Crunch Time

Brown Pelicans on the inner waterway at Pass-a-Grill Beach. No crunch time for them. Just hanging out on the docks with their friends, watching the fishing boats come and go, swimming in the cool gulf coast waters, and basking in the warm Florida sunshine. 

Ahhh… the life of a pelican.

I am now down to the final five days in St Petersburg and I am frantically packing, repacking, and seriously reassessing all that I originally planned to take on my trip. I am also rereading the dozens of documents the Peace Corps has sent over the last couple of months, hoping I don't miss any important elements that could stop my adventure before it even begins. 

Most important element not to be overlooked; shots! I thought I had all of my shots and my medical papers in order, but I was wrong. Somehow I missed the part about needing a World Health Organization Yellow Card. I also realized that I missed the part about needing a Yellow Fever shot that was less than seven years old (typically the yellow fever shot is good for ten years but because you are out of the country for over two years, the Peace Corps needs your shot to be within the last seven years. Mine was given in 2007, just a little too long ago).

Luckily, the Florida Department of Health has several clinics in the St Petersburg area and I was able to find one with a travel nurse. I got the yellow fever shot and the Yellow Card, and a few extra shots for good measure. The travel nurse reviewed my immunization record and told me I also needed Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Even though I did not see a requirement for these shots in my Peace Corps paperwork, I got them. Well, lesson learned that I want to pass on to any future volunteers, go to a travel nurse for your shots, do not rely on your general practitioner to know what you will need. Better to be over-immunized than under.

Latest PC Packing List

The baggage allowance is two checked bags, weighing no more than 50 pounds each, one carry on, and a personal item such as a purse. I have my two suitcases stuffed to bursting and one weights 28 pounds, the other 38 pounds. I obviously don’t have large enough bags to max out the luggage allotment. I could buy mega size cases, but I am going to try to make due. I have heard many current volunteers say that they wished they hadn’t brought so much stuff. Mainly because you need to be able to travel around with your bags unassisted. The exact wording as stated in the travel advisory is “Bring what you are comfortable with and can manage in areas with non-paved roads and crowded places.” I know my two suitcases will cause me trouble enough, I don’t need larger, heavier ones. I also plan to take a backpack as my carry-on and a purse. 

In another email attachment, the Bridge to Pre-Service Training, we are told that one of those two suitcases will stay with us during the three month training period, and the other one will be locked in a secure location, not to be accessed until completion of our training. This makes things I little more difficult because I now must to get everything I may need for three months into one suitcase. I’m not sure what will be left to put into the other suitcase. I think you kind of need everything initially.

Well, in light of the packing requirements and the previous suggested packing lists, here is what I have come up with. I’ll let you know after I get to my permanent assignment how I did with the items I selected to pack.

Purse

• ID, Yellow card, 12 passport pictures (they say our passport will be given to us at the staging event in Philadelphia. I should probably confirm that because I mailed my passport to the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington DC nearly a year ago!)
• VISA card, money (they say we don’t need much, but if we want to exchange some when we get to Uganda, it is best to have $50 bills dated 2009 or newer)
• cosmetics, comb, brush, typical purse items

Carry-on

• laptop with cord and disc drive
• camera with charger
• cell phone with cord, ear buds
• solar charger
• journal, pens, colored pencils, pen-light, headlamp, deck of card
• headrest
• compact/camping clothesline
• tissues, three month supply of medication, feminine products, mirror
• overnight toiletry bag, liquids in a ziplock baggie for the airport
• small photo album with my family pictures, stationary
• folder with my medical papers, address book, notebook
• slacks and a matching sweater, skirt and a matching top, 2 bras, 2 panties, and a slip
• gray heels to match slacks and skirt, 2 pairs nylons, 2 pairs knee-high (just in case, though I really have no intention of wearing pantyhose during my trip)

Bag 1 (to be kept with me during pre-service training)

• 1 flat sheet, 2 pillow cases, beach towel, quick-dry towel, wash cloth
• cards, uno deck, frisbee, candy, seashells (gifts for the host family)
• alarm clock with extra batteries
• hair stuff, shampoo/conditioner, face lotion, toothpaste
• first aid kit, insect repellant, sunscreen
• rain jacket
• bathing suit, coverup sun dress, shorts, matching dry-fit shirt
• 1 dress (casual), 1 dress with matching sweater (nice)
• 2 skirt with 5 matching tops
• 1 pair black, slip-on dress shoes, shower shoes, flip flops
• 1 pair of athletic pants 
• 1 pair of leggings (to wear under skirts for bike riding)
• 1 pair PJs (long pants and T-shirt), 1 light-weight nightie
• 2 bras, 6 panties, 4 camisoles
• laundry bag for dirty cloths

Bag 2 (to be locked until after pre-service training)

• 1 flat sheet, 1 bath towel
• coffee press, fan and flashlight with extra batteries, binoculars, birding book
• feminine products, extra medications
• stationary, extra journal books
• fleece jacket
• 2 light dresses with a matching sweater each
• 4 skirts with 5 matching tops
• 1 pair of athletic pants 
• 2 pairs of leggings (to wear under skirts for bike riding) 
• 1 pair PJs (long pants and T-shirt), 1 light-weight nightie
• 12 panties, 3 bras
• sneakers with 6 pairs of athletic socks
• casual slip-on shoes, sandals
• laundry bag for dirty cloths, 2 waterproof bags
• reusable water bottle