My Life in 100Lbs(ish)
The question I have been receiving from everyone is "What are you bringing?" Well my packing list has changed so much and I had read so many different packing lists from past volunteers that I ended up bring a lot of stuff (probably too much, but we'll see). When I started flying from Denver I had two 50lbs bags and two very heavy carry-ons. I had packed and repacked so many times by the time I left that I don't really know where anything is anymore and I can't even remember what I took out and left at home. That being said my final packing list is as follows:
Bags:
1 Large rolling bag
1 Black Duffel Bag
1 50 Liter Backpacking Backpack (I packed this inside my duffel bag and packed more around it to make the bag 50lbs)
1 Small carry on duffel (which broke pretty quickly on the first day, but saved me from paying an over weight fee)
1 Day Backpack (currently holding all electronics and important papers)
Clothes: I ended up taking out some of my clothes to save weight since I can buy most things in Rwanda (or have clothes made for me) so this picture is totally accurate, but I kept most of it.
1 Rain coat
1 Patagonia vest (Rwanda can apparently get cold)
1 long sweater
2 super light layers (mostly for fashion not warmth)
2 light sweatshirts (One my best friends sent me, so of course I couldn't leave it behind!)
4 spaghetti strap tank tops (I like to sleep in these and I can layer them under other tops)
10 T-shirts of all different colors to match with any skirt or pants (I found some that are also moisture wicking which I think will be great!)
4 Nicer blouses to layer or for nicer occasions
3 Dresses (2 mid-length and one long)
4 Skirts (1 maxi skirt, 2 mid-length skirts, 1 shorter wrap skirt)
3 Workout shirts (1 tank top and 2 shirts)
3 Pairs of leggings (I live in leggings, so I'll wear these around my house for comfort)
2 Pairs of shorts (I hate shorts for I have 1 athletic pair and one to sleep in)
3 Pairs of pants (2 with elastic waist bands for anticipated weight loss and 1 pair of jeans)
2 Pairs of Chacos (because they're Chacos)
1 Pair of tennis shoes (I brought my new Salomons so they'll support my ankle too!)
1 Pair of converse (again, duh)
1 Pair of cheap flip flops (for around the house of shower shoes)
Tons of Underwear (I brought all the underwear I own and bagged new pairs for me to pull out in a year)
5-6 Bras (I mainly wear sports bras so I only bra 1 regular bra)
3 Bandanas (for everything)
6 Headbands (If you know me, you know I love headbands)
Laundry bag
Other Stuff: Most of my suitcases were other things to live with or things I just love.
1 Sleeping bag (for travel or cold nights)
1 Sleep sack (again for travel or cold nights)
1 Travel Pillow (I didn't bring a big pillow, but we'll see if I regret it)
Essential Oils- I brought all my favorites with a battery powered diffuser and a big bottle of citronella oil
2 bottles of bug spray (The Peace Corps will provide bug spray)
1 bottle of sunscreen
Facial wipes
4 Packets of wet wipes (I wont be showering a lot)
3 Sticks of deodorant
3 sticks of chaffing lotion (have to prepare for wearing dresses and walking long distances)
3 Menstrual cups and a box of tampons and pads (best to be prepared!)
2 LUSH Shampoo bars (thinking of weight)
3 LUSH Conditioner bars (still thinking of weight)
2 Bars of LUSH soap
1 Travel razor with lots of replacement heads
1 Bottle of dry shampoo (non-aerosol)
1 Bottle of leave in conditioner (My hair is a mess)
3 tubes of toothpaste
Battery powered toothbrush with extra heads and a Steripod cover
3 Sheet face masks (everyone needs some luxury)
Nail polish with nail polish remover and nail kit (again, everyone needs luxury)
Hair ties, hair clips, a couple necklaces
3 Pairs of glasses and 1 pair of prescription sunglasses (I'm clumsy better to be prepared)
Eyeglass cleaner and tool kit
1 Lifestraw with water bottle attachment (for emergencies)
1 Set of twin sheets (I'll buy more or have them sent to me based on my permanent bed size)
1 Colorado Flag (I am a proud Coloradan)
Duct Tape
Pocket Knife
Scissors
Mics. emergency items (tide laundry detergent, tide stain stick, Imodium, blister pack, female urinal, Airborne, Kleenex)
Mosquito Coils (I attract mosquitos!)
3 Market bags
French Press
Spices (I chose a variety so I can mix up my food)
Collapsible measuring cups
Collapsible strainer
Mac and cheese (because its MAC AND CHEESE)
Lots of Chrystal Lite packets and Nuun electrolyte powders (I blame my mom for making me picky about water)
Tons fo granola and protein bars
Some chocolate (It is a girls best friend)
Peanut Butter
Surge protector
3 convertors (because I already had them)
Bluetooth speaker
500 GB hard drive (full of movies, workout videos, and Kinyarwanda language videos)
rechargeable batteries and charger
Flashlight and Headlamp
2 small flash drives (don't really know why, but maybe I'll use them)
Laptop
iPad (full of books and more movies and shows)
Solar Cellphone charger
Unlocked cellphone
Extra headphones and chargers for all devices
Kavu side bag
Small purse
Caribeeners
Small stuffed animal one of my kindergarteners gave me (how could I not???)
Pictures of my friends and past students
Paint by numbers (I will get bored)
Large journal
Tons of pens and markers
Stamps, stickers, Washi tape and tons of other journal supplies
Yoga mat
1 Baseball hat
Resistance bands
2 Nalgenes
Cheap children's watch that lights up (my students will love it!)
Mini Jenga (great find from the Dollar Store)
Uno
Couple decks of cards
4 Books (My favorite book, Flowers For Algernon, 2 new books, Crazy Rich Asians and This Is Just My Face, and My Uncle Howie and Cec bought me #1 Women's Detective Agency before I left)
Instax Camera with lots of film (My wonderful neighbors got this for me right before I left)
Things that got left behind that I'm hoping I can live without:
My hammock
A dress and some shirts
Hiking pants
A couple spices
Pillow
My favorite blanket
As of right now I have everything I need, but who knows once I actually get there. I'm also thinking of just paying the overweight baggage fee to get rid of all of most of my second carry on. This would help immensely when going through the airport, but right now I'm in the same boat as everyone else. How will I carry all of these heavy bags one might ask, by walking very slowly and sweating a lot.