The idea of packing for a two year stay in Romania remains somewhat daunting. I'm worried about being able to pack everything I need into two bags while staying within wieght limits. I'm also mindful of the fact that I'll need to carry these bags around with me for some time before I settle, so comfort and easy handling are also considerations.
Here is a list of everything I could think of that I might need (I've always been big on lists--my mind is such a clutter). Some of it I may not end up taking, and I'm sure there are also things I forgot. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Clothing:
shorts
t-shirts
long sleeve t-shirts
socks
underwear
long underwear
winter socks
a few sweaters
rain jacket
winter jacket (carry on for flight)
light jacket/fleece
red sox hat
swimsuit
jeans
slacks
oxford shirts
ties
belts
sandals
dress shoes
hiking boots
sneakers
flip-flops
slippers
pack gloves, hats, necky, ski pants, winter clothes, etc into a box to be mailed for winter
Toiletries/Medicine/First Aid:
2 bath towels
facial scrub
body wash
soap
airborne
band-aids
tissues
toothbrush/paste
shampoo
floss
deodorant
razors
shaving cream
q-tips
sunscreen
toilet paper
advil/tylenol
pepto bismol
Imodium
Antiseptic
Benadryl
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Luggage:
Two large Suitcases/Duffle bags (sturdy, perhaps with wheels)
A day/weekend pack (collapsible)
Internal frame pack
Carry-on bag
Misc. Items:
2 pairs of glasses
Large compressible bags (zip-loc?)
String
Duct tape
Copy of inoculation record
Passport
Some Cash
Money belt
Professional resources (ie a guide on teaching English)
Address Book
Romanian Dictionary
Phrasebook
Notebook
Pictures of home and family
Knife/leatherman
Some paperback books
Small, basic cookbook
Favorite cooking spices
Earplugs
Luggage locks
Small, easily packable alarm clock (it also needs to be very loud)
Sleeping bag
iPod, charger, earphones
Power adapters/plug adapters
Camelbak pouch
Waterproof cover for frame pack
Nylon adjustable straps and carabineers
Insect repellant
Compass
Water-resistant stuff sack
Headlamp
AA batteries
Bandannas
Nalgene bottle
Water (for the flight)
Can opener/ corkscrew
Digital camera, cables, batteries, charger, flash cards
Travel sewing kit
Bedsheets
Laundry bag
Watch
Sunglasses
Thermometer (F and C)
Eating utensils
Pens/pencils
Pencil sharpener
Laptop, charger, Ethernet cable
Wirless internet card
International calling card
calculator
clothespins
wet wipes
Gifts:
Pennies (as a novelty for the children)
Candy (i.e. Hershey’s assorted bag)
Pictures/postcards
American paraphenalia (any suggestions?)
Things to do before departure:
Sell truck
Cancel auto insurance
Check with banks for account requirements in my absence
This I want to take that I don’t yet have:
Big compressible plastic bags
oxford shirts
thermometer
compass
international calling card
leatherman
phrasebook and dictionary
European power adapters
Copy of inoculation record
Batteries
wireless internet card for laptop
extra camera battery
extra memory card for camera
wall charger for iPod
small alarm clock
7 comments:
Good luck bringing a knife. I don't think you can even fly with that in checked luggage.
you should opt for a crossbow instead.
Hey, I'm a current PCV in Romania. One of the biggest mistakes we all make is overpacking. You can pretty much buy anything in Romania and for alot cheaper than in America, just sometimes you have to search for things. Also your training will probably be close to Bucuresti, the capital where you can find pretty much everything. Here are some suggestions:
Clothing:
Unless you wear a very small or a very large size you will be able to purchase alot of clothes in Romania, including second hand stuff from Germany. Focus on bringing technical clothing (long underwear, gore tex etc)
Slippers- you can buy anywhere in romania
Sweaters- you can buy anywhere in Romania.
Toiletries/Medicine/First Aid
- At the begining of training you will be given a small briefcase sized container chock full of medication including floss, sunscreen, advil, tylenol, pepto bismol, Benadryl, rehydration salts, bandaids, antacids, latex gloves, antibiotic ointment and wash and some more stuff i cant even remember. You can always get FREE refills from the Peace Corps office.
- You can buy towels here, all shapes and sizes and colors.
Luggage:
Bring duffel bags if possible, suitcases are very difficult to handle in trains and maxi taxis (a kind of mini van) here. Plus Romanians usually carry duffel bags when traveling rather than suitcases.
Misc:
- Bring duct tape! You can't buy that here, or at least not great quality
- You receive a Romanian/English dictionary when you start language training here
- Leatherman, my swiss army knife has been a godsend over here.
- you can leave the cookbook at home, PC Romanian volunteers have created a cookbook designed specifically for PCVs in Romania.
- You can buy a can opener and corkscrew here
- You can buy bedsheets here
- You get a thermometer in your medical kit from Peace Corps (F and C)
- You can buy eating utensils here
- You can purchase a manual pencil sharpener here
- You can purchase a calculator here
- You can purchase wetwipes here
- I'm not sure the wireless internet card will be useful. Most towns and village don't have wireless access, you usually have to use dialup or cable.
I hope this helps!
Emily
Emily,
I'm not sure how else to contact you except to leave a reply here. But, THANK-YOU!! Your suggestions are greatly appreciated! After reading your comment, packing suddenly doesn't seem quite so daunting.
Where is your post? How long have you been there? What sort of work are you doing?
You can email me at mike@nork.com of you like. Thanks again
Hello! I have been invited to the same program as you have. May 15th 2007! My name is Cameron and I'm sure I'll see you there! Please email me at wrightcam@gmail.com and we'll introduce ourselves more!
-Cameron
Don't forget your American Flag, Never Forget 9-11, and Freedom isn't Free bumper stickers.
why didn't you pack cumin?
^_^!
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