Packing Suggestions for 272 PCTs

 Hello. I would like to recommend the following for you. This is a work in progress thing. I'll keep updating it as I remember items to include. If you have any questions about items let me know and I can address it here. 

Heads up: I may be biased in this list. I'm male, 24 years old, and I like to read, bike, listen to music, and other things surely. I live in an especially hot site and it seems to be drier than others (rains less here). I work in an AC'd office but live in a apartment without AC (I only have a fan). I also live in a city with two malls. This list reflects some of these variables so I would say I'm not the prototypical volunteer in the most common site type. Now you know.

There's also a Facebook group with a small number of 272 PCTs as members. If you're interested just search for "Peace Corps Philippines - July 2013" on Fb.

This packing list should help you in your service from pre-service training (PST), first few months at site, and onward. If there is something you NEED to have be aware that while you may be able to get it here in the Philippines somewhere, you're not going to be able to get out much for shopping in the first 2-3 months. You'll be in training, babied, and busy. So if you need it, bring it. After the first month on at site you'll have no issue with getting what you need in this country. Manila has almost everything (except decent Mexican food).

Clothing:

Remember you're coming here in the rainy season. It'll take time to have your clothes dry when you do laundry so extra clothing is a bonus.

Jeans: Jeans are typically considered dress clothes here. These are ranked above slacks in my experience in the business attire department. I work in an office and wear jeans everyday. I brought 2 pairs and have bought 3 more pairs since being here. Bring 3-4 pairs.

Slacks: Looks nice and breathe better than jeans. I've been told black is a good choice thanks to their hiding wrinkles and sweat stain. Bring 2-4 pairs.

Shorts: I can't wear this at work but I sure wear them everywhere else. I also trained almost solely in shorts, so you would be well advised to bring a supply. There is a mix you should consider too, like this.

• Normal Shorts: These are what you would wear around town. Cotton is best and they can be a thicker type for durability. Here's an example from my wardrobe. Bring 2-4 pairs.
• Board Shorts: You might assume this is only for swimming. Yes, you can use this when you visit the many beaches here but you might also use them when you give up hiding under an umbrella going to training. I saw a training-mate do just that and I thought it was genius. Anyway, here's what I use. Bring 1 pair.
• Exercise/Basketball Shorts: I exercise regularly so this was included without question. If you like to run or ball, pack em up. Bring 1 pair.

• OPTIONAL extra (but advised): Sleeping Shorts: Running shorts you can wear just before going to bed. You can't reasonably be strutting around in your underwear in front of your host family, so these help keep you cool and decent before your bedroom door is shut. Here's an example of what I mean.

T-Shirts: You'll have a collection of event-T-Shirts piling up in your wardrobe shortly after getting to site. Typically for every big event there are T's to go around and you certainly will get one. Go light on T-shirts in packing. Bring 7-10.

Button Up Shirts / Polos: These are a must! Don't worry about an undershirt, it's too hot for that. You'll wear these for Peace Corps events and courtesy calls alike. I wear these everyday to work. Bring 7-12.

Underwear and socks: These are important and small enough that you can go a little over the top in packing these. I brought 7 pairs of underwear and socks and I wish I brought 3x that many. I know volunteers that came in with excess, say around 20 pairs of underwear, and I think those people are the smartest. Bring 14 pairs of socks and underwear (seems like a lot but you don't want to reuse).

Shoes: You'll want a variety, this is my Holy Trinity of footwear:

• Sturdy sandals (Teva, Keen, Merrell, etc). Try out a few different types at REI or whatever outdoors store is nearby. These may become your daily shoes so comfort is to be highly considered. I bought Tevas and they double as hiking shoes for me.
• Dress Shoes: These can be the dressy looking hiking shoes you can get from all the big hiking shoe companies like Patagonia and Merrell. You don't NEED glossy wingtip shoes. Whatever you pick, you'll at least use them once (swearing-in) and probably many more times (training, courtesy calls, etc.). Here's my go to "dress" shoes.
• Sneakers (suede is not recommended, although mine have survived to date): Not to be a billboard for a company, but I've used Supra shoes in the past and they have tough sneakers that are also water resistant. The water resistant ones are made out of a material called SupraTUF. They are expensive but I know they last.

For those who need a different shoe per activity (like me, no shame).

• Exercise Shoes: Have I gone too far? If you enjoy exercising, you should pack a pair.
• Hold off on buying flip-flops. You'll have access to an avalanche of these sandals when you get here. They're cheap here too. One less thing you'll have to squeeze into your bags.

Jackets: You only need two jackets, er, I've only needed two.

