Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Packing List!

So, going against my very nature, I started the packing process for Namibia about a month ago. And by that I mean I typed up a packing list, bought a backpack and hiking boots at Campmor and haven’t had any time to think about packing since then. But now that I’m unemployed and my life has become infinitely more boring since I was coerced by my parents to spend the month of July in Vermont (hopefully with a week spent WWOOFing in Plattsburgh with Brian!) I’ll be getting into shopping and packing for my trip hardcore. So, without further ado, here is my rough packing list, as compiled from the advice given in the Namibia Welcome Book, stalking other volunteers’ blogs and advice from current volunteers in Namibia.

Packing List:

Clothes:
*Casual dresses for work: 2 or 3
Formal dress: 1
*Skirts for work: 2 or 3
*pants for work: 2
Jeans: 1
*Shorts/Capri to mid-knee: 2 or 3
*Blouses for work: 4 or 5
T-shirts: 4 or 5
Sweaters: 2 or 3
Fleece
Hat, scarf, gloves
Rain Coat
Casual sandals of good quality: 1
*Sandals, comfortable shoes for work: 1
Sneakers: 1
Hiking boots: 1
Flip Flops: (maybe)
Bathing suit and sarong
Pajamas
Sweatpants

Toiletries:
Sunscreen
Face/Body Lotion
Enough shampoo/conditioner, soap, toothpaste etc. for 5 weeks
Tampons
Deoderant
Nail clippers
tweezers

Electronics:
*Laptop
*USB port
Ipod
*Ipod speakers
*digital camera
*shortwave radio

Miscellaneous:
Batteries (AA, rechargeable)
*Solar charger
Duct Tape
*Watch + spare watch
*Swiss army knife
*Flashlight, extra bulbs
US stamps
Envelopes
*2 water bottles
Stationary
Converter
Books!
Candle lantern
Dvds
Pictures
Gifts for my host family
Sleeping bag
Backpack
*Daypack
Games: Uno, travel sized games, playing cards
Seeds (for a garden)
*Full size flat sheets

(The starred items are those I still have to get)

If any past or present volunteers in Namibia come across this post and want to help a sister out by giving some pointers I would be much obliged.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Less than two months

Less than two months. In less than two months I’ll be living across an ocean. I’ll be a 30+ hour plane trip away from my family and friends, the support system I was born into and have cultivated in my nearly 23 year existence. I’ll be living in a country the name of which many can’t remember or pronounce, on a continent that for many has only shady or romanticized meanings. I’ll be living without most of the amenities that I consider necessities in my daily life in the US. I’ll be striking out completely on my own, with only 80 pounds of belongings strapped to my back, and I won’t be coming back for 2 years.

Am I nervous? Well, yes. I’m terrified, thanks for asking. Even though I’ve read the blogs, read the books, read the 8 trillion pages of paperwork that came with my invitation kit (well, most of those pages…) I still don’t really know what to expect. I don’t quite know what I’ve gotten myself into. I had a conversation recently with a friend who got a tattoo and then later that night had a moment of panic thinking “oh my god, I got a tattoo! Why did I do that!!!” I’d be lying if I told you that I never had moments in the past month since I got my invitation where all I could think to myself was “Holy s***, you joined the f***ing peace corps!! Why the f*** did you go and do that?????” (those of you who know me might be surprised that my inner monologue is such a potty mouth) I have nights where I lie awake paralyzed by anxieties about everything from packing to what my site is going to be like and in those moments it’s hard to wonder whether or not I’m making a huge mistake.

But then again, there are nights where I lie awake thinking about how excited I am to learn a new language, thinking about the traveling I’m going to be doing, thinking about everything I already love about Africa, the things that exasperate me but that I grew to love and appreciate in my time there. I think about how 2 years ago I stepped off the plane from Jo’burg at JFK and all I could think about was how badly I wanted to go back. I think about the people I’m going to help and the good I’m hopefully going to do. And in those moments, I wonder how I’m ever going to get everything done in 2 years, how, when the time comes, I’m ever going to be able to get back on the plane to take me away from Africa, to take me home.

And yes, I worry far too much, but that’s the way I am, it can’t be helped. So yes, I am nervous. But I’m also so excited and so so happy to have the opportunity to do this. And even despite those moments of doubt I feel sure of my decision that I’m doing the right thing, that I can handle this, that I will learn how to do this. When I tell people I joined the Peace Corps many folks tell me that I’m doing something extraordinary, something that they could never do. Well, I’m not extraordinary, not in the least. I’m maybe a little crazy but hey, you knew that already. I’m just pretty sure I’ll be able to take what Namibia throws at me just as I’ve been pretty good at taking life in stride in the past. And so, if you were wondering if I’m ready to go to Namibia the answer is yes. As soon as I figure out what in the world to pack.