Like any obsessive future PCV, I’ve spent all my idle time the last year scouring packing lists as I’ve waited for months at a time to hear news from the big guys in D.C. I copied/pasted this from one of my 5 Excel spreadsheets I currently have going (I repeat, obsessive). It seems overly extensive now that its listed here and it probably is. In reality, I could probably go with a small backpack and figure out the rest when I get there but for better or worse, I’ve had a year to ponder. I’m posting this in hopes of mutual assistance (i.e. you tell me I’m crazy for packing all this crap and/or it helps a future PCV decide what to pack within 107″/100 lbs. for 2 years). Maybe I’ll just wait 10 days when I’m carrying all this through the airport and tell myself I’m crazy.
*All the clothes packed in travel space bag things from Target
*All the little stuff in ziploc storage containers and labeled
Carry-ons (Backpack & Purse)
– Laptop/Charger
– iPod/Cord/Headphones
– External HD/Cord
– Alarm Clock
– Camera/Cord/Wall Charger
– Hair Straightener
– Clothes for 3/4 days (Business Casual)
– Toothbrush/Toothy Tabs (these are fantastic!)
– Liggett’s Shampoo Bar (light, compact, & no plastic bottle!)
– Facial Cleansing Bar
– Bar Soap
– Hair Comb
– Makeup
– Fleece Jacket
– Sunglasses
– Spiral Notebook/Pens
– Gum
– Accordian File with ridiculous amount of Peace Corps paperwork//files
– Wristlet/$$/Credit Card
Rolling Duffel
For Training/First 3 Months
Electronics
– USB Drives (2)
– Extra Headphones
– Rechargeable AA Batteries
– 3 to 2 Prong Plug Converters (yay for Ecuador using the same plugs as the U.S.)
– Surge Protector
– Headlamp/Extra Batteries (I kinda can’t believe I own a headlamp now)
Toiletries
– Extra Toiletries (Toothy Tabs/Shampoo, etc.)
– Diva Cup/Glad Rags (both aMAZing products that every woman should consider using + they offer a sweet PC discount)
– Tweezers/Q-Tips
– Bobby Pins/Hair Ties
– Nail Polish/Remover/Clippers/Buffer
– Razor/Blades
– Hand Sanitizer/Chapstic
– Deoderant
– Sunscreen
– Microfiber Towel/Washcloth
– Facial Moisturizer
– Travel Bottles
Clothes
– Slipper Socks/Wool Socks?/Socks (as many as I can fit)
– Underwear/Bras/Sports Bras (ditto)
– Dresses (2 casual + 1 “fanciful” for swear-in)
– Short-Sleeve Tops (10…maybe too many? can be business casual/for going out. I’m trying to be super-über versatile w/the clothing)
– Long-Sleeve Tops (still need to figure this out…I currently have none)
– T-Shirts (2-3 for sleeping/dirt)
– White Button Down/Blazer?
– Camis/Tank Tops (a lot)
– Knee-Length Nylon Shorts (for swimming)
– Long Shorts (2)
– Knee-Length Skirts (4)/Long Skirt
– Jeans (2)
– Black Pants
– Rain Jacket (still need to figure this out)
– Bathing Suit
– Cardigans (3)
– Hoodie
– Fleece Leggings (freakin’ awesome!)/Cotton Leggings/Tights
– Gloves/Scarf?
Shoes
– Black Flats
– Chacos
– Hiking Shoes
– Flip Flop Sandal-y things
– Heels?
– Tennis Shoes
Random
– Bandana
– Clothespins
– Eiffel Tower Key Ring 🙂
– Ear Plugs
– Reusable Nylon Bags
– Baseball Cap (¡Vamos Tigres!)
– Nalgene Bottle
– Sewing Kit
– 2 Full Flat Sheets/Iberia Air Blanket (seriously the BEST airline blanket EVER and the equivalent of my 2 year-old self’s “blankie”)
– Multi-Tool (I got a cheap one and may regret it)
– Lint Roller/Wrinkle Releaser
– Earrings (I found a thing of like 20 studs at H&M)/Necklaces
– Purse that goes over the shoulder
Teaching Supplies
– Journal
– Scotch Tape/Duct Tape/Glue Stick/Paper Clips
– Envelopes
– Pens/Sharpies
– Scissors
– Post its/Index Cards
– Desk Calendar (Shutterfly thing made by Bridget and is awesome!)
– Span/Eng Dictionary?
– South America Guidebook/ESL Book/The Don’t Sweat Guide For Teachers (thanks Colleeny :))
– Granola Bars/Gum
Gifts/Entertainment
– Silly Bands/Erasers
– Chicago Soap/Mizzou Calendar (fo free from the Alumni Center…sweet!)
– Bananagrams
– Playing Cards
– Jump Rope
Hiking Backpack
In Storage Until April
– Extra Towel/Washcloths
– Extra Sports Bras
– Black Flats
– Random Extras (Ear Plugs, Clothespins, Nylon Bags)
– U.S. Map
– Laundry Bag (perhaps unnecessary but its light)
– Nylon Duffel (folds up, super compact, and I always come back with WAY more than I brought)
– Magnetic Photo Strips/Photos (need to figure these out)
– Fishing Line (had this lying around, maybe completely unnecessary)
– Extra Supplies (Markers, Colored Pencils, Envelopes)
– Spice Packets/Crystal Lite
– Clothing that won’t fit in the Duffel
– Yoga Mat? (for sleeping in random places, I don’t do yoga but maybe I’ll start. I’m not bringing a sleeping bag so maybe this’ll do?)
