Holiday Travel With Kids: I Can't Believe You're Doing It. Here's A New and Improved Packing List to Help!

Happy happy.  Joy joy.
You are amazing.  Dedicated.  Giving.  And . . .

Crazy.


Ah, but you have to do it.  And then you don't have to cook, right?
So, you are going to brave the snow, the ice, the blizzards, and arrive.  Fingers-crossed, everything will go smoothly.  For what it's worth, I'm sending you good thoughts.


I wanted to remind you of some travel tips in this blog, to hopefully help simplify and smooth your journey:

Dealing with jet lag
Items to bring on your flight,
Frequent flyer numbers
Passport renewals
Traveling with a baby tips


In an earlier post, I tried to convince you to let your kids pack.  It really works and it's not only me.  I've had some positive feedback from some readers.  Really.  Try it.  Make your life easier.

I've made new and improved packing lists and finally figured out how to make it work so you can access them, customize them, and print them out easily.  Slowly and painfully, this techno-phobe is entering the 21st century.

Here is an example of another one of my beautiful, ridiculously time-consuming creations, but your free, click-of-a-button printable.  The copy didn't come out perfectly here, but you get the idea.  Click on the links to take you to the original sites for downloads.  You can change them to fit your needs.  See how much I still love you?

General Packing Checklist

Girl's Packing Checklist

Boy's Packing Checklist

Safe Travels!

Girl’s packing checklist:

Item	#	x	Item	#	x	Item	#	x
Pants			Bathi			Socks
coat			Short			Hat
Rain coat			Short-shirt			Glove
shoes			Longshirt			Scarf
Sandals			Underwear			brush
Dress shoes			PJ’s			paste

Cheap International Calls: Staying Connected

Okay, now that you've finally settled into your new home, here's the next big challenge:  staying connected with the folks back home.  I don't know about you, but the biggest complaint I get from family and friends in my home country is, "You are so far away!"  Back when we first joined the Foreign Service, when the internet was in its toddler years, international calls by landline were both intimidating and expensive.  Cheap international calls was a misnomer.  Facebook wasn't even around.  Email was the sure-fire way to communicate internationally, but my parents, at the time, were far from technologically capable- me too for that matter!  Boy, have we come a long way!  Nowadays, you can make cheap international calls through your computer, cell/smart phone, or landline, and free international calls on  your computer if you don't mind video conferencing.

Oldies, but Goodies

The two oldest and maybe easiest ways to make cheap international calls are through Skype and Vonage.  They are old-school and even though they are cheap compared to traditional ways to call internationally, they are the most expensive compared to the new competition out there.  Believe or not, this is the first country that we have used the computer for cheap international calls.  When I say we are technologically impaired, I mean it!  We had used Skype video conferencing, but then you had to make sure that the people at home had Skype and could navigate through the conferencing, not always a sure thing.  Plus, sometimes I just want to be heard and not seen!

Skype: cheaper, but computer-tied
So, before we came to Belgrade, I set up a Skype phone call account for these cheap international calls.  Through Skype, you get to choose a permanent phone number from where you want to call.  For example, if you want to call the U.S. you get a U.S. phone number.  Therefore, it's a "national" call.  Then, through your computer, you can call anywhere you want with the charges being for a national or local call.  I used Skype because I knew Skype.  New technological stuff makes me break into a cold sweat (Yes, blogging is forcing me to face my fears).  Skype was cheaper than Vonage.  I'm a sucker for bargains.  Also, you don't need anything other than a computer and internet access for your cheap international calls, no extra "box" or new phone.  You can call right away, the same day, the same hour as set-up even.

The only problem is that with Skype cheap international calls you are tied to your computer, like the old-time corded landline.  You can't walk around.  Albeit, you can check your email, but you can't answer the doorbell.  You sometimes get a lag time during conversation and sometimes an alien enters the body of your loved one and speaks for them.  On the other hand, my folks get a U.S. number to call me from their landline or cell phone.  No country code and foreign operator chatting to you in a language you don't understand.  Oh!  Another cool thing about Skype is that you can use it anywhere you have internet.  Say you are on vacation in Finland and your mom wants to call you.  Ring, ring!  There you have them, cheap international calls made easy.

