Packing List

Welcome to the land of "It Depends" 
(Meaning that this is based on my experience and that everyone's experience is different.  You will hear this phrase throughout training.  It's annoying, but it's also true.)

Peace Corps gives you a suggested packing list when you get your Welcome Book, but they warn you that you're not going to be able to bring everything on the list (and they are completely correct).

They give you all the airline weight limit restrictions, but you also have to remember your own weight limit restriction, because you will carry all of your bags. More than once. In business casual dress. Under the blazing sun. For unknown distances.

TE Volunteers tend to live in bigger sites due to the nature of our work and we also have to dress professionally for school every day.  In that Welcome Book they tell you that volunteers frequently do their laundry in the local river (which can be true) and that everything you own will get moldy (also potentially true).

Basically, I was super confused and stressed about packing because it seemed like an impossible logic problem, so I made a list of what I wanted to bring and then tried to fit as much of that list into my luggage.  I asked my parents mail me some of what didn't fit after I had a better idea of what I needed.  Mail can take a while, but it'll get here (or there) eventually.

So, here's a list for all you TE Panama volunteers who might be as overwhelmed about packing as I was:

Luggage

63L Gregory hiking backpack
Medium-size duffel
Messenger Bag

Clothing

• Jeans- 1 pair; it's generally not culturally appropriate to wear shorts in public and you can't wear jeans to school
• Dress Pants- 3 pairs; so useful, all of the women at my school wear dress pants instead of skirts/dresses
• Skirts (4)
• 1 Black Knee Length Pencil Skirt- so useful for important meetings
• Cotton Draw String Peasant Skirt with pockets- I wear this every day when I go walking around my community. I love not having to carry my purse.
• Draw String Peasant Skirt w/o pockets
• Simple long black skirt- what I wear around my host family's house when I'm in public spaces
• Dresses (4)
• Long Peasant Top Dress- Perfect for school
• Cute going out dress- Haven't worn it yet, but I'm glad I brought it
• Black Cotton Dress- Too short for school, but I'm glad I brought it
• Black all purpose work dress-I only wore it to swear in, but I'm glad I have it
• Wide strap tank tops (4)-Glad I brought them, even though I can't wear them in site
• Everyday T-Shirts (8)-Glad I brought them, even though they're a little too casual for school, I cheat by wearing a cardigan
• Dress Shirts/polos (5)-You can find clothes for pretty cheap in Panama (especially if you go to the second hand stores)
• Work/Exercise T-Shirts (4
• Hoodie-Sometimes it gets cold at night or on the buses
• Bathing Suit- Vital
• Socks (10)
• Bras (3)- I significantly regret not bringing bras that I liked
• Sports Bras (2)- Love them; perfect for swimming in the rio
• Underwear (14)-Bring lots of underwear.  They will get ruined. You will also dry your underwear on clothing lines in view of other people
• Long Sleeve T-Shirts (2)- People have told me that there are parts of Panama where it is cold, I haven't experienced that yet
• Baseball Hat-Good for blocking out the sun on hikes
• Bandanas (3)- I love my bandanas, perfect for hiking and very effective sweat towels
• Dress Flats (2)-Most schools require you to wear closed toe shoes, though sometimes you can get away with nice sandals
• Sneakers- Hiking, running, and playing Ultimate
• Chacos-for walking in the rain
• Pajama T-shirts (4)
• Pajama Pants (2)-Really only needed one pair
• Denim Shorts- 1 pair, perfect for beach days out of site
• Workout shorts (2)- Running, playing Ultimate, hostel stays
• Leggings- Great for working out
• Cardigans (2)-great for making shirts that are questionably appropriate more appropriate 

Toiletries

• Hairbrush
• Toothbrush/Toothpaste
• Compact Mirror (Panama is the land of no mirrors)
• Disposable Razors
• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Quick Dry Towel
• Bar Soap
• Tampons-Can be found here, but only in provincial capitals
• Hand Sanitizer-for when the water goes out, also can be found here in provincial capitals

Tools

• Pocket knife
• Multitool
• Head lamp-so important.
• Crank Flashlight
• Travel Alarm clock

Other

• Journal
• Welcome Book/Assignment Description (Electronic)
• Purse sized Umbrella - For sun and rain
• Waterproof Watch I regret not getting one before I came, the watch that I have isn't waterproof
• Laminated Photos- I asked my parents to mail these to me after I got to Panama
• Tea-because I love tea
• Playing Cards
• Host Family Gifts (2)- Coasters and magnets with images of my home state
• Large cross body purse-Large enough for a book (or two)
• Water filter-Haven't used it.  It was my concession to my fears of waterborne illness.  You'll get a water safety training during PST.

Electronics

• External Hard Drive-volunteers swap media all the time, even if you come with an empty drive, you'll fill it up by the end of training
• Laptop-TE Volunteers use computers pretty regularly.  That said, there are usually computer labs/internet cafes in the provincial capitals/larger towns where you can use a computer for relatively cheap if you don't want to bring a one with you
• Headphones-for those long bus rides
• Kindle-a compromise for those people who can't bear to leave their library at home (there are also libraries in the Regional Leader houses in each province and at the PC office in Panama)
• Camera, charger, memory cards
• MP3 player-alot of people have spotify on their phones, so that's an option too
• USB-Essential for transferring files without internet
• Cell phone-I bought a smartphone a few days after I got to Panama.  Whatsapp is essential.

Note: You will accumulate stuff (papers, notebooks, clothes, teaching supplies, a 5 gallon cubo, etc.) throughout training and during your first three months in site.  Your luggage will unfortunately remain the same size.

We're excited for you G78.  Shoot me an email if you have any questions.