Pack It Up, the Third

Adding one more thing to the packing list: this guy.

He shoots mini-Polaroids and is seriously awesome and I can't wait to be able to give the pictures out and/or hang them on my walls.

(Much thanks to Whit...)

Pack It Up, Again

Some of those various miscellaneous things I was forgetting last night:

• Maps: Detailed map of Uganda / World map (to show everyone Seattle).
• Tapatio! (Hot sauce) (To make the starchy banana-mash staple food more palatable.)
• Gifts for my Host Family: Something small / Seattle-related (postcards or a calendar) to go with what I'll get them when I get there and actually meet them and see what they'd want/need.
• Power Strip (for charging multiple things at once).
• Pot Holders (which apparently are not available in Uganda).
• Superglue (because, if you've seen my sunglasses..).
• Bungee Cords.
• Small sewing kit (for replacing buttons, stitching up wounds sustained while wrestling lions, etc).
• Passport-sized Photos for official documents / copies of all important documents.
• Aloe Vera (for my lily-white skin).
• Seeds (in case I want to supplement my diet by growing a green thumb).
• Addresses of friends and family.

And, again, I'm sure there's plenty of stuff that I'm missing. But, hopefully, I'll remember it all before Sunday.

Pack It Up, Pack It In

At some point in every conversation I've had about going to Uganda, someone's asked me, "What, exactly, are you bringing with you?"

Until about two days ago, I always responded, "I don't really know. I haven't looked at the packing list yet. So we'll see." (And yes, I am currently vying for Peace Corps Uganda's "Procrastinated-the-Longest Award That I Just Made Up." It's really coming down to the wire, but we'll find out the results later.)

Now, however, though I haven't actually begun packing, I do have a packing list.

And here it is:




ELECTRONICS

• Netbook / Charger
• Camera (Lumix) / Charger / Memory Card / Card Reader
• Camera (Canon) / Charger / Extra Batteries / Memory Cards / Card Reader
• Lenses: Canon EFS 18-55mm / Canon EF 75-300mm
• Ipod / Powercord / Headphones
• Hard-drive
• Voltage Convertor?
• Plug Adaptor?

CLOTHES

• T-Shirts (5)
• Button-downs (4)
• Tie (1)
• Khakis (2)
• Jeans (1)
• Boxers - ExOfficio Travel (4)
• Socks (Dress: 1) (Running: 2)
• Khaki Shorts (1)
• Gym Shorts (1)
• Board Shorts (1)
• Belt (1)
• Thermal Shirt (1)
• Jacket (1)
• Hat (1)

SHOES

• Rainbows (Flip-flops)
• Running Shoes (Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra)
• Boat Shoes (For more formal occasions)

MISC.

• Headlamp (1) / Flashlight (1)
• Knives (2 pocketknives, 1 kitchen knife)
• Duct Tape
• Towel (2)
• Sunglasses
• Flat Sheets (2)
• Pillow (1)
• Mattress Cover
• Batteries (AA and AAA)
• Cliff Bars
• Ziploc Bags
• Nalgenes (2)
• Bandana
• Pens
• Moleskine / Small Notebooks
• Pictures

BOOKS

TOILETRIES

• Glasses (2 pair)
• Contacts / Case / Solution
• Eye-drops
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Razor / Shaving Cream
• Shampoo
• Beard Trimmer

So that is it for now. I'm probably 99% sure that I'm missing something important on there or haven't listed various minor extras that I'll end up bringing. For now, though, that's what I'll be leaving with come Sunday (!!!) night.

(And the picture at the top is of my actual packing list -- I was playing around with the new 75-300mm lens. I enjoyed it.)

It's Been Awhile..

..But suddenly I'm running out of time.

So here's a quick update:

Since the last time I posted, lots of things have happened.

Job: Quit -- and I'm really thankful for the opportunity I had to work there; I wouldn't have gotten into the Peace Corps if I hadn't been working at the Arc.

Car: Sold -- and then I regretted selling it so quickly; the bus is slow and I'm pretty sure it's always late, but everyone (rightly so) tells me it's just getting me ready for Africa Time.

Apartment: Moved out of -- and it only took twelve hours yesterday, plus several hours on Friday, up and down fifty-one stairs, over and over; so by my rough calculations, I climbed to the top of the Empire State Building probably at least one and half times, carrying probably the weight of the Empire State Building.

Possessions: Down to four boxes and a little bit extra.

So now I've got a rough packing / shopping / to-do list and I'm trying check off the boxes and squeeze in as much time with as many people as possible and simultaneously process the fact that I'm moving to Uganda in a few days while also not thinking about it too much so it doesn't make my head explode in a combination of excitement and stress and anticipation and sadness or not necessarily sadness but bittersweetness or whatever the real word for that is.

Basically I want to be able to quote Daniel Faraday from Lost: "I can do it. I can make time."