Vonage: clearer, but boxed-in
Some of my friends use Vonage, the grandmother of cheap international phone calls.  I've never used Vonage; I've only been on the receiving end.  The thing I can say about the calls is that they are nice and clear.  I've never noticed a lag time or the alien invasion.  The thing about Vonage is that you need a Vonage Box; they send it to you in the mail.  This could be a problem if you don't have APO or Diplomatic Pouch or if you want to make a phone call right NOW.  Also, the phone plans are more expensive.  You pay for the alien-blocker and the ability to water your grass while you're on the phone.  Unless you take your box and computer with you on vacation, though, you're stuck at home and the, what, 500 ft circumference surrounding your phone.  So, here you have cheap international calls that sound like you're around the corner even if you're at home in Moscow in a bubble bath.

Newbies: cheap, but maybe complicated
Nowadays, there are tons of competitors to our old friends Skype and Vonage.  Rebtel and Evaphone came up on my Google search for cheap international calls.  They seem a bit more complicated to me, the technophobe (which means they probably aren't complicated for people other than my mom and I).  It seems like the person on the other end of your phone line has to sign up to the program too (which isn't the case with Skype and Vonage), but I'm not sure.  Also, you have to assign your contacts a new number and save that number with their name, and extra step that I'm sure I'd screw up.  They are considerably cheaper, though, so the Cheapo in me is viciously poking the Technophobe.  MoneySavingExpert.com outlines a ton of these programs for cheap international calls.  The Expert gives the pros and cons of several programs, including the quality of the call and the price.   You might want to refer to him, if you like to check out your line of options.

If you've found a program you like, please comment below and share your wisdom with the rest of us.

Now, call your mother.

But, wait, don't forget the time difference.  If only they could invent something to circumnavigate that.  H.G. Wells, we need you now.

Jet Lag: Giving and Soliciting Tips to Avoid the Mushroom Effect

I'm about as creative as a mushroom at this point.  I haven't blogged since the day I left for Europe.  My body has been here 4 days.  My head is somewhere over the Atlantic.  Jet lag never seems to get easier.

Some things I have learned that do help jet lag:

1. Sleeping/resting/zoning with your eyes closed as much as possible on the airplane. This tip is not helpful if you have kids.
2. Hydrating.  A cup of water each hour and no alcohol, no matter how tempting it is.  I know nothing worse than a hangover mixed with jet lag.  That is one bad cocktail.
3. Reverting immediately to the new time schedule when you arrive.  That means, setting your clock to the new time zone and following accordingly the usual activities for that time of day.  If it's day where you are stay up until it's night.  It it's night pretend to sleep until it is day.  
4. Taking melatonin.  My husband swears by this.  It's supposed to reset your clock.     
5. Taking an epsom salt and baking soda bath.  I haven't tried this remedy yet, but it sounds like it's worth a try.  A hot bath is never bad.  After 7 international flights in the last 12 months, I'm willing to try anything at this point.  My step-mother, Pat, learned this remedy on her trip to Egypt from folks of the Edgar Cayce Association of Research and Enlightenment.    It worked for her on the15+ hr trip from NYC through Geneva to Cairo and then staying up in Cairo for dinner and then on the 18+ hr trip from Athens to NYC and then down to DC.   

As Pat says, "Mother was visiting in DC with Jane (her sister) and they met me at the DC airport the Saturday night before Easter.  Mother said, 'You sure won't be going with us to the National Cathedral for Easter,' and I said, 'Oh, yes, I will,' and I was absolutely fine the next day.  All I can tell you is it really worked for me -- and for others who did it.  My roommate (in Egypt) was a bit stubborn and 'knew better,' and it took her almost 3 days to get on Egypt time 'cause she wouldn't try it -- so that's the story!"

Here are her anti-jet lag instructions:

After a long flight (either direction), don't go to bed until the bedtime for the 'new location,' and before you go to bed, take a 'soaking bath,' in a regular tub to which you have added 1 cup each baking soda and epsom salts (I took them w/me in plastic bags in the suitcase for flight over), then dry off with towel being careful not to "cross your arms or legs over one another (e.g., the meridians) and go to bed, again being careful 'not to cross the meridians,' and lay on your back to go to sleep -- you'll wake up the next morning totally refreshed and on the 'new timezone.'

What else works for jet lag, folks?   Please tell us your jet lag stories, preventions, and remedies.  You are a wealth of experience and information.  Please share.  

Part Two: Why doesn't a RESERVATION with UNITED mean RESERVED seats?

