Packing List

Here goes nothing - no judging. This is by no means my final list, and almost everything is up for discussion should it be needed. For my NPC friends & family, I'm allowed two pieces of checked luggage, not to exceed 107 linear inches (L+W+H) or 80 lbs. I'm also allowed a carry-on that's less than 45 linear inches and I forget how much weight. I have a LL Bean rolling duffle and am planning on purchasing a hiking style backpack. I have no idea what my carry-on will be, most likely just a regular backpack or small duffle bag.

Edit: Eight months in, I want to go through and appraise this list... italicized notes are my thoughts as of now.
Edit: Seventeen months in I edited my edits. I seriously would have brought one backpack.

Clothing
  • Skirts (6) super. i wear them all the time, but half as many would be fine. 
  • Shirts (cute ones, and a couple Ts, erring on the side of conservatism - about 15?) way too many, have since given a lot of them away 
  • Long Sleeved T super handy for cool nights and mornings
  • Leggings (3), because I like leggings.  i sleep in them and that's it, but i do like them, would have brought one pair.
  • A dress or two. worn maybe once each. meh. gave them to another volunteer 
  • Jeans never wear them, but i'm the only PCV who doesn't
  • Dress slacks wore them at staging and like one other time. waste of space.
  • PJ pants - most likely old navy yoga pants. love/hate. love them but they take FOREVER to dry. gave 'em away
  • Tank tops to sleep in i would have brought only tanks. shoulders don't matter here. had more sent
  • 50 pairs of underwear. seriously liz? 50? half of this would be adequate. ten would be adequate.
  • Bras, regular & sports priceless.
  • Rainjacket blog entry on this. love it, but i had to get a new one sent bc the lining was rotten
  • Northface fleece for those cool nights when I'm camping! worn twice, but so so thankful i had it
  • Hoodie meh, i wear it but mostly because it's there
  • Windbreaker/light jacket eh, i could do without, it's not water proof. brought it home and left it.
  • Bathing suit so far useless. i would have brought one that i actually liked. when i was home i grabbed one i do like.
  • Sarong, it's pretty and versatile, if nothing else I'll hang it on my wall "pretty and versatile" says it all
  • 2 cute scarves because they're cute scarves are evvverywhere here.
  • Gator hat. Gators gators. never wear hats here, brought three, took two home. 
  • Anything else I love that is worth squeezing in nope. very few things are "worth squeezing in"
  • Rainbow flippie floppies, I live in these After a year I finally switched my spare pair out for my old pair
  • Running shoes decent
  • Flats USE.LESS. Gave them away.
  • Chacos never wear them, but a lot of volunteers do. Gave them away.
  • The socks my mom just got me for Christmas and at least two pairs of argyle socks because argyle is the best pattern. 5 was too many, 3 would be fine

Toiletries - enough to get me through training
  • Shampoo/conditoner <3 i got it sent when i ran out
  • Body wash, face wash body wash you can find here, face wash i had more sent
  • Bath poof brought two, had a couple more sent.
  • Razor/blades <3
  • Lotion <3
  • 20 tubes of Aquaphor 20 was an exaggeration, but i do love what i brought.
  • Toothbrushes/paste/flosser don't leave this at home
  • Occlusal guard & back up nor this
  • Deodorant nor this, have more sent
  • Neti pot totally handy during dry season when the dust blows up my nose 24/7
  • Haircutting scissors chopped my hair off a month after arriving, and have cut others' too
  • Comb mmhm
  • Hairbands, bobby pins, head bands
  • Mirror & tweezers to keep my eyebrows and lip in check
  • Diva Cup (another PCT's blog entry on it in case you're wondering) <3 i want a 2nd one
  • Make up (I have no idea what or how much, I'm guessing at least eye liner and mascara) all i wear is cover up, mascara, and eyeliner. i took a bunch of other stuff home.
  • Q-Tips
  • Nail polish! GENIUS.
  • Nail clippers & file
  • Multivitamins and BC pills initial supply was good, PC provides once you're at site
  • Tupperware of fun jewelry i miss my staples from home... brought a few things back from home when I visited, not my nice stuff though