• Rain Jacket: Really only for the bike riders. I ride my bike everywhere so an umbrella is not always what I can use. You'll overheat pretty fast but if you're faster at riding a bike you'll be fine.
• Fleece Jacket: Buses can get downright freezing. Also, you'll be fairly adapted in a few months so the buses will only seem to get colder as time goes on. This helps a lot. Also, you'll want this when you visit Sagada (you know you want to go).

Hats: I didn't wear hats back home and I don't wear one here. If you don't wear one at home don't buy one for here. (EDIT: I didn't wear a hat here for a long time but have recently found a liking for a simple ball-cap. You can keep the sun and stares off you with this, at the price of a sweaty head.)

Swimming Shirt: Called a rash guard. I think this gets overlooked often and shouldn't be. This covers you from the sun and keeps you appearing decent to more traditional Filipinos when you're out swimming. The sun is so strong here that it's almost a health imperative that you bring and use one. This is highly advised.

Ear Plugs: There are lots of loud sound systems here. To protect yourself I recommend you pack ear plugs. I don't recommend wearing them when going to bed though. Eventually you will habituate to the typically loud environmental sounds heard at night (roosters, music, motorcycles, and others).

For Women (Written by PCV Kaiti Riter)

So here it is …………Ladies edition packing list:

About me:

I live in Legazpi City, 5’11”, wear a size ten shoe and pant. All of the advise is based upon my experiences and what I deal with. If you are smaller person you may not have problems say finding shoes or clothes. It rains, a lot here, so think of what you would be comfy in sweaty/wet from rain most of the day. Also depending on your site you may or may not have : air-con), tropical climate (Leg), dry climate.

Bring LOTS of underwear-most are “one size fits all” here and the soap/critters destroy them fast.

What I brought: 20 pairs, what I need/want: more.

Bring a good amount of bras also if you are any larger than a 34B you may not be able to find many in country, also bring bras that you wear at home.

What I brought: plain boring bras and sports bras (8ish total), what I want/need: more cute bras!

Bring shoes that are durable but also cute-size eight is the largest women shoe size here. I brought chacos but find them over the top for my office job. So perhaps a shoe that is less outdoorsy that you can get away with both walking to work in the typhoon for thirty minutes and wearing in the office. Also depending on your job you may not get away with work sandals, teachers and some CYF projects have to wear close toed shoes.

What I brought: Chacos, running shoes (trail), Toms. What I want/need: everyday work sandal.

A note on clothing: bring things you like. No need to go buy out North Face. Bring things that wash easily/dry easily. Also things that are lightweight and are not to hot, simple cotton goes a long way as well.

Tee shirts-you get them like crazy here, and they are really cheap at the uk (thrift stores). Bring a couple from college or whatever of your favorites if you want.

Nice shirts/work shirts: polos are easy, or just simple colored shirts (v-necks and such). Just make sure to bring tank tops for under if you bring anything low. it depends on your site though as to if v-necks are acceptable at all. Bring what you wear at home.

Bottoms: jeans are common here… skinny jeans galore… does not mean you have to wear them. Some volunteers wear them all week, just depends. It is to hot most of the time for me (no air-con). I wear skirts that are knee length or longer, and or khaki/or capri things. Bring conservative clothing just incase you get a conservative site.

A dress or so for fancy occasions and something to cover your sholders if it does not, also should be close to knees if not longer. (also pair of flats to match).

Swim gear: bring shorts and a rash guard if you have that are good in the water. People do not wear bikinis in most places… however you can bring one if you want to wear under your shorts and tee, or to wear on vacation. Also bring a rain jacket.

Cosmetics/foods etc: most things are available in Manila for around the same cost(maybe more) than at home, things in general are available here. If you have something that you cannot live without bring enough for 3 months and then find where to buy it in Manila or get it shipped by the parents.

That’s it for now. If you have any questions fb me or email me kaiti@nmsu.edu.

See you all soon!

Prepared Packing List:

These are the things you'd be smart to pack along. I swear you'll use them more than once and probably wear through some.

Laptop: Doesn't matter what size really, just know you should bring one. I have a netbook that's about 3 years old and it's served me to date.  I do lament not bringing a larger laptop though. Beware of bringing an iPad as your only computational device. I know of one person who has been hobbled by only having a iPad, wishes instead to have a laptop for increased functionality. Have a laptop to accompany your iPad if you bring one (iPad that is). Recently I bought a large laptop and am much happier for it. IT's up to you for what you want to bring, but be sure to bring one.

