#indiana

I’ll be sharing some packing tips in this post: packing cubes, being smart with what you pack, helpful light travel websites, and YouTube videos to help teach smart packing tips. Links can be found at the bottom of the post or on my Pinterest page.  

On Saturday, the pilgrims from the Diocese of Gary had their last informational meeting before departing for our trip.  Everyone was excited and nervous and anxious and joyful.  We talked about currency, electronics, hair dryers (YOU DON’T NEED ONE), and even Bishop Emeritus Dale Melzcek was there to give us tips about Italy.  It was wonderful. 

At one point, Kevin, our Diocesan Director, made each one of us promise that we wouldn’t judge other pilgrims by the state of their laundry.  That prompted folks at my table to start talking about packing and laundry.  Most people said that they could wear their shorts or pants multiple times, but needed a new shirt every day.  From there, we started talking about laundry in the sink and how to pack light (at one point, we are going to take Ryanair, a European budget airline that is notorious for being very stingy on luggage).  I suggested that someone could pack for an entire week in a backpack and I was left with gaping mouths.  It can be done.  Come, young grasshoppers:  I shall show you the ways of packing light.

My insights come from a lot of places including personal experiences, Rick Steves, and various internet places. At the beginning of the month I traveled to Washington DC with only a 30L backpack and a sling purse.  I wanted to pack super light and didn’t want to check a bag on the flight.  I packed a whole week’s worth of outfits in my backpack, along with pj’s, socks and underthings, 2 pairs of shoes, toiletries, accessories, and even some electronics.  It was a struggle, but I did it! I’m feeling more confident in packing for WYD because I already experience packing light and survived.  Knowing that I will be purchasing things, I will be checking a bag.  But, having these tips helps me feel more confident in light packing. 

I also have creditably because Rick Steves liked a tweet of mine.  

Tip 1: PACKING CUBES

The best thing I can say is use packing cubes.  Think of packing cubes as drawers for your luggage.  They help you sort your clothing, find items easier, and keep your belongings looking tidy.  Packing cubes are made from different materials, but usually some kind of breathable fabric that’s sturdy enough to give it some structure but flexible so it can be flattened, like polyester or parachute material.  Both of the packing cubes below are about 10" x 7" x 3" (the one the left is a compression packing cube, meaning it can be fully expanded to be about 4 inches tall, but then can be compressed by zipping it up).  

It’s up to you what you put inside of them.  Some people use small ones for socks and underwear, electronics, or nick knacks.  I’ve used the packing cubes in the picture for t-shirts and shorts. When I went to DC, I fit all of my clothes (three dresses, three shirts, pj’s, and a tank top) into a cube 14" x 10" x 3" and my socks and underwear into one 8" x 4" x 3". Don’t believe me? I packed one of the packing cubes I took a picture of to show you how much you can fit into a packing cube. 

I then packed the other packing cube.  This time, I could fit more clothes (though, in fairness, both were packed to the brim so looked kind of lumpy and is not what the manufacturer recommends). Please ignore my unmade bed and bad photo quality.  

On the left, you can see the uncompressed packing cube.  On the right, a compressed packing cube.

Tip 2: Be smart with what you bring.

When I packed to show how to use the packing cubes, I didn’t put any thinking into what I chose.  When I pack for WYD, I’m going to be more conscious with what I take.  Even if you can fit everything you want into perfect packing cubes, it still may be overweight for the flight.  Our trip limit for our checked luggage is 44 lbs, so being aware of how much everything weighs is important.  

I’m a huge fan of Rick Steves, the guidebook author and host of “Rick Steves’ Europe.” He’s known for helping those on his tours become temporary locals of wherever they travel to and is a champion for traveling light.  He and his tour guides only take one carry on size piece of luggage and a personal item when they travel.  Often, their tour season lasts for 2 months at a time, so everything in their packs have to last 2 months.  One of his guides, Sarah Murdoch, shared some of her travel secrets in an hour long presentation.  She only takes a 20 lbs of luggage with her when she gives tours. 

It’s sooo helpful! Here are some tips I picked up while watching it:

-When she is deciding between two pieces of clothing she will weigh them and will take the lighter of the two.  Even when going to the store to buy something, she will bring a scare to compare weight.

-Just because the item says it’s travel friendly doesn’t mean it is light weight.

