Hey RAP ’07!

If you are about to put your life on hold for 2 years and be a fish head in Zambia this is just for you! These are a few things I brought or wished I had brought with me (Julie contributed):

-Head lamp and flashlight
-Shortwave radio (Zambian radio doesn’t always have up to the minute news)
-Sheets (fitted and flat – double size)(Fitted sheets are hard to find and very expensive here)
-Sunglasses w/ hard case
-Tent w/ rain fly and footprint
-Sleeping bag
-Sleeping pad
-Warm clothes – gloves, hat, jacket, fleece stuff, sweatshirt, warm socks
-Crocs flip flops
-CDRW’s
-Digital camera w/ batteries/charger/computer attachements
-Flash drive
-iPod or CD player w/ speakers
-extra batteries
-solar charger (solio holds a charge)
-European adapters
-Journal
-Going out clothes – tank tops, jeans, nice sandals, makeup, perfume, jewelry – b/c you will want to look nice every once in a while!
-Water proof bag for electronics (a must)
-USD (large bills)
-Large pack w/ rain fly
-Capri’s for the village – cut off sweatpants are great
-Keen’s or Chacos
-Nalgenes
-Pillow
-Rain jacket
-Baseball cap
-Pictures from home (Zambians love to see snaps of your fam)
-Frisbee
-Cards and dice
-Toiletries that you love
-Good razor blades
-Vitamins
-Watch with alarm or travel alarm clock
-Day pack
-Hair accessories (even if you don’t have hair they are a form of currency)
-Few of your favorite books
-Running/tennis/low top hiking shoes
-MSR or REI camp towel
-Campsuds (go to REI.com if you don’t know what they are)
-Pumice stone (unless you want your feet to feel like sandpaper)
-Nail kit
-Multiple knives – swiss army/leatherman
-Travel wallet that holds $, passport, WHO card, etc
-Bandanas (aka toilet paper in an emergency)
-French press (if you don’t know what this is you don’t need to bring it)
-TSA locks (unless you want to donate your luggage to South Africans in Jo’burg)
-Seeds (vegetables or herbs)
-Carabiners
-Zip lock bags
-Sunscreen
-Credit cards (VISA)
-Chocolate (forward to Box 550028 Katete)
-Dove body wipes (it’s easier than bathing)
-Pens and pencils
-Box of Mac & Cheese (trust me)
-Loofah
-World Map (big hit in the village)
-Addresses and phone numbers of friends and family
-Ear plugs (roosters are annoying)
-Crosswords or puzzle books or Libby’s favorite Sudoku

A few things not to bring:
-Suitcases w/ wheels (if you are set on bringing one, roll it down the beach and get back to me)
-Too many clothes (you can buy those Guess jeans you sold in the 80’s in the market)
-Expensive hiking boots (they take up too much room that could be used to bring chocolate)

If you have questions about specific items please post on my blog and leave your email and I’ll get back to you. J