What to Bring:
Most host families do laundry once a week. So you should pack enough clothes to get you through at least a week. PLEASE BRING CLOTHES FOR COLD WEATHER, winter and summer months can be damp and very chilly!!!!! You should pack several sweaters, sweatshirts, or a warm jacket. We have a water shortage here in California. Laundry is usually done only once a week with full loads of dirty clothes. Rarely do families do laundry with only a few items. The atmosphere at MIIS and MPC is considered casual: jeans, slacks, comfortable clothes are appropriate. Please bring good walking shoes. Most likely, you will be riding the bus to school and will be walking to and from a bus stop to school or home. Sneakers, or comfortable walking shoes should be worn most of the time.
If you have a special food dish that you want to prepare for your host family, you are welcome to bring the ingredients from from your home country. We do have a grocery store here that sells primarily Asian food, so if you forget, it won't be a problem.
Bring any personal items, such as shampoo, special soaps, contact lens solution etc. you may need while you are in Monterey.
Bring photos of your family to share with your host family.
If you have any questions about what to bring, you can email Lisa at lisaleorohrer@yahoo.com
Weather:
FOGGY!!!!!! The weather in Monterey is variable. Depending on the month, it is often damp, or even rainy. It changes all the time, several times a day. You will always need a sweater or jacket with you.
December, January, and February are often rainy. Bring an umbrella. Hopefully the sun will shine for you, while you are here, but you need to be prepared for cold weather. Even when the sun does shine, it is still chilly and cool during the day. Make sure you pack warm clothes.
July and August are usually our foggiest months. The cold fog often covers the sky in the morning, clears mid-day for a few hours, and then sometimes the fog returns in the afternoon. Sweaters and long pants are always necessary in the summer. Please make sure you bring warm clothes.