-Take neutral colored clothing that goes with everything else. Wear a fun colored scarf to add to your wardrobe options (and use to keep you warm on the plane or to cover your shoulders in churches).  

-If you don’t want to stick out as a tourist, stay away from khaki.  And never wear flipflops out (they are considered shower shoes.  I’m probably going to take a pair but as shoes for the hotel).  

-Don’t freak out if you have to buy something.  You may find that you like the European option more than the American one.  Also, it’s a fun way to meet the locals.  Remember, part of a pilgrimage is the people you meet along the way!

-Laundry can be as easy as taking a shower: Sarah said she washed her underwear and socks each time she took a shower.  She got in, let the clothes get soaked by the shower water as she bathed herself, and then rubbed them together using her hands while using detergent.  She let them rinse in the shower water and rung them out to remove the excess water.  She also mentioned ringing them with a microfiber travel towel.  That helped shortened drying time.

Now, I’m not saying that you should pack only a carry on, but be smart about what you bring.  Ask yourself, am I really going to use this item enough to bring it with me or can I buy it when I get there?  I like Rick’s philosophy of planning for the best of what could happen instead of the worst.  Assume it won’t rain so don’t pack an umbrella, buy it if you need to, when you get there.  And yes, you can pack light.  Thousands of people do this each time they travel.  Don’t believe me?  Go on YouTube and search packing light.  

I’m going to include some links for videos about traveling light below and on my Pinterest page.  Again, most are for traveling with only a carry on, but they can serve as guides for packing light.  

My next post will be about how to pack all of your toiletries into one, one quart bag and one small bag. Also, I’ll share with your my tips for consolidating your toiletries. If you have any tips, please feel free to share!  

Resources(all of which can be found on my Pilgrimage Pinterest Page.  It’s not just for travel tips, but also prayers for WYD, pictures of Poland, and some of WYD’s patron saints.)  

Websites

-Her Packing List: A travel website by women, for women.  I stumbled upon this website while researching day bags and am so thankful for the helpful articles. They have reviews of travel gear, give you packing lists from people who’ve been to the locations, have travel tips, and tips specifically for female travelers. Guys, you can find this site helpful too, but be aware that there’s a lot of talk about bras and periods.  

-Rick Steves: Besides his videos, you can find soooo many helpful articles on his website, including packing lists for light travel. 

-The Everygirl: This is a website that is for, well, the “every girl.” The link I’m recommending gives you three simple tips for organizing your carry on.  Again, Gary Pilgrims, remember, we can only take a 20 lbs carry on, so being smart with what you pack will be helpful.  

Videos: Besides Rick Steves’ videos, the best videos I’ve found for teaching you how to pack light are done by a company called Tortuga Backpacks.  They are a carry on back pack company, so their videos do feature their products, but their tips are universal.  

-Rick’s talk about packing light 

-Tortuga’sHow to Pack a Carry On.  The guy in the video is pretty relaxed about his packing, but I wanted to show you that you canpack super light for a long trip.

-Tortuga’s first video for stepping down to a carry on bag. This is the first of what will be a series of how to go from taking a huge suitcase to a carry on.  Again, useful tips for being a smart packer.

-Tortuga’s video on how to do laundry when you travel.  

Packing Cubes: I’m listing the places I’ve seen or bought packing cubes from.  You can also probably find them on Amazon. Sites like Rick Steves or Tortuga also sell packing cubes that are made to fit for their own backpacks, but can also be used on their own. 

-The Container Store: They favor the Eagle Creek systems, and so far, I really enjoy mine.  As of writing this, they are having a sale on some travel items.  If you want to see them in person, there are some stores in Chicagoland.  Prices vary, but can range from $8-$13 a bag depending on the size.  They also sell in sets which can go up to $40, depending on the set. They are costly, but are worth it! Eagle Creek is a well known travel brand and lots of travelers swear by them. They also come in different sizes

-Ikea: Ikea sells some travel products, including packing cubes and toiletry bags.  Their packing cube set ($10, but they go down to $8 if you are an Ikea Family member, which is free so become one if you go), includes 4 cubes, one of which is double zipped, so one side can be for clean clothes, and one for dirty.  

-Target: Target currently sells 2 sets of packing cubes.  One is for clothes (I don’t have a personal recommendation for this one), and one is for smaller items (I use it for electronics and for scarves).  The large set is $25, the smaller is $10. 

