Packing List

I'm a chronic over-packer (thanks mom!) and slightly obsessive over lists and organization (thanks dad!) so this task has been my first serious Peace Corps challenge. I've been accumulating things to take with me to Swaziland since I accepted my invitation in December, and although I don't leave for two months, I only have a handful of items left to pick up. Most of what I've purchased for the trip is more modest clothing (I'll be wearing knee-length or longer skirts and dresses almost every day) and some "camping" gear like a solar shower, headlamp, solar charger for my USB devices, and a backpacking bag. Realizing I have all this stuff, I figured it might be a good idea to compare the packing list PC sent me and some other real-life volunteer packing lists I've found online to my stash of things I plan on bringing. I drug everything out of the bags in my closet and laid it all out, and also attempted to stuff it all in the suitcases I plan on bringing. Here is the result:

I've come to the conclusion that I need to buy more Space Saver bags and pretty much NOTHING else (it's not my fault there's so many cute maxi skirts in stores right now!). I've included my packing list below as a resource for future PCVs, and I'll update it if/when it changes when I actually pack at the end of June. Wish me luck on all this stuff weighing less than 100lbs!

Large Rolling Suitcase
TSA-approved luggage lock!
6 Space Saver bags (fill them up, zip shut, roll all the air out-no vacuum needed!)

Everyday t-shirts (7)

Blouses (7)

Tank Tops (5)

Skirts (7)

Dresses (2)

Below-the-knee cargo/work shorts-also good for travel (3)

Jeans (2)

Sweatshirts (1 crew, 1 hoodie)

Sleep t-shirts (3)

Sleep pants (2)

Yoga pants (2)

Leggings (2)

Work out clothes (3 pairs basketball shorts, 3 sweat-wicking athletic tops)

Socks (10 pairs)

Bras (4 regular, 6 sport)

Underwear (15)

Spandex shorts for under skirts (2)

Slip (1)

Clothes for travel/ Going out/Comforts from home (1 skirt, 1 embellished tank top, 1 shirt with lace, Seahawks jersey, two pairs of above-the-knee shorts)

One piece swimsuit

Books (as many as I can fit, hopefully 5+) and extra journals 

Small blanket and pillow in Space Saver bag

Can opener

Vegetable peeler

Set of 3 knives with covers

Scissors

Pocket knife

Toiletries Bag:

Tweezers 

Mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and body wash

Body poof

Razor and refills

Deodorant

Mini bottles of ace wash, toner, and moisturizer

Small Tupperware container of coconut oil

Sunscreen

Lotion

Qtips and cotton balls

Nail polish, nail kit, and acetone

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash

Contacts and two pairs of glasses

Makeup (concealer, eyeliner, mascara)

Hair brush, hair ties, and bobby pins

Tampons

Mini purse-packs of Kleenex (SO handy for when there’s no TP available!)

Hand sanitizer

50 Liter Osprey Backpack
I'll be packing this backpack and then putting it inside a cheap duffel bag in order to prevent any disasters with the straps on conveyor belts at the airport. Also, the duffle bag has a zipper (the backpack doesn't on the main compartment) so I can use a luggage lock.

World map

Photos ( with twine and clothespins for hanging)

Office supplies (pens, pencils, highlighter, folders, tape, envelopes)

Crafty things (embroidery thread for friendship bracelets, crayons, markers)

Games (Phase 10, regular cards)

Duct tape

Strong twine

Candles and lighters

Alarm clock/radio

Headlamp

Solar shower

Towel

Nalgene bottle

Wine opener

Sleeping bag (I found a very affordable one on Amazon that is rated down to 45 degrees-which is all you really need most of the time in Swaziland- and packs up into the size of a football!)

Hydrocortisone, Ibuprofen, Band aids

Spices, Emergen-C, and Starbucks Via packets

Northface rain jacket

Accessories: 2 bandanas, 2 belts, A few pairs of earrings and a couple necklaces, a sports watch, two pairs of sunglasses

Sewing kit

Batteries

Carry On-Sized Duffel Bag
DSLR camera, extra memory cards
Portable speakers
2TB hard drive
Flash drives (2)
Wall chargers for all my devices
Solar charger
3 month supply of prescriptions
Changes of clothes for PC Staging and Travel days: This is important, so I never have to get into my big checked bags for any reason until I arrive in Swaziland! (These will be clothes already included in the list above, not extras!)

All my shoes: Chacos, Birkenstocks, Nikes, Dressy sandals, Dressy closed-toe flats, Shower flip flops

Non-melting candy/snacks for travel and training

Another Nalgene water bottle

Travel towel

Hand mirror

Messenger Bag/"Personal Item"

Passport, Yellow immunization card, Drivers license, Debit card
Tablet
Unlocked iPhone
Headphones
Point-and-shoot camera
Book, journal, pens
Over-the-counter sleeping pills and ibuprofen
Ear plugs
Carry-on toiletry bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, kleenex, makeup remover wipes, moisturizer, hand sanitizer, etc)

Invitation Accepted!

