Sunday, December 26, 2010

Pre Departure

Ok, so this is my first attempt at blogging…ever. I’m not really sure how to start so I will just jump in. Eight days from now I will be on my way to Washington D.C (another first) where I will spend a day and a half getting to know other volunteers (55) from all over the country and other Peace Corps stuff. Oh yeah, did I mention this blog is an effort to document my life as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala for the next 2 years?? Well it is. At this point, I think the one word that can best describe how I feel about this whole thing is…ready.  Peace Corps for me has been a long time coming, I just had to finish school and now that it is actually here…I just feel ready. I’m more concerned with liking the other volunteers I will be around for the next two years, since I dislike 95 percent of the people I meet on a day to day basis. Supposedly, these are going to be my life long friends and yada yada. Other than that right now I am working on my packing list, which I will include at the end of this. Ok, I think that’s all for this one and for future reference I will try my hardest not to be pretentious or self-righteous bastard when I write (unlike many of the other PC blogs I have read) so hopefully you can enjoy reading what I will eventually be writing, shit I don’t even know if anyone will fucking read this? Haha but yeah I keeps it real…and hey if you are considering going into the PC and have stumbled upon this blog. The best advice I could offer is, if the PC is something you really want to do then you will do it, don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise…

Packing list:

·         65 liter backpack
·         Day pack
·         Rolling suitcase
·         7/8 classical guitar
·         Camera and charger
·         Ipod and charger
·         Rechargeable batteries
·         External hard drive
·         Flash drive
·         Beard trimmer
·         Head lamp
·         Lap top with charger
·         Calculator
·          Surge protector
·         Travel sack
·         Travel pillow
·         Travel towel
·         3 jeans
·         1 pair of shorts
·         1 dress pants
·         1 work pants
·         3 dress shirts and 3 ties
·         Chucks, tennis shoes, flip flops and dress shoes
·         Climbing shoes (there are places to top rope)
·         Resistance bands
·         Swimming trunks
·         Rain coat
·         1 pair of sweats
·         2 weeks worth of socks and underwear
·         A-shirts (pre shirt)
·         5 casual shirts
·         5 button up casual shirts
·         2 fleece
·         2 belts
·         1 beanie
·         1 fedora
·         1 bandana
·         Money belt
·         3 books
·         Glasses/contacts and solution
·         Watch
·         Combination lock
·         Needle and thread
·         Canker sore medicine
·         Guitar music
·         Cards
·         Gifts for host family
·         Toothbrush/paste
·         Conditioner/shampoo to get started
·         Body wash and DO
·         Nail clippers and q tips

I’ve looked at many lists and came up with this one, some lists you’ll find are kind of ridiculous, just keep in mind you will be burdened with your excess things. These are essential for me and anything else I can go without or find it in Guatemala.