Pack a lot of underwear and an extra towel. Don't forget your toothbrush. Those are the basics; with them you'll get through just about anything.
Bring a nice shirt (you'll quickly grow tired of dressing like a slob) and leave the running shoes. It's hot as hell here, do you really need to jog?
Have some clothes you're convinced are indestructible? Perfect! No better way to test them out than months of surprisingly aggressive hand-washing.
Buy an entire pharmacy worth of basic medical supplies. Put them in your suitcase, take them back out. You can buy all of that here after all. Finally, pack it all anyway; it'll make you feel a little more prepared and that counts for a lot.
Find a good book, a soul-strengthening, spirit-renewing good book. Keep that close.
Buy a journal and write in it daily. You'll need it to prove to your grandkids that you're as cool as you say you are.
Leave behind any expectations you might have had. They'll all be wrong anyway.
Pack something sentimental, a little trinket, nothing fancy. Put it somewhere you can see it everyday or, better yet, wear it. Don't worry it doesn't need to be valuable, its value will come from reminding you that while you are many, many things, you are not alone.
Bring a camera and photograph everything, good and bad, ugly and beautiful.
Don't forget your indomitable spirit of adventure and unending bravery. Can't find them? No worries, I misplaced mine too, fake it till you make it!
Sunscreen. Lots of it.
Ditto for the DEET.
If you still have room, throw in a pocket knife and some electrical tape. They'll prove handy at least once.
Then just take a deep breath and get on the plane. Watch that first step, it's a doozy (in the best possible way).
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