Almost every organization provides their goers with a list of things to pack. Maybe it's hidden in the manual, maybe it was sent to you in an email after you purchase plane tickets, maybe it is one of the first documents you received and now you have to go back and find it. But it is there. It contains all sorts of things that you will need to be successful where ever you are headed.
If you are someone like me, as soon as you get the list you read through it. Already your mind is whirling, thinking through each item, creating shopping lists for later, and organizing imaginary suitcases so that everything will fit. The packing list I received was helpful for me to begin planning. Anything I was unsure about I could ask my teammates and got reasonably helpful answers.
However, there is always a disconnect between what is written on paper and reality. Reality has a depth to it that makes explaining it difficult. Rarely is the full picture able to be communicated. There are always nuisances that do not translate well and assumptions that color each person's interpretation of what they are reading.
Thus after having been in the country for a few weeks now, there are a few things I would like to add to my packing list.
-
Wipes: Baby wipes or face wipes. Something that would be fast and allow me to clean up in case there is a lack of running water or if the power goes out. These would also be helpful if you are traveling to some place that uses their hands to eat more commonly than silverware. Water was a bit of a scarce resource in this country. The pipes do not always have water running through them. When the water isn't running, you have to use water stored in the tank on the roof. When the water is running, the priority is to make sure the tank fills back up before the water shuts off. The first week I was in the country was a bit of an adjustment as I had to remember to turn on the pump and which pipes to open or close. Initially five people were in the house and we ran out of water often.
-
Hand sanitizer- Similar to the above reason. A small travel sized container. Mostly for emergencies but also very helpful for the sake of convenience or when a sink is not readily available for cleaning up. Most places here will provide silverware just in case, but a lot of the locals eat with their hands. Some of the food is easier to eat than others. When there is bread, your hands stay relatively clean. However, I have had to learn how to eat rice and spaghetti noodles with my hands. I am not very adept at eating pasta with my hands. Hopefully that will come with practice.
-
Ear buds- Often with new places comes new sounds. Ear buds can help block out some of those noises. If you are a light sleeper, this could be very helpful especially during the first few weeks as you are adjusting. I am fortunate to have an interior room where it is not as loud. Most people living here find that it takes a bit to adjust to call to pray, especially the one at 4 in the morning.
-
Bug spray- This is helpful almost anywhere you go, but especially when traveling to tropical areas where malaria and other mosquito born illnesses are common. Along the same lines, make sure you have a mosquito net for your bed. I arrived in January which is considered their cold and rainy season. Mosquitos are out in full force. I am allergic to a common ingredient in most bug sprays so I am very grateful that someone on my team mentioned bring some before I left the States. I was able to bring bug spray that I can use.
-
Lamp- Often lists will include a flashlight or a torch, but I also recommend a camping lamp or something similar. (Solar or battery operated depending on where you are going.) Flashlights are helpful but they only shine in small, focused beams. If you need to light a room or a larger area, a lamp would be much more helpful.
-
Small coin pouch- This depends on the currency of where you are going. If the country uses primarily coins, it is much more helpful to have a small pouch or purse to help the coins. It can fit is a larger bag for transportation needs, but it is smaller and more concise. You don't have to pull out your whole wallet or waste time searching the bottom of your bag for coins. Word of wisdom- keep your home countries coins separate from your host countries.
-
Resealable storage bags- In some places plastic bags are hard to come by. In other places you can get an endless supply of grocery bags, but nothing that can seal. The practical uses of resealable bags are massive. They are helpful to store things including leftover food or toiletry supplies.
-
Tupperware containers- Similar to above. These can be very helpful to store food or small items. Now you are able to buy a lot of tupperware containers here, but a few years it was not so widely available. Also, I am living in a more urban area. If you will be living more in the middle of the countryside, it would be a good idea to bring some.
-
Power converter outlet- Most likely this is on the packing list. I want to highlight it again here because of how important and useful it is. Check with which ever country you are going to determine which kind you need.
-
Water filter- I was gifted some of these before I left, for which I am extremely grateful. Here the tap water is safe to drink but it takes some adjusting to. During the adjustment period, it is highly likely that you will experience an upset stomach or diarrhea.
-
Vitamins or first aid kit- Ask people who have lived wherever you are going what they recommend. In addition, if there is a travel health place near you, I would recommend talking to them about vaccinations or other medication, especially for stomach issues.
Hopefully this list will be helpful if you are considering going somewhere yourself. However take everything on it with a grain of salt. The best way to learn what you need to live in the country is to live in the country. All throughout training and preparation, I was told that I should hold all plans and ideas with open hands. I could learn about the country and try to prepare in every way, but until I lived in the country I would not really understand. These last two weeks have definitely taught me a lot about holding expectations loosely and being adaptable.