1  Before you arrive

Book your train tickets https://rozklad-pkp.pl/en

Assign your pre-registration tickets to people if you have not already done so! Double check if you have bought a gala show ticket (if you wish to attend it).

Based on the author’s (Dee’s) experience in attending many EJCs this is her suggested packing list, not including your props. The packing list assumes that you will be camping, and self-catering (cooking main meals for yourself at least some of the time) at the EJC. Adjust accordingly if you don’t need to pack for camping!

What to pack

Essentials for everyone

  • Passports / ID needed for travel and for matching against your preregistration information
  • Złoty (Polish currency) and debit / credit cards that will work (and have a suitable daily spending limit, especially if you will register and pay at the site)
  • Charger (European two pin: style “E”) and cables for devices; ideally labelled! Make sure to bring appropriate adapters. If staying off-site and travelling from a location that doesn’t use the European style two-pin adapter, you may want to bring a multi-way extension lead with a single adapter!
  • Contact information for your embassy is a good idea to have.
  • Visas (if needed)
  • Evidence of sufficient funds (non EU travellers)

Keeping Clean and Healthy

  • Much of this can be bought in a local supermarket

    • shower gel / soap
    • nailbrush
    • toothbrush (please fully charge electric toothbrushes before travelling!) Pack this in hand luggage if flying.
    • toothpaste
    • hairbrush (if needed)
    • shampoo (if needed)
    • shower cap (see below for explanation); wrap your shampoo bottle in this to prevent leaks messing up your bag!
    • sanitary protection if needed
    • towel(s)

  • Other health related stuff

    • medication and prescriptions – including the prescription for your glasses (if necessary); bring these in hand luggage if flying.
    • bug repellant (if needed)
    • anti-histamines
    • suncream

Clothes

Sleep wear; even if you usually don’t wear much, think about if you need to go to the loo at night!

Sweater – if it is too warm, it can serve as a pillow.

Hat – sun protection is important, even in a shaded site.

Check what the predicted weather forecast will be before travelling. For example: https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/pl/lublin changing settings to celsius if needed or https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/765876 or https://www.imgw.pl/ if you can navigate Polish!

During the convention https://meteo.imgw.pl/dyn/#group=nwp&param=t-2-agl&model=cosmo7k0&loc=51.23564339314886,22.562398910522464,14 is a good option for weather.

Currently it looks like there may be some rain during the convention, so bringing a rain jacket would be a good idea.

Enough underwear and socks for the convention. Being able to change into fresh socks is a delight! Same goes for fresh t-shirts.

Sandals are nice, but have at least one set of closed toe shoes, especially if volunteering! Please wear footwear during the convention – in previous years, the most common injury was from people going barefoot.

Flip flops for showers.

Swimwear if you plan to go to the swimming pool nearby (great for a longer, warmer shower!)

I recommend bringing some travel wash for clothes (something that can wash clothes at low temperatures), especially if you are taking part in set up / tear down; it prevents you having stinky clothes in your tent for a long period of time! You can also pack less if you can wash clothes while in Lublin. In an emergency, Dee at Information Desk will have some, but she will extract some volunteering from you in return!

If you have long hair, please consider bringing a shower-cap. While you may want to shower frequently in the heat, your hair is unlikely to need so much washing. Wearing a shower cap will reduce how much time you spend in the shower, reducing the water consumption and overall environmental impact, as well as reducing the length of queues for showers!

Think about where else you may be visiting in Poland. These places may have (un)official dress codes, for example requiring you to have covered shoulders / knees. Plan your packing accordingly.

Basics for camping

  • Tent (or potentially tarp and hammock)

  • Sleeping bag

  • Bed roll; needed to provide some insulation from the ground and help you sleep in a more comfortable way

  • Cooking equipment. If travelling as part of a group, or you plan to camp with friends on arrival, perhaps plan together on who brings what to avoid over-packing on this one! What counts as cooking equipment? Even being able to share a stove (if not the saucepans etc) can minimise the amount of half-used gas canisters left behind as they can’t be brought on airplanes.

    • Saucepan(s)
    • Stove(s)
    • Gas / fuel for stove
    • chopping board
    • Knife for food prep
    • Knife, fork and spoon
    • Large bowl (can be used as a plate as well)
    • T-towel for drying stuff
    • Cleaning cloth / scrubber
    • Washing-up liquid (can be bought on arrival!)
    • Cup
    • Drinking water bottle
    • Nice to have: washing bowl

  • A way to hang clothes / towels to dry outside. Some clothes pegs are a must, even if you don’t bring a clothes line as you can use the ropes from your tent, or peg a towel to itself over a branch of a tree! This will prevent your towel from flying away. You are requested not to leave your towel to dry in the hall (this creates a horrible smell, and lots of musty towels left behind at the end of the convention for the organisers to deal with).

  • Somewhere to store dirty clothes separately; this can just be a plastic bag, but will make your life easier.

  • Bag(s) for going to the supermarket. A small backpack is great for this.

Nice to have

  • Extra towel
  • Battery Pack for electronic devices
  • Plate as well as your bowl
  • Corkscrew / Bottle opener / tin opener (typically you can borrow these if needed)
  • Camping chair
  • Pillow case; it can be really nice to use a pillow case (even without an actual pillow) to use to stuff your soft clothes into to make sleeping more comfortable
  • Sleeping bag liner; either for sleeping in (and using your sleeping bag as extra padding if it is too hot) or as a way of keeping your sleeping bag clean and having an easier to wash insert. Keep this one in hand luggage if flying.
  • Manicure set in case you split a nail while juggling.
  • Coffee maker (Bialetti style moka pot)
  • Picnic mat

If you have lots of room for stuff!

Being able to bring things like oils and spices (for cooking), extra cooking utensils, bigger and more comfortable bedding (inflatable mattress / pillows / duvets) can help you have a luxury EJC even if camping!

A way to sort out your rubbish into different types of recycling is also great, but you can always figure something out on site.