Thank you, Spouses, for your sympathy and empathy regarding my previous post about United reservations and reserved seats!  At least we know we are not alone.  Unfortunately, no one had any advice.  There seems to be a vacuum with airlines when it comes to retrieving information that would alleviate a passenger's anxiety (re: a parent sitting with her small children; why a plane is delayed; whether or not a flight will be cancelled; you know only too well).

 Right after my post, we contacted our travel office and asked if they could reserve seats together for myself and two small children for our three upcoming United return flights in a month.  Well, we were able to get them for the 1/2 hour flight to Chicago (oh, goody!), but not for the 8-hour transatlantic flight, nor the flight from Germany to Belgrade (since United can't book a "partner's," Lufthansa's, seats.  Do they, by chance have the phone number for Lufthansa? HA, fat chance!).  The transatlantic flight plane had not yet been assigned, so they couldn't assign seats.  Lovely.  So, we asked when the airplane would be assigned so we could then reserve seats.  Logical inquiry, don't you think?  Quite typically, the United agent had no idea.  No advice.  No idea.  Silence.  Heard that before?  Click.

I  wasn't very concerned with the Germany to Belgrade flight since the passengers are predominately from Serbia, a place where  chivalry has not died, and mothers with children are given a status just under Novak.  I decided to focus my energy on United, my new nemesis.

The next foggy morning, I scoured the Internet, looking for advice outside of the spouseabroad.com network.  Amid the moaning and the groaning, I found one piece of advice.  Call a couple days before your flight and try to reserve your seats then; you have a better chance of getting them.  Okay.  Not a diamond, but worth a pick.

So yesterday morning I called United Customer Service (1-800-241-6522); we head to Belgrade on Friday.  I prepared to put on the speaker phone and pack while I waited for a human to answer the phone.  Lo and behold, 30 seconds after the robot interview, a human, a very nice human, who I'll call Laverne ( I like her so much that I don't want her to get into trouble), answered the line.  Was this a premonition of success?  30 seconds.  That never happens.

I politely explained to Laverne my predicament and history of my seven United flights this last month with not a single one with a seat with my two small children.  I asked her if I could reserve seats now.  I heard keys clicking and then a long pause.  A very long pause.  "Well, for some reason," she said, "they have your kids in row 36B and 36C and you back in 48K.  Why they did that, I have no idea."  Click, click, click.  "I'm sorry, mam, but there are not any three seats together.  I can put you in 34H, a bit closer?"  Now it was my turn to play the pause game.  I let my seething silence burn for as long as I could (probably 4 seconds) and then flames spewed forth from my mouth.  At least they did in my dreams.  In real life, I knew that the fate of this trip was in Laverne's hands.  Don't you hate that?  I pleaded with her.  I stated the obvious safety issues with the oxygen bags.  I told her about having to barter with our three middle seats on our last United transatlantic flight.

"I can't give you seats that aren't there.  If you want to pay the Economy Plus fee you could have reserved seats together earlier,"  she replied.

"How much earlier?"  I asked.

"I have no idea," she said softly.  Ah.  No idea.  Silence.

Wait!  What about advice?  My heart was racing.  It couldn't end here.  I couldn't let my spouseabroad.com buddies down!  I begged her, if she couldn't get us seats, could she at least tell me how I could get seats together the next time I flew?  Where did I go wrong?  I listed all the ways I had tried.  My voice trailed off.  I was despondent.  I had lost.

"You should have gotten seats together when you reserved the ticket.  You must have gotten it too late."

In monotone I stated, "Nope.  We bought them April 3rd."

"Oh."

Silence.

"Well, if you call exactly 24 hours before your flight the blocked Economy Plus seats open up and you can maybe get three together then."

"But, there's no guarantee, is there?" I sniffed.

"No, there's not,"  she sighs.  "Well, next time, have the agent make a note saying, 'traveling with small children,' at the top of your reservation.  So, if you do have reserved seats and special situations arise where they have to move people, they will be less likely to move you.  You see, on the agent's computer screen, the birth dates are in tiny print at the bottom of the page; whereas, this message is at the top."

"Thank you, Laverne.  I'll do that, but still no guarantee that we'll end up together?"  I sniffled.  At least I would have some advice to pass on.

"No.  I'm sorry.  No guarantee"

Silence.