Home
  • Pink stuffed elephant! in my top 5 favorite things
  • Sheets! I'm a sheet snob, so I'm bringing my favorite (full) set also in the top 5. note: you can BUY any size bed you want. mattresses here are dimensions rather than names, 4x6 is a full, which almost everyone has. i LOVE having a good sheet set.
  • A pillow in a vacuum sealed bag also love this.
  • Travel/neck pillow for my sofa and hammock
  • My favorite beach towel i would have brought a travel towel also. update: got one sent!
  • French press! omg omg bring one if you drink coffee.
  • Can opener & veggie peeler you can find them here but they suck.
  • Good knives (2 or 3) glad i brought them and didn't have to worry about finding them
  • My fabulous bright orange KitchenAide measuring cups, because they've been in storage a year and a half and I miss them <3
  • An adorable (empty!) matchbox that says "We're not in Kansas anymore" :D
  • Zippy bags super handy, i wash them and reuse them and try to keep them in good condition. i feel like my great aunt peggy.
  • A favorite mug, if I find one sifting through my kitchen stuff bought some here, they're cute
  • Koozy, because that's how I roll beers are the wrong size, don't bring one
  • UV water sanitizer pen light INCREDIBLE. BRING ONE

Random - this is where I get in trouble
  • Headlamp & maglite + extra batteries, wind up flashlight headlamp is all i use, i would have done rechargeable batteries. brought the maglite home. 
  • iPod + baby speaker<3
  • MacBook, cords, backup cds, case <3
  • Flash drive & External hard drive full of movies & tv on dvd
  • Point & Shoot camera, giant memory card, cord
  • Flip video camera
  • DSLR, 24 & 50 mm lenses, cord, 2 memory cards, Crumpler switched the 50mm lens for a zoom when i was back.
  • Shortwave radio don't use it... can't find bbc in the village
  • Leatherman so handy
  • Sleeping bag um, why did i bring a 20degree bag to the equator? i love it but should have gotten a cooler one
  • 2 Nalgenes (one with a sweet PC sticker on it) priceless, but one would have done
  • Sewing kit (or at least needles and thread) super
  • Maps: World & Africa
  • Duct tape. If you can't duct it, fuct it. bring 10 rolls. and give them to me.
  • Lots of pictures! <3
  • The thing Laura got me in India to hang on my wall, it's blue and cloth and pretty
  • Frisbee haven't used it, it's a bookend
  • Hackey sack haven't used it, gave it to some kids who were staring at me.
  • Embroidery floss for making friendship bracelets (because I am 9 years old.)
  • Deck of cards i didn't play cards in america, don't play cards here.
  • Cheap watch glad i have it, would have gotten a cuter one. update: got a cute one in the states when i was home. super happy.
  • Sunglasses! (I'm as addicted to these as I am Aquaphor) priiiiceless
  • Kindle with all the books I can afford on it <3. broke it a month in country, had another sent
  • Used copies of my favorite books that aren't on Kindle, because I will swap and share and leave these behind i only brought one, the little prince
  • Bradt Guide to Uganda meh, we all have it
  • Note cards for making flash cards during training eh.
  • Pens & Sharpies sharpies so handy, pens were somehow handy.
  • Planner for the first year while I wean myself off being in America use it allll the time. getting a 2012 one
  • Several spiral bound notebooks, to serve my affinity for list making and journaling they have those here, lord do they have those here.
  • Some kind of folder or organizer for all the paperwork PC has bestowed upon me
  • ***Please note the last seven items. I am an elementary school teacher by trade, this is less than a quarter of the office supply/stationary stuff I'm used to having within arms reach, so don't be too harsh here!