The College of St.
Scholastica
CUERNAVACA QUEST:
Service-Learning
Study Abroad
Summer, 2011
Cuernavaca Quest Packing List
Pack as light as you can! The weight limit for airlines is now 50 lbs. for your suitcase.
Please weigh your bag before you leave for the airport. You must be able to carry your own
bags, and please be aware that luggage wheels are not very useful on cobblestone streets.
Leave space to bring items back.
Clothing: Bring comfortable clothes. Lightweight for warm days, things you don’t mind
getting dirty. In general, Mexicans do not dress as casually as Americans when in public;
most Mexicans try to dress to give a good impression.
Plan to bring at least one decent outfit in case you get invited out to a good dinner, a
celebration, quinceañera, etc. Women: Consider bringing a skirt or dress for such unexpected
fancy occasions. Men: Throw in a tie. You may never wear it, but if the opportunity comes
up . . .
Pants/jeans: Jeans work well in most situations.
Shorts: Men usually don’t wear shorts in public except at beaches/pools/athletic situations.
Little boys wear shorts.
Tops/t-shirts: You’ll be able to dress very casually while at Quest, but in many places bare
shoulders or revealing clothing is unacceptable.
A sweater, sweatshirt, or light jacket. It may get cool in the evenings.
Pajamas or other sleepwear.
Shoes. These should be comfortable and sturdy. You will be walking through mud and
down dirt streets, paths, and roads. Bring a pair of sandals. You may want to consider flipflops or thongs for wearing in the shower, but these can be a hassle on steep hills or in mud.
Mexicans generally do not go barefoot, even at home.
Swimsuit.
Towel. Pillows, sheets, and bath towels and washcloths are provided. Your own towel for
swimming might be a good idea.
Underwear
Socks.
Rain jacket. It is the rainy season. You will really appreciate having a rain jacket.
There are stores and shopping malls in Cuernavaca so you can purchase some clothing there
rather than packing all of it from home.
Money: ATM machines are abundant in Cuernavaca and Mexico City, but may not be found
in small towns. Check with your bank regarding fees assessed per transaction. Many small
stores do not accept credit or debit cards. Traveler’s checks are a good way to have a reserve
on hand, they can be cashed at a bank or currency exchange and replaced if lost or stolen.
Identification: Passport and a second form of identification, e.g. driver’s license. Make a
copy of the page with your picture and ID before we leave and give it to Martin. We
will be making a set of copies to bring along, and another set to stay behind in Duluth with
Robin Banks, the study abroad coordinator. We can use these copies to help you replace
your passport should you lose it.
AVOID BRINGING VALUABLES, e.g. expensive jewelry and watches. Do not bring
anything that you wouldn’t want to part with.
Bring your Student ID card. You will be able to take advantage of student discounts with it.
Medications & Prescriptions: Keep a list with their names, dosage, active ingredients, etc.
Epi-Pens. Medications for your usual discomforts. If you wear a medical bracelet, please
bring it and let the accompanying faculty know that you have it.
Dealing with “Montezuma’s Revenge.” Acidophilus tablets (acidophilus is the name given
to the live bacteria in yogurt) are reported to work well as a preventative. The usual over the
counter medicines are Maalox, Pepto-Bismol, and Lomotil; which are taken only after you
get it. In general, it is best to let the revenge work its way out of your system rather than
block it all in. Drink lots of fluids. Use the medications if you are feeling it and are going to
be traveling or away from easy access to bathrooms.
Public bathrooms are not easily found in Mexico and there is often a small charge for using
them. Toilet paper is not to be flushed down the toilet ever. Always put it in the small
wastepaper basket next to the toilet, even at Quest.
Toiletries: Shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor, lotion, deodorant, comb, floss,
toothbrush/paste, nail clippers, talcum powder. All of these items are available in
Cuernavaca. Please be aware of airline restrictions regarding putting these items in your
carry-on luggage (to carry them on, liquid or gels must be in containers of 3 ounces or less
and be in see through plastic bag). Hairdryers are not generally necessary. Sufficient
feminine hygiene products should be brought along for the semester.
Telephone card: Make sure it will work in Mexico. These are widely available in Mexico at
newspaper and magazine kiosks. Public phones take cards rather than coins.
Required miscellaneous items
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Hat/visor for sun protection
Water bottle
Journal/Pens
Passport (send Martin a copy)
Other miscellaneous items
Reading material
MP3 player
Playing cards, small games
Insect repellent
Pictures of family, friends and pets
Day pack/fanny pack/small backpack
Address book
Alarm clock
Camera
Money pouch
Personal resources for prayer/reflection
Travel sewing kit
Small gifts for children (crayons, books, colored pencils, nail polish, small toys).
Small gifts for adults (typically US or MN items)
Spare glasses/contacts or a copy of the prescription
Don’t have people mail packages to you in Mexico from the US. You will have to
pay at least $20 to get the package out of the post office.
Class Supplies: Textbooks, paper, pens, journal for class, laptop, Spanish/English
dictionary.
Leave room in your baggage to bring things home. Remember that your bag can weigh no
more than 50 lbs. Make sure you can carry what you bring!