Deciding what gap year travel kit to take on your adventures is initially straightforward. You’ll probably begin by selecting everything you’ve ever owned, piling it all on your bed, creating a colossal mountain of stuff. But then comes the actual process of packing, and once you’ve realized with dismay that the kitchen fridge and all its contents just isn’t going to fit into a side pocket, it will dawn on you that compromise is necessary.
This is where I step in. Drawing from my own experiences, I’ve put together a whole range of Travel Kit that I think will get even the most adventurous backpacker kitted out and on the road. Ultimately the choice is yours, of course, but this is a good place to start. Even though most seminaries send out a handbook and a packing list, the easy part is to read the list; the hard part is to shop for it. So here is a guide for how to pack for your semminary/yeshiva year!
“Backpacks”
It’s called ‘backpacking’ for a reason. Before you can pack anything you’ll need something to pack it into, and for the vast majority of fututre gappers this something comes in the form of a backpack. A backpack is essentially the same invention as a rucksack, only approximately seven times bigger, seven times heavier and with seven times more compartments.
Choosing one can quickly turn into a mystifying process; there are just so many different types on the market. The best thing is to keep these key points in mind:
“Toiletries and Medications”
If you have a favorite brand of something, stock up. But don’t go overboard—Israel does have drugstores. It’s also good to keep in mind that Israel has very hard water, so the shampoo, conditioner and body washes are specially made for hard water, while in the U.S they are not. They are also very heavy and bulky, I know it’s a challenge to only pack what you really need, but in the end Israel has endless pharmacies easily accessible where one can buy most products that they will need.
Note: if you take a certain type of medication regularly, make sure you have enough supply for the entire year (or that the medicine can be purchased in Israel).
“Good Pair of Hiking Boots”
Israelis love to hike, and you are going to be living in a country that was practically designed for hiking. You’ll want to break in your boots before your first trek, so picking them up before you leave will give you time to wear them around the house. The hiking boots you choose of course depend on where you are going. Your required level of support, foot size, and the features you prefer also affect what the right choice is. Nonetheless, you want the upper construction to be durable, the heel to be stable, and the membrane to be waterproof and breathable.
“Technology”
Versatile electronics. For example, would you be OK with only bringing your iPhone instead of a phone, camera, iPod, and e-reader? Do you really need your iPad? Whatever you do end up packing though, don’t forget to pack an adapter/converter especially since Israel uses a different voltage and outlet than where you’re from. It’s usually much cheaper to buy one in Israel just make sure that it works with the devices you are bringing. In Israel the power sockets look like this (which is a type h socket.) So, buying an adapter is crucial if you want to be able to charge your devices.
While a voltage converter changes the standard of voltage used to be compatible with the voltage used in Israel. To be sure, check the label on the appliance. Some appliances never need a converter. If the label states ‘INPUT: 100-240V, 50/60 Hz’ the appliance can be used in all countries in the world. This is common for chargers of tablets/laptops, photo cameras, cell phones, toothbrushes, etc.
Like I have already touched upon in a previous blog “Top Tips For Parents Whose Kids Are Planning Their Gap Year.”
Of course you will be taking your phone with you. How else would you show off your fantastic gap year experience and keep in touch with your friends, Facebook and of course Instagram. Make sure pre-travel that your phone is unlocked and think about a provider, like Talknsave, were we aim at keeping it easy to connect while abroad, you get a Stay Local number–which also features no international dialing and also saves you from having to learn international dialing rules, while at the same time saves you the worry about running out of minutes–you will have unlimited minutes both in Israel and abroad and includes at least a minimum of 4gb of data, so you can FaceTime or WhatsApp to your hearts content.
“Leave Behind Your Huge Suitcase”
Look, I get it — you’re going away for a long time, and so it seems logical that you’ll need a huge suitcase and a lot of stuff. Really, you don’t. If you’re spending a whole semester or year abroad, you’ll accumulate things as you’re there, just like you would at home, and it’s more important to just bring the basics. Your stuff will be waiting for you when you get back and you can live without them for a bit!
The best trick I’ve learned for packing lighter, is to get a smaller bag. If you limit yourself with your luggage, you’ll be forced to put those “maybe” pile items into the “no” pile and leave them at home. Also, if you plan on doing any weekend travel or post-study abroad travel, you won’t want to lug around a large suitcase. You’ll want something smaller for going away for Shabbat.
It can be good for your mental and emotional health to have a few non-essential pieces of home with you to help ease the transition abroad. You don’t have to completely cut yourself off from the people, things or even sports teams that are important to you just because you’re moving to another country, but you also can’t try to bring your entire life with you.
Be strategic about what you bring with you and what you leave for when you return — and don’t forget to leave some extra space in your bag for everything you’ll be bringing back from your time abroad!
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Stress less — Here at TalknSave we offer outstanding American customer service is so you can focus on what really matters. We know your time is precious while you’re visiting Israel, so if you have a problem, we’ll do our best to get you a working phone as soon as possible. We have our full-service office in Jerusalem where you can walk in and walk out with a working phone in minutes.
Mobile hotspots are critical for anyone who travels or who needs to have constant access to the internet with multiple devices. Our mobile hotspot offers you to be able to surf the web at faster speeds, thanks to our LTE network. More than that, I think that the best advantage of using a hotspot, besides not having to worry about racking up huge fees is the convenience– WIFI all the time and anywhere you go. And a dedicated connection for your devices. Eliminating all of the worries of using an unsecured network and the annoyance of having to find a WIFI connection.
We are now offering unlimited calling to Canada for no additional fees. Forget about hidden fees or a massive bill. With TalknSave we strive to keep you connected while you can keep your bills down.
With our ”Stay Local” number, you can have a local US* number that rings on your phone in Israel. Parents love this feature – there are no codes to remember, no PINs, no need to top off minutes. We’re sure you’re going to love it too!
*Not from the USA? No problem – we have lots of other country choices too.
If you already own a compatible phone, you can just rent a free SIM card from TalknSave for short or long term use. If your a frequent traveler to Israel i.e more than once a year, check out our SIM for Life program which is the best way to have a permanent number in Israel. Invaluable for business travelers and immeasurably convenient for families; stop renting phones and save the most.
No need to return your SIM when you are done!
Use old SIM cards to sign up again!
All incoming calls are free with our unlimited talk within Israel. Isn’t that nice? Doesn’t matter where they’re from, local or international. With just a click you can instantly keep track of your phone usage, which will come in handy since you’ll for sure be making international calls.
A lot of them.
Right now, you probably almost never call another country from your cell phone. But when you’re in Israel, your family expects to hear from you! Make sure you check what you’re paying for int’l calls. It’s cheaper than you think!
We’re happy to accommodate tour groups, large family trips, missions, etc. Don’t hesitate to contact our amazing Groups Department for a custom solution just for your needs! Email groups@talknsave.net now.
We offer free sim delivery before you even arrive, just pop in your new sim and your rearing to go. No matter where you choose delivery, you can usually get your phone number in advance of your rental start date. At the end of your rental, there is no need to return your SIM card; you can save it for next time!
TalknSave’s “Stay Local” number will keep you connected with your top people back home. With our ”Stay Local” number, you can have a local US* number that rings on your phone in Israel. Parents love this feature – there are no codes to remember, no PINs, no need to top off minutes. We’re sure you’re going to love it too!
4G LTE™ is actually two different terms that are often combined into one. 4G is the fourth and latest generation technology for data access over cellular networks. LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, is a protocol for wireless high-speed data communications. Combined together, 4G LTE means you’ll enjoy the most advanced data speed available within the network.