Having received and accepted an invitation from the Peace Corps to serve as a youth development volunteer in Swaziland beginning in June 2014, I figured it was probably time to start a blog! I have a little less than two months before departing on this new adventure, and I'm definitely a mess of emotions. I'm so excited and grateful for the opportunity to travel, and to do so in a conscious and meaningful way! I'm also incredibly nervous and scared, as should be expected from someone who is about to somewhat blindly move to a new country for two years. I know the strain that can be put on friendships during a separation like this based on studying abroad for a few months last winter, but I am incredibly fortunate to have a great support system of encouraging and understanding friends and family who have inspired me to follow my dreams and just go. 

Anyway, I'm going to use this first post as a timeline for my Peace Corps application process. I know that when I was applying, I scoured the internet for insight about how long each step took for people and what to expect. I'll update the timeline as new steps are completed!

My Peace Corps Timeline

May 6, 2013 Online application and Medical History submitted: Filling out the application, including writing the essays, took me a week
May 13, 2013 All references received by PC

May 15, 2013 Interview scheduled

May 28, 2013 Interview rescheduled: My recruiter had a sick kid, so we rescheduled. PC Lesson #1: A good volunteer is a flexible volunteer!

May 30, 2013 Interview: My interview took almost two hours, but the recruiter had to type every word I said, verbatim. So I would be asked to slow down while answering questions or to repeat myself. In a way this was nice, because it made the interview seem a lot less formal, and gave me plenty of time to formulate responses. It is kind of nerve wracking to know everything you say is being recorded, though. One nice aspect about it was that the recruiter told me I could pass on a question or revise my answer if I changed my mind at any point during the interview. It isn't like a job interview where the employer might be trying to challenge you, this interview really had the feel of just trying to get to know your experiences, strengths, and weaknesses that may be applicable to your service. I was asked some questions about my willingness to serve in certain conditions, such as in a remote location several days away from other volunteers. My recruiter made it clear that it is really important to remember that these responses are reviewed by the PC placement office when you are being considered for different programs, so be HONEST! If it would freak you out to be isolated, say you'd prefer to be within a day's travel of another PCV. They don't want to place you in an environment so uncomfortable that you can't succeed. At the end of my interview, the recruiter told me she would be nominating me! So I was expecting to hear from the regional PC office soon.
June 11, 2013 Nomination: I received a call from the regional office that I had been nominated for a Youth Development position departing in May in a country that would require me to commit to refreshing my Spanish skills before departure.
June 14, 2013 Fingerprint kit received
June 20, 2013 Sent back fingerprints
July 9, 2013 Background check cleared
September 3, 2013 Request to update resume: PC sent me an email asking me to add any relevant experience gained since my application to my resume, as I was in the final stages of placement

December 18, 2013 Placement update: I was expecting to receive my nomination in January, since the program was to leave in May and PC gives 4-6 months notice. Then, in early December, I got an email that kind of broke my spirit. It basically explained that PC was in desperate need of English Teaching volunteers, and that I needed to say I was willing to get the required experience (30+ hours of TEFL) and work in this sector that I had specifically expressed not being interested in during my interview (There are many reasons I would prefer to not teach English as my main PC task). I tried talking to my current PC contact, but she was pretty unhelpful. I responded to the email saying I was willing to take a teaching position, figuring that I should at least wait and see what the nomination was and go from there.

December 26, 2013 Invitation: I don't know if contacting the PC paid off or if it was just coincidence, but very shortly after that ordeal I received an invitation to work in the Youth Development sector in Swaziland, departing in June 2014. A sector I wanted to work in, six full months notice, and the exact region of the world I was hoping for! I couldn't be more excited. 

January 1, 2014 Accepted invitation: I responded to my invite email after reading over all the materials they sent me.
January 2014 Lots of emails and tasks: Since accepting my invitation, I've received dozens of emails with instructions on how to proceed in preparing for departure! The biggest project is completing all the medical tasks required to be cleared for service, which requires visiting every type of doctor you can imagine and getting them to complete a lot of paperwork for you. Additionally, I've submitted my application for a Peace Corps passport and turned in a current resume to my country desk. I have also connected with my fellow Group 12 Swaziland volunteers (and some very helpful G11's) on Facebook!
March 2014 Completed medical tasks: As long as the PC medical office is satisfied with all my paperwork, I should received medical clearance soon!

April 21, 2014: Medical and dental clearance! It took five weeks for me to get clearance, even though my paperwork was submitted several weeks before it was due. PC policy is that you must be cleared 60 days before your departure date, and my 60-day-mark is THIS week! Several others in my group have gotten cleared this week, too. The medical office has apparently been running behind. Luckily, I'm cleared, and really this is the last big step/place where a hang-up could happen before departing! I'm going to Swaziland!
May 15, 2014: Conference call: The Swaziland country desk has scheduled a conference call with all the invitees (48 of us!) to talk about what to expect at staging and pre-service training.
June 23, 2014: Depart from Seattle for Philadelphia
June 24, 2014: Staging in Philadelphia
June 25, 2014: Depart JFK for Johannesburg, South Africa en route to Mbabane, Swaziland