*I’m not sure if I need to put this, but I haven’t been paid to recommend any of these products or services.  I just really, really, really like them.  

Like I mentioned in my previous post, one of the things a person can receive while on a pilgrimage is the gift of community.  The friends and family members who send you off, the people you meet when you arrive at your destination, the kind shop keeper you turn to when you are looking for a meal, the person in front of you in a line, the choir you listen to when you attend a religious service.  They are all part of your community on pilgrimage.  

For World Youth Day, I thankfully get to experience it with a community that means a lot to me: members of the Diocese of Gary, IN.  Gary has been my home diocese forever.  Even when I was attending college in Indianapolis, I was proud to say that I belonged to the Indiana diocese next to Lake Michigan.  For those not familiar with the Diocese of Gary, founded in 1956, we are the smallest diocese in Indiana, comprising of four counties in Northwest Indiana.  In our fifty years of foundation, we’ve had four bishops and have seen the Region, as Northwest Indiana is locally called, experience joys and sorrows.  We’ve seen the growth and prosperity of the steel mills and farming communities, and then the closing of the steel mills, poverty, and racism.  The Church of Gary has attempted to help in each of those situations, attempting to address the sin of racism through reconciliation, supporting Catholic Charities, and being the largest supporter of Habitat for Humanity in the area.   

Patrons of the Diocese of Gary, the Holy Angels.  This icon is located in the Cathedral in Gary.  

If your local parish is like your immediate family, your diocese is your extended family.  At least, that’s how I feel about the good ol’ D. o. G.  I love my home parish deeply and am happy to continue to build up it’s walls.  But I also love the moments when the whole extended family gets together to celebrate.  My love story with the Diocese began when I was in high school.  I attended a diocesan retreat and my eyes were opened to the experience of a larger Catholic church.  

The following year, my sister and I signed up to go to this thing call World Youth Day in Toronto.  We went with two others from my parish and a few bus loads of pilgrims from the diocese.  It was brutal travel (9 hours on a bus while fellow passengers sang songs from Veggie Tales nonstop; It’s enough to make you want to throw the elusive hair brush they were singing about at them), rustic accommodations (sleeping on the floor of a school classroom with only a light sheet as your bed and using a shower a hose over the side of a large wooden box to bath in), and even getting some of our belongings stolen (thieves broke into where we were staying and stole some of our possessions, like cameras).  But even then, we had each other.  During one of the The catechetical sessions at the beginning of the day, Bishop Dale Melczek, now the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Gary, raffled off a medal that was given by Pope John Paul II to each of the bishops who attended that WYD as a way of trying to give back something that was taken from us.  Other members from the diocese left messages of hope and encouragement on our pillows to try to bring a smile to our faces.  We found each other walking around in a sea of strangers and smiled.  We met new people who became traveling buddies and later dear friends.  We shared pillows and tarps and pizza when we were sleeping outside during the biggest slumber party I’ve ever attended.  We hugged and rejoiced together when we saw, now Saint John Paul II pass us in the Pope mobil on his way to celebrate Mass with over a million people.  We slept on each other’s shoulders on the bus home.  

My sister, Gina (second from the left), expressing the emotion we felt after John Paul II passed us. We we not smiling because we got the picture we wanted, but because we experienced something that’s hard to put into words. 

After that, I was kind of hooked.  I loved being able to go to different masses throughout the diocese and seeing a friendly face.  During my junior and senior year of high school, I served on the diocesan youth council and helped out with a diocesan youth conference.  I became even more familiar with my peers in other parishes and found mentors in the adults who served the youth.  Those people are still some of the people I turn to for advice and wisdom.  I’m still friends with some of those high school peers.  They have been a constant in my life that I am so thankful for.  

This past weekend (5/21/16), some of the pilgrims from the Diocese came together to pray and prepare for the upcoming trip.  We gathered at the beautiful Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana to walk the Stations of the Cross, an act that will be repeated when we pray the Stations with millions of pilgrims during the last night of WYD in Krakow.  

Praying before entering the empty tomb.

It was a beautiful day with lovely weather.  We walked from station to station, reflecting upon the scene in front of us and adding our prayers to those who had also walked along the way.  

Jesus meeting his mother on the way to Calvary.