Headlamp: Good heavens, bring one. Power goes out, you go caving, you don't have lightbulbs in your new apartment and it's night already, and you're chasing down a rouge cockroach in your room. You need one, don't go cheap, go for the most average headlamp and you'll be set.

Quality backpack: Why I love my backpack: a plastic barrier between my back and the interior of my bag. This stops the ample sweat I ooze from reaching my computer/papers/clothes/groceries/misc. I would highly recommend you buy a decent backpack with at least this one feature. I live out of my backpack, it's a High Sierra. Here's a link to what I have for an example.
I've since retired my old (and stinky) High Sierra backpack. I've moved up to a similarly designed North Face Backpack. Go for quality!

Multi-Tool: There will be things you need to cut open, screw together, and bend. A quality multi-tool will aid you when you need it the most. I've used mine in several instances where it saved me buying individual tools. Here's what I have for example (Mine is not needle-nose, the pliers have been used at site).

500GB (At Least) External Hard-Drive: you'll be growing yourself a collection of media and you'll need a place to put it. Some people here will say you should at least bring a 1 Terabyte external. If you love movies and TV shows, it's probably worth the extra money to go bigger. I'm more of a music and book person so a large hard-drive wasn't what I needed.

Quality Headphones: This is more of a self respect issue than anything else. If you think you love music you should think enough of yourself to buy decent headphones. I would recommend earphones like Shure SE215. At $100 from amazon you'll use these headphones for the next two years no problem. My last pair went 2 ½ years and still sort of work (waiting on my replacement pair to come from the states).

iPod: I'm sure most everyone has one of these by now but be sure to bring one nonetheless. I would even say bring a iPod Touch but even a 8GB third gen iPod Nano will work (What I have).

Kindle (or any eReader): If you enjoy reading you'll want one of these. I use mine constantly, it's my main source of entertainment. If you're concerned about having to shell out loads of money to load it up, don't worry, there's plenty of alternative methods of filling it with your favorite books. A 3g version of the kindle also works here in the Philippines but you don't need it, I just have the wifi version and never use the wifi.

Pictures: I left almost all my photos back home when I left and that was a mistake. There's a time when you might want to show a co-worker what your dad looks like (not much on Fb) or what Washington State looks like this time of year (plenty on Google and beyond but not taken by ME!), it'd be nice if you had photos on hand. You don't need a stack of print-offs (unless you NEED a stack), a folder on your new external hard drive will do the trick.

Your iPhone/Android phone (with SIM slot): Smart phones can be unlocked here and work fine. Even if you don't use it as a phone anymore they do serve as great mobile wi-fi connection devices, so you can still send a message on Fb or an email without your bulky laptop. You don't need to bring a phone though, PC will give you the most archaic phone you've ever seen (with a life-saving flashlight).

Luggage Into The Country

This will depend on you and the amount of stuff you decide to bring. I came into the country with one small rolling hard-shell case, one normal sized duffel-bag, and my backpack. Each were full.

I traveled here next to people who carried different bags completely from mine. Some brought hiking backpacks filled with duffles. I think most used at least one rolling bag and that sounds reasonable to me. You probably won't use a rolling bag much here and after you get to site, so consider that. A (medium to large) backpack and duffle-bag will likely be your traveling friends here so those are what I would recommend.

Also, one friend brought a guitar. You can do that too if that's your thing.

For Those Of You With A Hobby You Love

Maybe you don't need to bring this initially with you, but remember this for when your family is asking what you'd like sent to you in a care package. You can find some gear here but it might be a hunt, not exactly what you were looking for, or unreasonably expensive. If you can spare the room in your bags here, go ahead and bring your tools. The only crochet hooks I've found so far have been for sewing thread, the absolutely smallest hooks I've ever seen. I've not found Knitting needles. Yarn is available (for what hook or needles I don't know).

Hobbies you can indulge in (from my interests)
Biking: There are legit shops here for your biking pleasure. Even if you don't LOVE biking I would advise you to buy a nicer (more expensive) bike if you decide to, from a real dealer. You'd be well advised to only consider a mountain bike. If you prefer a single speed bicycle, you can buy a kit in the US to make a geared MB into a single speed monster.

Cooking: If you love cooking, you're in for a challenge. Expect your kitchen pots and pans to be aluminum. Teflon is available but steel is far too expensive on a PCV allowance. Knives are cheap and questionable of quality, unless you go high end. Your only baking will be done in a toaster oven most likely. If you have any appliances sent from home, know that you'll need an electrical transformer to work it without blowing it up (220v here Vs. 110v in the USA). It's not a nightmare but a challenge. Produce is great though.

More to Come!