Welcome aboard, glad to have you here. <br><br>First, your English is just fine and much better than a lot of Americans or even English for that matter.<br><br>As far as kit goes, here are some helpful items that are inexpensive. <br><br>Signaling: For every environment, a good whistle is cheap and invaluable. They attract a lot of attention, especially in a city. For marine, a signal mirror is a must. But don't worry too much about cost, many here use a polished interior of an Altoids candy tin lid. So for a modest sum, and with with a minimum of effort, you can have a makeshift signal mirror, and get candy in the bargain. You can't beat that.<br><br>Emergency Devices: The best knife is the one you have on your person when needed. You shouldn't count on always having your pack with you. A good folding multi-purpose knife need not break your budget, and some things are less expensive in Europe than in USA. The Victorinox Swiss Army Knives for example. I know of someone in Warszawa who deals in them, I'll send you a private message with some contact information. And I'll second the idea of a disposable butane lighter like a Mini-Bic. Cheap, available, and relatively reliable.<br><br>Shelter: You're on the right track, a couple of thick trash bags are cheap and useful.<br><br>Medical: Have you MD friend help, but you might want to have him read http://www.avweb.com/articles/medikit/ It's full of good ideas.<br><br>Miscellaneous: Dental floss is cheap an has many uses, a small tube of "Superglue" comes in very handy. A bandana or handkerchief can be invaluable.<br><br>Sources: If you're careful, Ebay can be a good source. Military surplus shops can also help out a lot. With Poland converting to western type equipment, hopefully eastern bloc gear will be plentiful, and some will be quite serviceable. And members of the forum could be a big help. Many of us have older knives that we no longer use, maybe someone would be willing to sell one at a modest price. I've never seen anyone do a post wanting to buy used equipment, but it might work. Ask Chris Kavanaugh first.<br><br>Best of luck and happy (bargain) hunting.<br><br>Peanut<br><br><br>