CAN A
COMPULSIVE OVER PACKER SURVIVE A 3 DAYS’ JOB WITH ONLY A HAND LUGGAGE?
It was Sunday night and I was relaxing in my room watching
a movie suddenly the phone rang, it was a friend and colleague. He told me of a
job and I needed to be at Abuja 1st thing Monday morning, I rushed
to my drawers pulled out cloths and stuffs. As I was sitting and staring down
at my small hand suitcase, I cursed myself for accepting such job in a very
short time and to crown it all I was thinking of going with just a small hand
luggage – but then how can I resist such an offer in this hard times. Besides, according to records people hardly
wear or use all they traveled with. My normal packing strategy takes between 10
– 30 minutes: sweep beauty products into a was-bag; stack clothes for every
opportune occasion into my suitcase; pile in electrical gadgets: hairdryer,
camera and camcorder, laptop – before throwing in few last minute cloths,
additions for good measures.
This time around, things couldn’t be more
different. Guidelines say hand luggage can weigh no more than 10kg or am I
mistaking? The emphasis is on packing light; I started by whittling down the
contents of my make–up bag. With this on my mind, I’m forced to take just a few
choice items of make–up with me. As I decant shampoo and conditioner into mini
clear plastic bottles I lamented for my stubborn hair, it won’t see the
intensive conditioning treatments. Well I eventually manage to pull together skinny
jeans with its jacket, short, a singlet top, chiffon dress, my night wear and a
T-Shirt. I toss in a face and my mini traveling towels, and lastly, I squeezed
in some flats, with a heavy heart, I leave my lovely heels and wedges on the
shoe rack wondering if it dusts will let them be.
My heart sinks as I try to ram the zip of the
bag shut ‘it won’t zip up?’ To solve the dilemma I decided to wear my jeans and
its jacket to the Airport, instead of the chiffon mini gown I had in mind. My
colleague Buchi is bent double with laughter. ‘Skinny jeans and jackets are in
this season, OK?’ I retort as I breeze up to the check–in desk. As our bags are
placed on the scales, to my total shock, there both come in under weight, I was
thrilled. Once on the flight, it’s reassuring to know our bags are safe above
our heads and not on a flight to Sokoto and, when we landed an hour later, we
shimmy smugly straight past baggage reclaim before hopping into the company
car.
Day one of the trip leads me to doubt whether
I made the right packing choices. My favorite skinny jeans are uncomfortable
and my skirt is so creased when I unpack it that no amount of shower–room
steaming would save it.
The next day, however, I got ready for the
field in record time. Unlike past jobs, series of cloths scattered all over,
can’t decide what to put on, etc. so I decided to arrange my stuffs, make a
decision on what to wear daily and arrange them and our hotel room remain
refreshingly tidy. By mid day the dress I wore to the field was all smelling of
dust and heat and I couldn’t afford to change like I usually do, three times a
day for I came in with a little and didn't want to be stuck with the same
cloths in a row and will run out of outfit ideas. When on a job it feels weird,
and out of point. Meanwhile, my hair was getting out of control lack of
moisture and the harsh sun. I was definitely missing something, I lack my
relaxed serene, the comfort of my room.
Day three finally came I needed to get out of
there, for I realized all my clothing were dirty and I didn’t want to spend
giving my cloths out for laundry. It all had that dubious aroma of stale heat
and I was down to my last pair of combat trousers, with a T-Shirt I had arranged
to travel back with. By the end of the day, we had a successful job and I gave
myself kudos for not having a luggage crisis or a wardrobe breakdown but I
can’t deny we both felt surprising liberated. Time spent in front of the mirror
preening had been well spent in the field of work, dictating, typing, and
correcting papers – and this could only be a good thing. There was no
competition on the most fabulous looks, dress, clubbing and all that shit we
enjoy doing, besides where was the time for all that?
My laid – back attitude was confirmed when I
spilt coffee on my T-Shirt, it wasn't bad but I sure had no choice than to hold
on to the same T-Shirt. I was surprise to find myself laughing at my act
instead of freaking out, there is no denying this traveling around job has
placed me refreshingly low–maintenance in just three days. I can pull off
effortless chic after all. Eat your heart out, fashion!!!
MY VERDICT
I sure leant to keep time, realize what items I really needed for such
journey and what I can do without when going for field work. I plan to make
more for such trips.
No comments:
Post a Comment