Packing List

Updated 17/3/2012

Advice to new volunteers anywhere…

 

Pack light. 90% of what you will need or use on a regular basis can be purchased in country. I didn’t pack much in the way of clothes, all of the clothes I wear on a regular basis (except the shorts and tshirts I wear in my house) are from Fiji. I wear sulu’s (wrap around skirts like a sarong) every day around the village. When I do laundry that is all I wear. At meetings and formal gatherings I wear sulu jaba’s  a sewn ankle length skirt that matches a sewn shirt of the same material.

 

Things I would recommend for every volunteer:

• Nalgene water bottle with a carabineer clip.
• Chaco’s. These shoes are incredible. I only own one pair of shoes out here and they are it, perfect for land, sea, town, hiking etc. Mine have the toe straps for extra security.
• Chapstick. I’m addicted to this stuff anyway, but I love my Burt’s bees.
• Dr. Bronner’s soap. You can use this stuff for everything, washing, shampoo, toothpaste, washing clothes, etc. I brought a big bottle with me and had another one sent from home.
• REI quick dry towels. Its really humid here so a real towel would never dry. Quick dry towels make my life super easy and they don’t smell like mildew all the time.
• Journal. Not only to document your service and provide  a place to vent when you don’t want your village to think you are crazy, it’s a good way to document activities and partiicipants for your trimester reports that go to DC. I always have it with me and write down new words, new people, contacts, and in the back I have things taped in like postage stamps, addresses, newspaper clips, etc. Things I want to remember.
• Bandanas. I hang up food in them, use them as headbands, keep sweat off my face, tie things to carry with me in the bush.
• Swiss Army Knife. I also have a Gerber Multi Tool that I use constantly. To fix my house, to cut open fruits. Its on my key ring which is always around so its right next to my side whenever I need it.
• USB drive. Really convenient for conferences when you have to give presentations, when you want to print off a document in town, when you want to transfer some new songs to another volunteer, etc. I have 2, 2 GB ones and they work fine.
• Small sewing kit. Fix small rips and tears in your clothes, in fabrics around your house, in your mosquito net. It’s a good thing to have.
• Gorilla Glue and Duct Tape. If you cant fix something with this… its unfixable.
• Lots of underwear. Handwashing and sun drying ruins them, so pack a ton. The humidity, ants and mold will get em too, so save a set of about 10-15 in a vacuum sealed bag as your mid-service gift.

 

Things I rely on that I bought in-country.

• Electronics converters. I was going to get one State side… but it was like over $20 bucks USD. So I waited until I got in country and got a few for approximately $1 USD. Smart choice? I think so,
• Machete. I use this for everything, chopping down fruits, wood, weeding my farm, fixing my electricity, home security. Everything.
• Vinegar. Great for cleaning when mixed 1:1 with baking soda. Keeps mosquitoes from breeding in your toilet when you are away. Just overall wonderful stuff.
• Rope. Laundry lines inside when it rains, survey transects for monitoring, rope tying practice, holding together my bamboo raft.

 

These are the general guidelines the Peace Corps provides for volunteers going to Fiji, things that I already have are bolded. All of these guidelines come from Fiji’s Welcome Book and other volunteers blogs.

*Interesting twist to the packing situation: We were just sent an email explaining that for the duration of our 7 week Pre-Service Training period, we will be allowed only one of our two bags (the other bag will be stored until we are sworn in and receive our stations). But it’s good to know that beforehand so I’m not scrambling to rearrange all my stuff  right when I get there.

General Clothing:

• Long dresses with sleeves. These should be loose and well below the knees (ankle length is best). Latest casual fashions are fine. One or two   “nicer” dresses are good to have for the swearing-in ceremony and other important occasions, such as weddings and attending church services. I am probably just going to wait and buy these in Fiji…
• Hats. We aren’t allowed to wear these in the villages, but I’m sure my pasty Irish skin will hate me if I don’t bring these…
• Swimsuits. We can’t wear bathing suits at our sites either… (it should be interesting swimming in a sulu) but I still want one for vacation/traveling.
• Black outfit. For funerals.
• Long, loose skirts. These should be below the knees and full enough for you to be able to sit on the floor with your legs to the side and your knees covered. Have: 4 (Thank you Carmen!)
• Underwear.  Apparently underwear wear out real quick in the humidity and with repeated hand washing so they suggest bringing enough to last the whole two years.
• Shorts, no denim. They can’t be worn in the villages but I can wear them for sports and on the beach. Have: 1.
• Plenty of loose-fitting , comfortable, lightweight, short-sleeved shirts. Still need to get a few more.
  A light jacket, because it can actually get cold there at night.
• A few long sleeve shirts. Keep those pesky mosquito’s away and probably save my skin.
• A lightweight rain jacket. During the rainy season it rains every day and sometimes you won’t want to bring you umbrella with you everywhere you go.
• Jeans
• Chaco’s. Chaco offers a discount for PCV so I am getting a pair of Chaco’s through that, awesome :)

Technology:

• Waterproof camera. It would be really cool to have a little waterproof point and shoot for diving, etc.
• I won’t have a phone with me during my service (so, um, don’t call or text) but will probably buy one once I get to Fiji as many volunteers do. AT&T phone cards are definitely on my packing list.
• Netbook to keep pictures and movies on, to update the blog, and to write my quarterly reports for the Peace Corps. (Thanks Jenn and Erik!)
• Digital Camera. There is no way I could complete my service without my camera. Expect tons of picture updates…
• External Hard Drive
• Flash Drive

Kitchen and Home:

• Gorilla glue
• neem oil (apparently its the only thing that will keep beetles away from your garden)
• my new vine maple slinghsot! and arrowhead!
• Sharp kitchen knife (for chopping veggies)
• Sheet
• Yoga Mat
• Sewing Ki
• Quick Dry towels
• Maps and pictures
• Camp set: Pot, pan, cup, camp cup, chopsticks and spoon.
• Mosquito net. The Peace Corps gives you one, but I have one from Thailand still and figure when it comes to avoiding dengue fever, an extra mosquito net never hurt.

Miscellaneous:

• Compact Umbrella
• Snorkeling gear
• Head Lamp
• Office Supplies (paper clips, pens, notebooks, thumb tack, etc.)
• Ziplock bags. So many uses!
• Waterproof flashlight
• Duct Tape. I adore duct tape…
• Rite in the Rain notebooks
• Knife Sharpener
• Water Purification tablets
• Storm-proof matches
• Moleskin. To rise above the blisters…
• Pocket Shower (thanks lo!),  sea bags, goggles
• Cookset (thanks mom and dad!), binoculars (again kudos mom & dad), superglue
• Bandanas, extra straps, cords, and rope (super handy for stringing up a laundry line, etc.)
• Silica Gel. Keeps your electronics happy in the insane humidity..
• Ear plugs
• Deck of cards and Phase 10
• Swiss Army Knife
• Checks
• Books. I think this is where most of my bulk/packing weight will come from. So far I have narrowed it down to 7 books and about 4 blank notepads for sketching and taking notes.

Peace Corps/Fiji will supply me with any prescriptions, a massive first aid kit, never-ending sunscreen and bug spray supply, a cookbook, medical handbook, a life jacket, and mosquito net.

I will be updating this in the next 60 days to reflect what I have obtained, but I am trying to keep it minimal (as ridiculous as that sounds). Packing for two years should be an interesting challenge over the next two months..