Purpose:

"Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us."
-Sargent Shriver


Monday, October 10, 2011

How to Look Awkward in the Philly Airport

This is for all of the future Peace Corps Volunteers who worry, fret, and simply don't know what to do about packing.  Yes you can pack for two years with less than 80 pounds of stuff.  Yes you can stuff multiple items into that one duffle.  Yes you can look awkward in the Philadelphia airport with your life on your back.

For my two years I have packed:

Clothes
-2 pairs of jeans
-1 khaki pant
-1 mesh pant
-1 set of pjs
-2 sweaters
-1 fleece top
-2 hats
-1 pair of sunglasses
-swim suit
-1 raincoat
-2 long sleeve shirts
-3 polyester ankle skirts
-1 long dress
-1 set of long underwear
-1 knee yoga pant
-1 long yoga pant
-3 blouses
-12 pairs of socks
-12 pairs of underwear
-4 bras
-3 sports bras
-1 slip
-6 short sleeve shirts
-3 tank tops
-1 pair of comfy professional shoes
-1 dressy sandal
-1 pair of walking/hiking boots
-1 Chacos sandal (these are INCREDIBLE!)
-1 pair of sneakers
-watch
-jewelry (stud earrings and 2 necklaces)

Games
-LRC
-Bananagrams
-1 deck of cards
-1 deck of UNO
-Frisbee
-Coloring book

Camp
-Sleeping bag
-Hammock
-LED headlight
-Leatherman
-Nalgene
-SteriPEN (this will save you EVERY DAY)

Kitchen
-measuring cups
-1 good ceramic kitchen knife (this is the item that several volunteers have wanted to steal from me)
-3 different sizes of plastic ziploc bags (use to store toiletries and protect food from critters)
-1 veggie peeler
-1 non-stick pan
-1 set of travel cutlery

Electronic
-kindle with charger
-mac with charger
-two TZ outlet plugs and fridge guard (TZ electrical current is very dirty)
-ipod
-digital camera
-3 suitcase locks, 1 padlock
-travel alarm clock
-USB

Other
-1 quick dry towel
-3 mini anti bacterials
-4 toothbrushes/2 toothpaste tubes
-2 deodorants
-3 razors (venus with the soap attached)
-1 facewash
-3 combs
-hairscissors
-medicines (AZO, OneADay, Imodium, Tylenol, Claritan, Monistat, Iron, B12)
-3 mini body sprays
-2 boxes of tampons (PC no longer provides this, and I would suggest using a divacup instead if you've used them before)
-homestay gift (2 Wizard of Oz reusable bags and UNO cards for the kiddos)
-helmet
-3 packs of titanium AAA batteries
-2 things of duct tape
-egg carrier
-2 photo albums
-1 sewing kit
-1 set of double sheets/pillowcase
-1 pack of Luna/1 pack of Zone bars
-2 journals
-1 pack of pens/1 pack of pencils/1 pack of Sharpies
-1 set of stationary
-2 pairs of glasses
-guitar
-Nigel the bear


YES, YOU CAN DO IT!  And I put all of this in a dayback, backpackers pack (Eagle Creek), and large duffle (Eagle Creek)

BEFORE


Nigel is lookin' good.



AFTER


Duffle Weight: 44 pounds    Backpacker Bag: 30 pounds


You can also look awkward with your life on your back in a room full of Pez dispensers.

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