Travel restrictions

Ever since I found out where in France I was placed, I've been thinking about things I wear/do/need/use on a daily basis. I then compiled those things into an ever-growing list of what I should -- in theory -- pack to take with me to France for a year.

Now that my parents have returned from their three-week French vacation, I have two rather large suitcases up for grabs. My problem, however, is that I don't know where I'll be living, working, staying, etc. Since there are a lot of unknown variables surrounding my arrival, I've decided to take only one rolling suitcase that I can physically carry. I'm not going to go overboard and load more than I am capable of handling. Then I'm allowed two carry-ons, one will be my computer and laptop, the other I imagine an oversized purse.

That means I'm still thinking about my final check-through item. I'm allowed two, but only one is rolling, so I imagine the other's going to be a duffel bag of some sort I can just plop on top of my rolling bag.

Again, in theory this all sounds like a good idea. But when you get right down to it, how can you fit a year's worth of your life in four bags? We're not even talking things like furniture, appliances and decorations -- there's no way I'd ever be able to cart all that crap across the world with me. All I'm thinking about are clothes, toiletries, teaching supplies (should I be worried I haven't even thought over a single lesson plan yet?), shoes, jackets, towels, outlet converters, the list goes on...

I know I should have begun this process sooner, because it's extremely overwhelming right now. I haven't tried to fit anything in the rolling suitcase quite yet, but I've been making large piles of things I want to take according to their value of importance. Perhaps if nothing fits, I can just pare down from the top of the stack (least important) to the select few items at the bottom (can't live without 'em).

Fingers crossed it all fits! And fingers crossed I'll be able to easily access anything the first few nights I'm living out of a hostel and homeless!

...8 jours!!!! (I'm beginning to feel like I'm going to be the last assistant to arrive in the Hexagon)