i wish i ran more: 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

Poke around a little

Packing List