The question is, what NOT to take

Today is the day before I start. I went for my last shopping to get some missing items. Then I laid out everything I intent to take along. It filled almost my whole floor of my living room. Definitely too much. The strategy was now to go over the luggage again and think about every item: Do I really need this? How many pairs of socks are necessary? Will the temperature hold up while I am still in the alps or do I need to pack something warm? ...

The picture shows all my luggage laid out.

Now that the start is coming up I am getting a bit nervous but in a positive way. I can't wait to pack everything onto my bike, push it out of the basement, lock the door behind me and go. I sit here, smile as I write and think to myself "I am so lucky".

Here's an interesting online game which lets the gamer experience what it means to leave home as a refugee:

In 2005 the UNHCR released the online game called "Against all Odds". It is available in many different languages. In various levels the gamer can virtually experience the escape of a refugee from his home country to his destination. One of the first levels is set in the home of the refugee. She has to decide what to take a long and the time is ticking. When the gamer selects various items the narrator of the game give comments like "a sleeping bag can keep you warm but there is not enough space in your back pack". After failing the level a few times the gamer limits herself to a sweatshirt, pants, boots and the passport.

Support refugees in Kara Tepe on Lesbos in Greece by donating here.