Holiday preparedness/prepping abroad

[Janash37]

I'm currently a student in the UK but am spending the next 9 months in Germany as part of my course. Unfortunately for my preparedness, and my liver/wallet, this involves staying in uni halls again which presents me with a bit of a dilemma.

I will be on an EXTREMELY limited budget, as limited as it gets (think 99p shop style prepping) and as I'm traveling over by plane I can't take any extra weight with me. This means I'm basically starting from scratch again once I'm over there. I'm going to have to build myself a cheap new emergency bag that'll see me through if something does go south, but that I can also pretty much throw away when I'm coming home.

Does anyone have any advice or tips about things they do whilst out of the country or just generally away from their main preps for an extended period of time? Obviously I don't want to leave all mine behind only to become a victim should something happen and I'm stuck in a landscape which will be fairly unfamiliar to me!

Thanks

[the7ps]

Hi Janash37,

I live in Germany myself and have an entire, empty Army camp as a BOL. We'll work out a secret knock and you can come in if TSHTF?

In all seriousness, I had this a few weeks ago. I was abroad on holiday and started thinking; I speak the language conversationally but if TS really did HTF would a foreigner like me be high on the locals list of people to help and what about all those preps sat back at home going to waste.

I just made sure that on day one I got alot (actually far too much) water in and combined sight seeing with a good recce of the local area.

[PreppingPingu]

Well, if you are staying in the same region and not moving about while you're abroad, do the basics such as familiarise yourself with the area, with local services, roads and railway lines across the region, and how things work in the country you are in, in regards to law and order as well as emergencey serices. language as has been said. As far as basic daily preparedness, have a look in the section that talks about EDC Every Day Carry bags. For example my handbag/shoulder bag that goes everywhere with me has basic first supplies including one of those foil blankets,spare pair of socks, I carry matches and my phone, pen & paper, currencey, sweets, sachets of salts and a choc bar and if I can, a jumper/coat to carry. In another country maybe a map of the area you're in and ID would be important to add. When I went abroad I packed in the case that goes in the hold, my multi tool and penknife and just added them to my bag when I was in the country, of course remembering to take them out before I got on the plane back home!

[Ferricks]

I've been thinking about this too because we're going to France for a week in October and it's very much a " how to get home in a crisis" question for me. We're travelling Eurostar deliberately so that we have less baggage limitations and on the basis that it's statistically less likely to be disrupted than flights if there is a travel issue.

We will take basics such as juice / cereal bars / "normal" (for preppers!) travel stuff such as medicines, first aid, maps etc.

I think in your circumstances I would work out what you CAN take with you - e.g. basic first aid stuff can go with you, maps also, medicines. Take your bob on the basis that you can use as hand luggage (with all non acceptable items removed!) and all you have to leave coming back is the contents rather than purchase an additional bag you're going to get rid of?? Go through what you DO have now and assess what's feasible to take and work from there.

[Arzosah]

I'm travelling to France on the eurostar in October! **jaw drops** you're not going to a wedding, are you? I must admit, I hadn't thought at all about the preps for it yet. Better start making a list.

[maddriver]

For an extended period like that might it be worth sending a package ahead of you so you can pick it up when you arrive?

I don't know what the cost would be like but it would be a way of getting an emergency bag in country without worrying about luggage restrictions.

Obviously you'll want to pick up a good map of the area you're staying.

[Janash37]

For an extended period like that might it be worth sending a package ahead of you so you can pick it up when you arrive?

I don't know what the cost would be like but it would be a way of getting an emergency bag in country without worrying about luggage restrictions.

Obviously you'll want to pick up a good map of the area you're staying.

That's not a bad idea! Might think about doing that soon...

[Ferricks]

I'm travelling to France on the eurostar in October! **jaw drops** you're not going to a wedding, are you? I must admit, I hadn't thought at all about the preps for it yet. Better start making a list.

I'm not - I have a five year old girl who still believes in fairies so we're off to Disneyland Paris before the realities of life jade her rose tinted specs!

[Arzosah]

Thats lovely, Ferricks! I'm off to a proper French wedding, and I'm betting its a grown up version of fairytales