"You know, I know how it is," Laverne softly said, "I've had to travel separated from my kids before too.  They are grown now, but I haven't forgotten."  Click, click, click.

I hold my breath.

"I think I can get you seats together.  I'll put it into the system, but it won't show up on the roster until 24 hours before the flight is to leave.  I'm also putting, 'traveling with small children,' so, hopefully, they won't move you."

I did not question how or why.  I just gushed with gratitude.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Laverne!  Oh!  You just made my day!  My week!  My month!"  I could just envision our flight.  No groveling, no bartering, no hunched-over waiting with our carry-ons sitting in our seats for a Good Samaritan to cross our paths.  No yelling reassurances to my kids scattered in two different parts of the plane.  "Oh, Laverne!  Thank you!  You have a great day!"

"You have a better one!"  she chirped.

Laverne, if you only knew.

Travel: 3 Airlines' Tips to Make Life Easier

It would appear as if flying rules my life.  Well, . . .
We just packed up my husband to return to Serbia, flights number 7-10 for him in less than a month.  As we were preparing for his trip, a few nightmare flashbacks popped into mind.  Again, lessons I learned the hard way, that my generous self thought to pass on, so you could fly more smoothly.  I'm so nice.

1.  A luggage scale.  I've lugged the suitcases, the car seats, the kids, and the carry-ons out of the shuttle, through the mobs of people, to the check-in line.  Then, I've navigated the maze to the counter, hefted the suitcase on the scale, only to find that my suitcase is 2.5 lbs. overweight.   Sweating, I then go through the awkward and embarrassing routine of redistributing underwear, socks, and peanut butter to the 6 other suitcases massed around me while muttering to my kids to stop playing tag in the tiny space between us and the maze of annoyed folks waiting in line.  You don't want to go there.



2.  Ear plugs.  I love kids.  I have them.  Crying babies are tough.  I've had them too.  Ear plugs are golden.  They muffle the sound enough to let you snooze.  Unless, of course, the crying babies are your own.  Then maybe you should bring a bunch of earplugs and hand them out to your seat mates as an act of goodwill.  These are also good for muffling the chatterboxes who lounge next to your seat enjoying their cocktails while you try to get some shut eye.  Saves you from the consequences of shouting, "Shut up!" in such a small space.


3.  An empty water bottle.  Hydration, hydration, hydration is the key to alleviating the airplane  hangover.  Flying makes you dehydrated which gives you a headache which makes you feel crappy (as if self-deprivation isn't enough).  Drink water.  I know the free cocktails are enticing, but when you're waiting in the interminable immigration line and then running to your connection, you will regret it.  You can't bring liquid through security, so throw an empty water bottle into your carry-on and fill it up before you board your flight.  You won't have to wait for the stewardess to bring around those tiny plastic cups of water and you save the planet at the same time.  Some airports (I think I saw them in O'Hare) have water bottle fillers built into their water fountains.  So cool!




Spouses, add your tips here!  We all need less turbulence in our lives.  Thanks!

Why doesn't a RESERVATION with United mean RESERVED seats on the plane?

Okay, what in Wright's name is going on?  (Get it?  Wright brothers. Okay, not so funny.) In the last week we've flown on 7 flights with United and it's partners and only once was I able to get seats together with my 6 and 9-year-old.  The one flight with seats together was the flight out of Belgrade to Frankfurt which is never full and there are no assigned seats.  On the 8+ hour flight from Frankfurt to Chicago in which I was flying alone with the kids, they had the three of us spread out over the three sections of the plane, and all in middle seats.  Wonderful.  So, not only did I have to negotiate for seats together, I had to do it with middle seats.  Who wants to sit in a middle seat for a transatlantic flight?  No one.  No one had pity on the lowly mother with young children spread across the plane.  One woman actually said to me, "I'm not changing my aisle seat on an 8-hour flight.  I'll look after him.  You don't need to worry."  The mama bear woke up inside me (my 3am wake-up call (did I ever really fall asleep?) wasn't helping) and it took all of my will power not to - even verbalizing my thoughts would get me into trouble.  Finally, a wonderful gentleman overheard the conversation and told me that at his wife and two children were flying to Japan at the moment (compatriots in need of karma!) and switched his aisle seat with hers and then switched that seat with my middle seat.  Wherever you are, my airplane knight, I thank you, again!

