My family enjoys exploring the world. In fact, most of my fondest memories from childhood are abroad. One of the people who I enjoy travelling with the most is my grandma. She is a blonde German-Irish woman, but can be found in the kitchen cooking Filipino food or saying “ano?” (‘what’ in Tagalog) when she needs something repeated. We are travelling to Costa Rica this coming week, so I thought it would be appropriate to compile a list of things to expect when you travel with your grandma.

1. She will probably pack all of her things in four strange envelope looking cases
2. She will ship things to your house prior to the trip just so she can be sure she is prepared.
3. She will overpack old hotel toiletries, but underpack actual clothing.
4. The itinerary will be printed on actual paper. There will be nothing digital because it isn’t the 21st century or anything.
5. We will have to show up at the airport four hours before our actual flight...just to be safe.
6. She will always be the one to rely on for Kleenex, Neosporin and gum.
7. She will give you $20 bills to keep in your wallet.
8. She will probably want to go on some sort of hike or venture through a butterfly house.
9. She will make friends with the people sitting next to you on the plane and plan to go to dinner with them the next week (this has happened on multiple occasions).
10. Most importantly, she will show you the world and that’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for.