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The 5 items I NEVER leave home without

I live in a small city in Northern France, teaching English to the world's most adorable students! What do I keep in my bag with me no matter what?

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The 5 items I NEVER leave home without

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The following items will literally turn me around and force me to run back up my building's spiral staircase, no matter how late I am, to make sure I have them with me. Remember: there's no CVS in this part of France, and the majority of the stores close at lunch time, which is during my only break for the day. Also, nowhere, and I mean nowhere, is open on Sundays after Noon. Sometimes, especially when you really, REALLY need something, places close for no reason. 24/hr shops and fast food simply does not exist here. Alors, one MUST be prepared for such closures and pack all necessities.

1. CHAPSTICK

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Specifically, the Burt Bees Mango or the Pomegranate one that tints your lips *just* a little. My horseback riding coach when I was younger called me "Chappy Kathy" because my lips were always chapped and I, like every other girl I know, always lost my chapstick causing a lovely red ring presented around my mouth. Not cute. Now, I actively combat "Chappy Kathyism" by ensuring I have at least two chapsticks in my bag- because we're bound to lose one of them by the end of the day, right?

2. FOLDING HAIRBRUSH

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I LOVE this little hair brush from WetBrush. It folds up so it doesn't take up too much space in my bag and I love that is has a mirror on the inside for touch ups. When I say touch ups, I mean one of my CP (kindergarten) students has "accidentally" spit on me and I need to do damage control OR singing "head-shoulders-knees-and-toes" got a little wild and my hair now looks like the aftermath of a tornado. This brush is made to easily pass through wet hair (it really does!) and is also strong enough to travel with you for a weekend so you can leave your big round-brushes at home.

3. PLANNER

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If I don't write something down, I WILL forget it. It doesn't matter if you text me, call me, or put a stick note on my forehead. I have to write it down. It's for this reason that I am infinitely grateful for the existence of the almighty planner. Some of y'all are already on the planner train, especially if you're in school or self-employed. It's the best way to stay organized for me, and I personally love using the stickers in them to decorate my month. I know it seems silly, but it's the little things that make monotonous or recurring events, like going grocery shopping or Zumba on Thursday nights, more exciting! I am a big, basic-girl fan of the Lilly Pulitzer planners, particularly JUMBO size but I recognize that smaller sizes are more practical.

4. POWER BANK

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Have you ever had an electronic train ticket and your phone died? No? WELL let me tell you folks it is not ideal. I never leave home without my power bank now, because my phone seems to die at 45% now (thanks Apple). I like to have a power bank on me especially when I am traveling so I don't end up with a dead phone in the middle of my GPS route to my Airb&b or to a museum. Belkin, in my opinion, makes the best one, but there are loads of options out there. P.S. The train stations always have them next to the magazines, in case you get stuck like I did.

5. A BOOK or NEWSPAPER

book chapter six

This one should probably be at the top of my list, actually. I am a part-time elementary school English teacher. I have a LOT of free time on my hands and I spend at least an hour a day on or waiting for public transit. I see so many people on their phones and truthfully, I scroll through Twitter like I'm reading the news too. However, my 2019 resolution was to read more, so I always keep a book with me. Even if I only have the time (or attention span) to get through a few pages, I still feel better off. Recently, I have been scrounging the free magazines around town to read to really immerse myself in the language. If you're like me and have to carry a laptop in your bag everyday, a newspaper is a lighter alternative to stick in your bag. I know, I know, you can read the news on your phone but I like to support my local journalists and publishers!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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