We had made these reservations 2 months prior to our travel.  Like usual, in making the reservations, they asked for the ages of the kids.  And, like usual we thought that in making RESERVATIONS we were RESERVING seats together.  Apparently, these two words no longer are related.  This has never happened to this extent before now.  The ticket counter woman kept saying that now in addition to buying the tickets you have to reserve seats.  But when we tried to "reserve" seats on flights 5 days in the future, all seats were full and they couldn't put us together.  Then we tried to reserve seats for our return to Serbia in a month.  The agent said that we couldn't; they hadn't assigned an aircraft yet.  Um.  So, when can we reserve seats?  When the aircraft is assigned.  When will the aircraft be assigned?  We won't know until it is assigned.  Am I in some kind of Orwellian airlines warp?

Spouses, does anyone know how to reserve seats together for flights with United?  I'll be damn if I have to deal with this on our way back.  I have a feeling that I'll be damned.

Thank you! Gracias! Hvala! Khawp khun! благодарам! Merci! for Jennifer's Language Blog!

It's amazing what "Thank you" can do in the local language.  We yearn for it in our everyday lives and feel gratified when we hear it.  Over and over again, we teach our children to say it. It may be the two most important words in the English language.  It is no different in the rest of the world.  When you say, "Thank you," in the local language it can mean so many things: "Thank you for your patience (when you pantomimed a bee to find honey), for your honesty (as they count out the foreign change in your hand), for your help (when a fellow patron translates for you), or for your welcoming smile.

Jennifer's Language Page shows you how to say, "thank you" in over 2,000 languages!  It also includes "please," greetings, and how to ask a person's name, the phrases that open the door to a relationship ripe with opportunities to learn about each other's countries.  Write the phrases on an index card and keep it in your pocket when you venture into the city.  Don't be shy to pull it out and read the phrases.  Believe me, your efforts will be appreciated!  You don't want to be seen as the, "Ugly American," slowly and loudly enunciating each English word, cramming them down a local's ear.  Even though many people around the world do speak English, saying even a few words in the local language will enrich your sojourn and take you places you never dreamed you could go.

Click here to go to Jennifer's Language Page to learn how to say many phrases in pretty much every language!

Travel tip #3: Let the kids pack! Really! Free Packing Lists included!

I have a nine-year-old and a six-year-old.  In May we went on a four day trip and I tried something new.  I had them pack their own suitcases.  Really.  I know what you are thinking!  But, no, they didn't end up with 2 t-shirts and no underwear.  I made them packing lists, ones I can print out again, and it worked gloriously!  I typed out all the possible items they might need and left a blank next to each item so I can fill in the number depending on the length of our trip.  Then I left a big space after each item for them to make a check mark when they packed the items (they love making check marks).  For the younger one, I have pictures next to any items she might have trouble reading.

I had saved the clear zippered cases bedspreads and sheets come in (unfortunately I save stuff, not a good trait for someone who moves a lot, but this time I actually used the stuff!).  I had them use these cases (a laundry basket lined with a trash bag works for those of you smart enough not to save "stuff") and they filled their bags, zipped them up and brought them upstairs to the big duffel bag.  I dropped the two clear cases into the duffel, zipped it up, and, "Wa La," packing was done.  When we arrived at our destination, I lifted the clear cases out of the duffel bag, no clothing jambalaya to deal with, and dumped the contents into their appropriate drawers.  Geez, I sound like one of those people who organize peoples lives for a living.  Ha!  I just kinda stumbled on this.  I have to admit, I'm quite proud of it.

I've included a Free Children's Packing List like I describe in the first paragraph, so you don't need to make one!  Just click "read more" below.  Enjoy your trip and the extra time you'll have before it not having to pack for everyone!

Here an example of one of my beautiful, ridiculously time-consuming creations, but your free, click-of-a-button printable.  The copy didn't come out perfectly here, but you get the idea.  Click on the links to take you to the original sites for downloads.  You can change them to fit your needs.  See how much I still love you?

General Packing Checklist

Girl's Packing Checklist

Boy's Packing Checklist

Girl’s packing checklist:

Item	#	x	Item	#	x	Item	#	x
Pants			Bathi			Socks
coat			Short			Hat
Rain coat			Short-shirt			Glove
shoes			Longshirt			Scarf
Sandals			Underwear			brush
Dress shoes			PJ’s			paste