics. Staying hydrated really helps you feel good and stay healthy, so I carry a durable, insulated water bottle with me everywhere.
Travel Shoes -- The right footwear makes a huge difference on super long plane rides. The floor of the plane gets UBER cold on long international flights so you need something that gives you enough of a barrier from the ground, but also something that slips on and off easy for going through security or if you want to put your feet up. Comfy materials are also a big plus. For flying or road-trips I’ve got the Stampd x Puma Trinomic Sock from 2015. It’s a slip on made from a beautifully buttery soft nubuck that has a trinomic cushioned running/lifestyle midsole.
Leaf Razor -- Both to beat the heat and to meet cultural norms I stay clean shaven when on the field. However,I HATE spending way to much money for plastic razor refills that just take up suitcase space and create unneeded waste. So, I invested in a Leaf brand razor - basically a multi-blade, pivoting head safety razor. Now I can stay clean shaven without generating waste for years.
Google Pixel Phone -- We use Google Pixel phones for a couple reasons. First, we really like Google’s Fi phone network (free international data roaming, which means that most places in the world you can use the internet and message people via WhatsApp). The phones are also unlocked, which means that to save money we can pause our Fi plan and use a local SIMcard when we are in the country we work in. Second, the phones have the best smartphone cameras ever. Gotta get those awesome pictures for the ‘gram.
Laptop (Chromebook) -- So much of my work uses a laptop (when I’m not out in a field digging in the soil, that is). For research I have all digital subscriptions to academic journals, use Google Docs for word processing and collaborating, and use zoom/Google Meeting for communication, among many other tasks. I prefer a Chromebook because of their lighter weight, excellent security, incredible speed, and web browsing ease.
Good rain gear -- We live in a country where it rains every day for at least half of the year, and travel around the city mainly happens on a motorbike. You won’t make it without rain gear. And I think it’s worth investing in the good stuff, both to save money and reduce waste over time, and to keep yourself from being miserable. My rain suit is always in my bag, wherever I go.
Over-shoulder satchel -- Instead of stuffing my pockets, getting pickpocketed, and still not having enough space, I have embraced the local trend of our country for men to have bags. My current bag is from Peak Design, and fits not only my phone, keys, wallet, facemask, Kindle, and a pen, but can also fit a snack for when I am in the fields. I carry this with me everywhere if I’m not bringing my full backpack.
eReader -- You don’t have space or weight in your suitcase to bring many books overseas, so getting an e-reader to download your library on is such a baller move. I LOVE to read, and am usually reading more than one thing at once. It is a great way to continue learning or seek new information, or a geat way for me to rest and take some time off just to enjoy a book. With an eReader, you can bring your books on theology, your novels, your biographies, and more with you, and you can continue to add books to your library without compromising space.
Small box board games -- I am a board game nut, but again, you don’t have enough room or weight in a suitcase (usually) to bring all your favorite board games. Instead, we have invested in some really incredible “small box games”, that come in small packages but don’t sacrifice quality of the game. My favorite is "Hardback" from Fowler Games.
Those of you who travel frequently, what are your essentials? Comment to let me know!