Woody ... Portland/Seattle do not get much colder (on average) than Canberra in the winter - but they do get WET (about 5" rain fall in the month). As far as packing *more* and having less space to bring back stuff she bought ... ship it!! Also, check into if they are allowed to bring 2 suitcases HOME. Sometimes the restrictions are just on the trip to the new home (possibly to not overburden the host family with too much *stuff*). If she can bring two home - perhaps she can buy a cheap suitcase when she's here to fill with *stuff* she bought. My husbands kids come to visit us and we always end up buying each of them a 2nd suitcase to take home. I rather suspect they have about a dozen suitcases between them now!!