Tips For Future [Ethiopia] Peace Corps Volunteers: Packing List

I would like to begin this post by saying that this will be another mini series that I will be writing in order to give tips for future Peace Corps Volunteers.  Please note that some tips I will be giving will be applicable to all future Peace Corps volunteers, but some tips might be very specific for those who are coming to Ethiopia.

This post will focus on what I think would be important things to pack when preparing to leave for your Peace Corps service.  The list will include, clothes, toiletries, electronics, etc.

Clothing

For the clothing list, it can get a little tricky because the clothes you need will vary from country to country and even vary between areas within a single country.  Here is a list of clothing that I would recommend bringing initially (and keep in mind that you can have more clothing mailed to you from the states).

• ·      A few nicer tops (ones that can pass for casual or professional)
• ·      You can pack some tops that are used just for professional use, but that’s totally up to you
• ·      Pack a top or two with longer sleeves in the case of cold weather
• ·      Quick dry tops and bottoms!  (These are really great, especially is you have to hand wash and air dry your clothes)
• ·      Jacket/sweater shirt (In Ethiopia, a rain jacket is needed for the rainy season; for other countries, you’ll need to do some research)
• ·      A couple of shorts/yoga pants (great for exercise, sleep wear, etc.; do keep in mind what would be culturally appropriate… In Ethiopia, it might not be as culturally appropriate for women to wear shorts outside of their compounds/homes.  But totally okay in the home for exercise, etc.)
• ·      Skirts for women (keep in mind what is culturally okay for length, etc.)
• ·      Of course underwear, socks, etc!
• ·      Bring a swim suite (even if you are in a country where you can’t swim, you will be so glad that you brought it if you travel internationally)
• ·      Shoes of course are a must ~ I recommend good walking shoes at the very least.  Bring some professional shoes as well. 

o   Girls, when I say professional, high heels may not be the way to go… flats would probably be better (but that’s coming from my own personal experience in Ethiopia, so do some research if you’re going to another country). 

o   Sandals and/or chocos are always good.  Many Ethiopia volunteers have chocos and they are very durable (and you can also get a volunteer discount on these… keep an eye out for other discounts as well).

o   It doesn’t hurt to have a handful of pairs.  I would recommend that they are durable, but whichever type of shoes is really up to you.

Ultimately for clothing, I brought clothes that I knew that I would be comfortable in as well as ones that I knew would be culturally appropriate.  Most of my clothes I am okay with wearing out easily and I would be okay with getting rid of at the end of my service.  Please keep this in mind!  If there are clothes that you cannot live without and/or would be heartbroken if you had to part with at the end of your service, take that into consideration.

Toiletries

• ·      Toothbrushes/toothpaste/dental floss
• ·      Deodorant
• ·      Shampoo/conditioner
• ·      Face wash
• ·      Soap
• ·      Hand sanitizer (You can’t get this in Ethiopia, and definitely comes in handy)
• ·      Sunscreen
• ·      Chapstick
• ·      Hairbrush/comb
• ·      Pads/tampons/diva cup for female volunteers (you can only find pads in Ethiopia and usually only in bigger towns)
• ·      Any medications that you take regularly (and please note that melatonin is not available, at least in Ethiopia, so it may be worth bringing)
• ·      And towels!  (You can also find quick dry towels, depending on where you are, these can be great)

Most of these items you can find in country (other than the ones I have noted otherwise above).  Keep in mind that it may be easy or difficult to find certain supplies depending on the country that you are in.  If there are specific brands that you like, it may be worth bringing a small supply with you initially.  Also, most medications such as ibruprophen, Benadryl, pseuodophed, etc. will be provided by the Peace Corps medical office in country and you should be able to get refills at any time.  This may or may not be applicable for prescribed medications depending on the country that you are in and the availability.

Electronics

• ·      Laptop (In Ethiopia, there are many towns/villages in which volunteers are placed where there is minimal to no network at all and internet is very limited, but having a laptop is still worth it. 

o   When I can’t use my laptop for Internet, I commonly use it to watch movies and TV shows as well as typing up blog posts, typing up responses to emails, etc.

• ·      External Harddrive

o   This is completely worth having and one of the things that I am most happy about bringing.  I would recommend getting an external harddrive with a memory of at least one terabyte (you really don’t need more than two terabyte)

o   Put all of your favorite movies and TV shows on it (especially if there are any that you absolutely cannot live without).

o   And don’t worry if you feel like you don’t have quite enough on it, many other volunteers will bring harddrives with movies and TV shows.  I highly recommend doing swaps to get stuff from other volunteers.

o   And side not for MacBook users:  your harddrives tent to automatically format a certain way so that it is difficult for non-MacBook users to transfer movies and TV shows from your harddrive to theirs.  When first registering your harddrive, you may want to consider trying to format it to make it all-computer user friendly if you are able.  If it’s not possible, you can always use the small thumb drive transfer as well.

• ·      Kindle is great for traveling if you are big on reading!
• ·      Ipod/Iphone – totally worth having for the music (especially when traveling).

o   If you have an Iphone, consider if you would want to use it for your mobile in country.  If it has a slot on the side for sim card, then it’s possible.  If you want to do that, then make sure that your phone is unlocked prior to leaving the states (this will make your life so much easier).

o   Also, the Iphone is great even if you don’t actually use it as your primary phone in country because you can have apps like whatsapp and viber to keep in touch with people back in the states.

Miscellaneous

• ·      Solar shower (this may be something worth having sent over at a later time in a care package)
• ·      Journals (if you are a journaler)
• ·      Swiss army knife (I absolutely love mine)
• ·      Pens/pencils/erasers/colored pens and pencils
• ·      Card Games (UNO and a plain deck of cards are two that I would definitely recommend bringing)

So that’s my big long list for all of you future, potential volunteers out there.  I know it seems like a lot and might be overwhelming, but take it step by step and know that these are just recommendations.  Some things you may not need at all.  Do your research to get country specific information on weather, etc.  I would also like to note that Ethiopia itself varies a lot in climate, altitude, etc.  This may mean that during any given time throughout the year, certain volunteer sites may always be much colder than other volunteer sites.  So I would recommend packing what you know you absolutely need and cannot live without.  Also for clothing, keep in mind that you can layer your clothing.  Also, put aside other clothes, etc. that you may want sent in packages later on.  What you can do is make a pile of clothes for warmer weather and a pile of clothes for colder weather.  Once you know what the weather will be like at your future site, have whichever clothes are more appropriate sent to you. 

I know this is a lot.  So take it one step at a time.  And start packing early.  If you have any questions about what you should pack, specifics, whatever, feel free to send them my ways.  Good luck!