Problem: I think my bags are too big, meaning combined they’re more than 107″ (l+w+h). I need to actually for real pack to figure this out and if they are, I’ll have to pull out plan B which is currently non-existent.
Problem 2: HOW DO YOU PUT MOVIES ON AN EXTERNAL HD & THEN PLAY THEM? I still haven’t figured this out! Ahhh!
Also, I’m taking Lady Sunshine with.
nomaddict 
Movies on an external harddrive: I am in the process of doing this for my service in the Dominican Republic. I use a program called DVD Decrypter that works pretty well. Basically what it does is makes a folder for each movie called a VIDEO_TS. In that folder there will be a file called VIDEO_TS.IFO along with tons of other ones for movies, special features, etc. In Windows Media Player (or whatever player you use I assume, but I use Windows Media Player) you open the .ifo file and it preserves all menus, special features, subtitles, etc. You have to actually open it in Media Player, not go to the file and open it directly. It took me FOREVER to figure out how to watch the movie once I have ripped it. Each file takes about 30 minutes to rip, so be prepared to take some time.
I am sure there is probably a better way to do this, but I don’t know it. The movie files are like 7-8 GB each, so make sure you have lots of space (I am using a 1 TB hard drive so I can get at least 100 movies on it). I think you can get something that will make smaller files, but I don’t know it. Good luck!!!
And thanks for your packing list – It’s so stressful figuring out what to bring! It’s hard to balance culturally acceptable with personal style. Plus I’ve packed about 35 pounds worth of stuff and it is heavy!!!
Thanks for your help!! I definitely did not realize the movie thing would be such a process! Buena suerte in the DR!
Hey! I’m a PCV in Paraguay and I have a couple extra recommendations.
1) Bring posters. You can fold them and they’ll lie flat against your suitcase and weigh practically nothing. I brought a few posters from the US that I love and I’m SO glad I did- always helps cheer up a place and make it my own, whether it’s living with a homestay family or in your own place.
2) Bring pictures/letters from your family and friends. They can be something to show your friends in Ecuador, and also something you can look at to get you through the hard times.
3) The BEST thing I brought with me to Paraguay was a hot water bottle. Old fashioned, but these things are genius- it warms up your entire bed on those bitter cold days. Honestly, I don’t know what I would’ve done without it. The summer in Paraguay is EXTREMELY hot, so I also brought along an ice bag to cuddle with during those 105+ degree nights (such as tonight)- seriously, the best things I’ve brought.
Happy packing!
Excellent suggestions! Printing photos has been on my To Do List for a while…need to get that done. Best of luck with your work in Paraguay!
Hey! You must be in omnibus 107 (what program??). I’m in 105, have been in Ecuador since February ’10 and it looks like you definitely did your research, but I do have a feeeewww recommendations. You honestly don’t need that much stuff; less is better sometimes. Remember, you’ll have to be schlepping your stuff onto buses when you go to your site and it is a pain in the butt to have a ton of things. A lot of this stuff you can get in Ecuador (as long as you’re not too picky about brands), especially the toiletries: shampoo, q-tips, deoderent, etc. Clothes are pretty cheap here and nice to buy to fit in with the locals, although definitely bring bras and jeans from the US as bras here frankly suck and jeans tend not to have butt pockets. Almost all of the office supplies are super super easy and cheap to get here… I might suggest leaving a lot of that home. PC will give you a Spanish-English dictionary. As for gifts, playing cards and jump ropes are easy to find (although still will be appreciated), but personal things like the Mizzou thing, they’ll like. Also, I’d suggest American candy (I’ve never seen skittles here! 😦 ) and maybe some other kind of food item, like locally made jam. Teas are definitely welcome as well. Also, Converses are a big hit here and expensive, so if you bring a pair, somebody will love you. If you like to cook, there’s a few spices that are impossible to find here: garam masala, turmeric, coriander. Rosemary, sage, and dill can be tricky too. Oh! and they looooveee instant coffee here (which is kind of crazy in the land of excellent cafe growing conditions, but whatev), so maybe stop by Starbucks and grab some of those Via instant coffee packs. My host family here loved those. Also, I second what the person above me said: def bring a lot of pictures of your home! Okay, sorry, this is really long, I think I’m living vicariously through you because if I were to have known what I know now, I would’ve packed entirely differently! Best of luck, let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
Thank you, thank you for the suggestions! I wasn’t really sure about supplies and such so thanks for that advice!!
Yes, I’ll be in omni 107. We’ve all been trying to figure out what omnibus refers to/means? I’ll be a TEFL volunteer, what do you think about teaching supplies? Unnecessary to bring?
Hopefully I’ll have a chance to meet you! We arrive on the 19th!
Omnibus… yeah, I’m not entirely sure why they use that word, but it refers to what group you’re in. So the very first group to come to Ecuador back in the day was Omnibus 1. After 2 or 3 groups a year now we’re up to omnibus 107!
I’m in Natural Resources, so not too sure about teaching supplies, although they gave us a crap ton of books, so more than likely you won’t need to bring much, but if there’s a specific teaching book you love, bring it.
Good luck with everything! You leave so soon. Don’t worry — it’s gonna be great. 🙂
Don’t forget your dental floss.
If you will have consistent smartphone access you could find a good spanish/english dictionary app rather than taking a book.
Natural insect repellent?
Extra lamps for the headlamp, not just extra batteries?
In addition to the external HD you’re taking, maybe also back up your laptop before you go, to an external HD you leave with a sis?
Great suggestions! I believe dental floss/insect repellent are in a medical kit we get once we arrive. I wish I had a smartphone, but it looks like I’ll get a dictionary there after all.