Peace Corps Tanzania Packing List

In the past several weeks, I have recieved some emails and a few facebook messages from my future wenzangu volunteers. In honor of the 35 some-odd education volunteers that we will be recieving at the end of this month, my site-mate (Andrew) and I wish to compile a list of "burdens to bear" and "parcels to pitch"

Kwanza. Burdens to Bear - stuff we brought and/or brought and are glad we did.
-Warm clothes. What you're going to Africa, why the heck would we need a fleece jacket and wool socks? Maybe you'll be stuck in Tanga, where you wish it was culturally appropriate to skinny-dip in an ice bath. Or you could end up in Mbeya, where, more often than not, in order to reach your classroom you need to trudge out in the fog'n rain and it 50-degrees out. But we have the best fruit :) Thank you rain.
-Computer. When you have 200 math papers to mark, you'll be really glad that you have a computer with 3 full seasons of Chuck, a season of Glee, and some Eureka, along with a handful of movies. (ps - for those coming this month, we formally request the second half of Eureka-season 3 and season 4, the second half of season 1 of Glee, season 2 of Dollhouse, and the movie "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.) Computers are also good for digital resources that are floating around the country.
-Good cooking knives unless, of cource, you want to try to decapitate a chicken with a knife that is as sharp as the edge of a wooden table. Not fun for the chicken.
-A textbook or two of the subject you are teaching (Andrew disagrees with me here. But I think he is wrong)
-Headlamp. For when electricity sucks.
-Spices. Because rice and beans get boring.
-Floss. Because my daddy thinks that flossing multiple times a day is normal and fun. And necessary. So two years worth of floss: whether that is one roll of twenty...Dad, how many rolls do you reccommend?
- Undies and bras - Unless you want to buy the low-quality(possibly pre-worn) undies and bras that they sell at the local duka. Andrew thinks its OK to wear pre-worn bras because at worst there's a little bit of milk-leakage.
-Maps are fun to look at
-A fun book to read. Don't bring to many. The PCV Tanzania book exchange will always be available.
-Andrew suggests clothes hangers.

DON'T OVERPACK ON CLOTHES. BUY THEM HERE.
TYPICALLY WORN IN ONE WEEK:
ANDREW: One pair of pants. Three collared shirts (2 of them Tanzania print shirts, bought here), two pairs of socks, 4 or 5 pairs of underwear, 3 undershirts.

KATIE: 3 skirts/shirts (many of them bought here in Tanzania), 7 pairs of undies, pair of pants, t-shirt.

Our point: Hand-washing is a bitch, the acceptable length between washings is dramatically increased. You'll also be able to buy clothes here for super cheap. Don't pack tons of clothes. Its silly.


PARCELS TO PITCH
-Mirror - They cost about the equivalent of 30 cents.
-Medicine - PC gives you a ton of medicine.
-Pillows and sheets - Unless you just can't let go of your little Mermaid sheets, PC gives you pillows and sheets, so don't waste your two bags trying to fit in a pillow.
-"One extra nice dress for special functions" - waste of money! They will get ruined. Mabye bring and extra $10 so you can buy fabric and get it sewn here. The only time Andrew has worn his extra nice dress was on a cruise. In Greece. Never in Tanzania.
-The TZ packing list suggests you bring 6 different pairs of shoes. This is silly. Bring one nice pair of dress shoes, and pair of walking shoes, and a pair of sandals. If you need more, buy them here.
-Cookbook. You get one here, which uses locally available foods.

Our advice is to PACK LIGHT. You get two bags and 80 pounds. Don't fill it. During PST, you will get a LOT of stuff, and somehow you need to get all that stuff on a bus to site, after PST. Most things you can buy here, for cheaper (and sometimes lower quality) than you'd buy in the states. But if Tanzanians do without them, so can you.

Look forward to meeting all the new volunteers! Hope your next 3 weeks in the States is great. Make sure to eat lots icecream and cheese and drink some good American beer, with come good company. It'll be a long time before you have it again!