Packing! (Part Deux)

Now that we've published the basic packing list provided by Peace Corps, we will get specific about what we're packing.  We were told by some current volunteers a few weeks ago that "everyone over-packs" for Peace Corps service. As mentioned earlier, we plan to bring one 50-lb (or less) suitcase and one carry-on each, so we're hoping not to over-pack too much, but we do recognize that some of the things we want to bring may not be as useful as we expect.

First things first. The photo below is the floor of Lara's parents' spare room Sunday night. It's looking a bit hectic, but to us it actually looks pretty organized! We've done a fair share of packing for weekend backpacking trips and while the extent of the mess is usually smaller than this, it's similarly chaotic-looking.

Now onto the list of what that mess is made of:
 
Electronics
Note: a lot of these electronics will be loaned to other volunteers, since we wound up with an abundance after several like-minded family members went shopping for us
(1) Netbook
(2) Battery Solar Chargers [Polar Film Charger, review to follow]
(3) USB Solar Chargers [various brands, reviews to follow]
(9) LED Flashlights [various brands/sizes]
(3) Headlamps
(2) Shortwave Radios
(1) Digital Camera
(2) iPods
(1) Surge protector
(1) Kindle, in a zipper case
(1) Computer lock
(many) AA and AAA Rechargeable batteries

Kevin's Clothes, etc.
(3) Dress Shirts
(3) Polo Shirts
(3) Dress Pants
(1) Jeans
(5) T-Shirts
(10) Underwear
(10) Socks
(2) Swimsuits
(15) Bandanas/handkerchief
(1) Khaki Shorts
(1) Running Shorts
(1) Running Shoes
(1) Dress Shoes
(1) Teva Sandals
(3) Cloth Belts [leather gets moldy in the rainy season]
(1) Jacket
(1) Rain Jacket
(6) Deodorant Sticks
(6) Razorblades [This should last me more than 2 years... Stupid Flaute gene]

Lara's Clothes, etc.
(2) Swimsuits [a one-piece and a two-piece.  Apparently both are acceptable]
(3) Skirts that cover the knee, even when sitting
(2) Dresses, see above
(1) Pair jeans
(1) Patagonia rain jacket
(5) Nice tops [Only one is sleeveless. Sleeves are preferred]
(2) Tank tops for around the house/sleeping
(1) Pair long athletic shorts [Not knee-length but as close as possible when buying women's shorts]
(2) Camisoles
(6) Bras
(20) Pairs underwear
(4) Deodorant sticks
(2) Pairs Tevas [one pair of strap-on sandals and on pair flip flops]
(1) Pair croc-style Mary Janes
(1) Pair water shoes [athletic in style. They look like sneakers]
(1) Pair black flats
(1) Pair running shoes
(4) Pairs socks
(1) Half-slip [We were told the Ministry of Education will provide us with outfits for the swearing-in
     ceremony, but they may be a bit translucent]
(several) pairs earrings [nothing too fancy]
(1) Diva cup [review to follow!]
(1) Razor with 9 replacement blades

Shared Toiletries
(2) Nail clippers
(2) Nail files
(1) Pair scissors [for cutting everything, including hair]
(1) bottle Excedrin
(1) bottle Ibuprofen
(several) other meds, including Gas-X and laxatives [Digestive issues are very common]
(3) Months' worth of prescriptions
(several) Dental floss rolls
(1) bottle Lidocaine suspension [Lara gets bad canker sores and this allows her to eat/brush teeth
     pain-free when they pop up]
(1) medicine syringe [for Lara's saline rinses during cold/allergy season]
(1) Small hanging mirror
(7) Toothbrushes
(4) Bar soaps/shampoos
(1) Face lotion
(2) SPF 50 Chapsticks
(2) Packs "Shaving Cream Sheets" [bought for $1 each at Office Depot. Just add water!]

School Supplies
(Lots of) Pens
(Lots of) Pencils
(1) Sharpie marker
(1) Engineering Statics book
(1) 6th Grade Math Book
(1) Graphing Calculator
(1) Scientific Calculator
(2-3) Protractors
(2-3) Compasses
(Tons of) Math Manipulatives [rulers and geometric shapes]
(2) Dry-erase blank posters
(3) Dry-erase markers
(1) pack sticky tac

Gifts for Host Families
(2) Small bottles of Ohio Maple Syrup
(80) Honey Sticks for the kids [Flavored honey in a straw! These things are awesome.]
(a ton) Trinket toys from Kevin's Mom
(also a ton) Ohio buckeyes [Collected while Kevin was an undergrad at Ohio State]

Odds and Ends
(1) Can opener
(1) Veggie Peeler
(2) Pocket knives
(2) Kitchen knives
(1) Stainless Steel Travel French Press
(1) Clothes line
(1) Knife Sharpening Kit
(1) Multi-tool
(some) duct tape
(1) Camp shower
(2) Padlocks
(2) Kraft cheese packets [for that cheese fix when we start to get a hankering- not a lot of cheese
      in Salone, we've heard]
(1) Outdoor Thermometer
(3) Games/Cards
(2) Water Bladders
(10) Water flavoring packets
(1) Rubix Cube
(1) Jacobs ladder
(5) Large bubble envelopes
(1) Tripod for digital camera
(1) 35mm Camera
(A pile) Stationery and envelopes
(10) US Forever stamps [to send letters home with people going to the states]
(1) Anti-dandruff shampoo
(several) Sets ear plugs
(1-2) Harmonicas [Lara has always wanted to learn]
(1) Blue laser pointer [to point out stars, and also because laser pointers are neat]
(1) Night Sky Atlas
(2) Journals [One has several favorite recipes written in it]
(1) Sketch book
(1) Travel guide for Sierra Leone
(1) Audubon Guide to African Wildlife
(2) Pleasure-reading books [The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and The Dirty Life by
      Kristin Kimball]
(1) Set Full-size sheets
(2) Pillows
(1) Pillowcase signed by people at Lara's work before she left
(2) Quick-drying bath towels
(2) Small microfiber towels
(2) Bamboo utensil sets
(2) Spoon/Fork/Knife combo utensils
(6) Carabiners
(2) Pairs sunglasses
(1) Battery operated Christmas lights
(1) Photo album with family/wedding/friend photos to show our host family and others
      in-country
(2) Baseball hats
(2)  "Trust Your Journey" bracelets [given to us from Lara's little sister, Liz]
(2) "Got Science?" stickers [gifts from our dear friend and fellow mega-nerd Diane]
(2) St. Christopher medals [gifts from Lara's grandparents]
(2) St. Benedict medals [gifts from Kevin's Uncle Mike and Aunt Monica]

Luggage, etc.
(1) 70L Osprey backpack [Kevin's]
(2) Airport bags to put packs in [Lara has opted to use a rolling suitcase instead, but we may bring
     both airport bags anyway. It's nice to have bags, we presume]
(1) 55L Osprey backpack [Lara's]
(1) Rolling suitcase for Lara [the pack will get filled and then go in the rolling suitcase]
(1) Mesh laundry bag
(1) 24L carry-on backpack
(1) Small carry-on duffle bag
(3-5) "Space Bags" [you can squeeze the air out of them and pack things more closely]

And now, voila! That whole mess is contained in these lovely, un-chaotic, under 50-lb bags (plus two carry-ons and personal bags).

This is our last post before beginning our journey. By the week's end we will be in Sierra Leone and will likely have less access to the internet, so our posts will be less frequent. Still, we hope to keep you informed of our adventures and post some useful reviews in the months to come. Please let us know in the comments section if there is anything you especially want to hear about! We can try to make it happen.