Each step we took, we were reminded that we are never alone along our journey.  Jesus was never alone.  Soldiers, guards, his mother, friends, strangers, prisoners were all with him.  Our journey was the same.  We had each other, but we also met strangers along the way.  Nuns, priests, children, elders, couples, single people; their paths colliding with ours along the way.  All there for a reason.  All seeing the same story.  All experiencing it a little but different.

A few final thoughts on community:

The more I keep thinking about it, the more I feel our pilgrimage has the theme of community.  Krakow, the host city, is often called the City of Saints, because so many saints and holy people have their roots in the city (It’s also the title of a great book by George Weigel about JPII’s Krakow).  The USA pilgrims are invited to ask St. James the Apostle (patron of pilgrim travelers), St. Kateri Tekakwitha (a young, faithful, Native American who loved her faith), St. Therese of Lisieux (patroness of missionaries and advocate for youth), Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (man of the beatitudes and patron of young adults), and St. John Paul II (son of Poland and patron of World Youth Day) to pray for us, along with the 8 other saints who have some connection to the city that the international WYD is holding a devotion to.  That’s a lot of people, and I’m so thankful that they have our backs.  

The Gary Delegation is also going to travel to Assisi in Italy, the home of St. Francis and St. Clare.  I’ll write more about that later, but it still has a connection to community.  Both Clare and Francis built communities around helping the poor and relying on the kindness of strangers for their daily needs.  Francis heard his call to “rebuild my Church, for which you see is falling down,” in a little country church.  He was praying in front of an old cross, that is unlike any cross I’ve ever seen before.  If you look at it, you will see something unusual: Jesus isn’t the only person in the picture.  He may be hanging on the cross, but he is surrounded his mother, followers, soldiers, saints, angels, God’s outreaching hand, and even some farm animals.  Francis started his road to sainthood alone, but with a community.  Kind of like a pilgrimage…

Chodźmy! Let’s go! Walk with me?

This is my friend Amanda.  We met when we went to WYD Toronto together.  She’s been a solid rock in my life and I’m so thankful that we are pilgrims together again! 

Oh man.  70 days.  I’m still attempting to plan for the week ahead, let alone a pilgrimage.  Is is really that close?  

I’m starting this blog now after reviewing a pilgrim update from our diocesan director.  He asked for blogs to share with the local Catholic news paper, and it sparked my interest.  So, I’ll give it a go.  

My name is Vicky Hathaway, and I am a pilgrim.  

My relationship with pilgrimages began when I was in high school.  During the summer of 2002, I traveled to Toronto with the Diocese of Gary to experience my first World Youth Day.  There, my eyes and heart was open to the way of the pilgrim.  In 2008/09, I boarded my first international flight to Assisi and Rome to literally walk in the footsteps of Sts. Francis and Clare.  In between, I made smaller pilgrimages, mostly to local areas of interest or religious events, but also to the John Paul II National Shrine in Washington DC while at a summit for young adult ministry.  Each journey gave me a deeper insight into my faith and strengthened my relationship with God and the saints.  

Now, in 70 days (well, actually less than 70 days) I’ll board another plane and head back to Europe to once again visit my brother and sister saints and meet my extended Catholic family (over 35,000 American’s are making the trip and millions more from all over the world).  The Diocese of Gary will be making an extended pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome a few days before the official kick off of World Youth Day in Krakow.   

I selected my blog title after reading my YOUCAT (or Youth Catechism).  The YOUCAT, when answering “What is the purpose of a pilgrimage?” said, “Someone who goes on a pilgrimage “prays with his feet” and experiences with all his senses that his entire life is one long journey to God.”  I read that and went, “THIS!  This describes me perfectly.”  We are all called to be pilgrim people, seeing our every day life as part of our journey towards God.  Each step we take is one more in the direction God is calling us.  The hills and valleys, sunny days and monsoons, smooth pavement and large potholes are all part of that journey.  

I invite you to walk with me as I take this physical, emotional, and most importantly, spiritual journey to Italy and Poland.  If you have questions or want me to touch on something specific, I invite you to do so!  Pray for me as I pray for you!

Pace e Bene,

Vicky

PS: Pace e Bene was a greeting St. Francis of Assisi used in letters to his friends, meaning “Peace and All Good.”  Ever since my pilgrimage, I’ve used the phrase to sign off my letters.  I might have to start using “pokój i dobroć“ which is the Polish equivalent.  :-)