PACK WHAT YOU WANT!

Several days ago another future Peace Corps Ukraine volunteer attached a link to Andrea’s Peace Corps Blog. And I loved it. Sometimes the truest form of honestly is extremely helpful. I am probably the most organized and least stressed person I know, but even I am a bit over my head with this whole Peace Corps preparedness thing. And it is not really the packing part that makes me wonder what in hell I have gotten myself into, it is the preparedness that needs to happen BEFORE I get on the plane.

Andrea’s FAQ for Future Volunteers coming to the Ukraine has been extremely helpful. She is funny and factual. I hope you enjoy the below as much as I have.

What should I pack?!?!This question is my favorite question because I have the most vague answer possible! PACK WHAT YOU WANT! Don’t listen to those stuck up people who say “Pack light, you wont want all that stuff!” This is your LIFE, you are MOVING your LIFE to Ukraine for 2 years. If you want to pack as much as possible, just do it. There is absolutely NO SHAME in showing up to DC with a buttload of luggage. And whoever says you have to be able to carry it yourself up and down stairs is full of hooey! Some Burly, strong Eastern European men will be there to help you pick up, lift and lug all your things around from the moment you get into Ukraine. Oh, and some American guys might help you too (Ladies: this is a good chance to get the cute guy to carry your stuff, start up a conversation, and make out later that night) Oh did I also mention you get a carry on and a personal item? I packed those full and heavy and put them under the seat in front of me and in the overhead compartment.

To be more specific about this packing everything you want stuff here is my main recommendation. Bring what you love. Bring what makes you YOU. Bring your passion. I am really into movies and writing. So I brought my laptop and my entire movie collection, of 300 dvds (on reels, not in their cases!) That was my thing, so I brought it. I don’t think people put enough emphasis on this idea. You will change a lot being in Peace Corps, but you will also spend a lot of time alone, and it is important that you have the things that entertain you the most. If you play an instrument, bring it (unless it is the piano, I do not recommend bringing a piano…but your town/village will most likely have a piano and lessons to boot!) Dig yoga? Bring your mat! Don’t think that being in PC is going to make you magically humble, an amazingly awesome reader or a lover of nature. You are you, and in Ukraine you wont be living in a hut, you will most likely be living in an apartment, with electricity. I spent my first 3 months of training watching tv at every meal because my family had a tv in every room. You’ll have electricity and most likely access to the internet, it is easy to keep on being you (which is a good thing!) I saved up some of my living allowance and bought a tv and satellite and am now currently updated on the current celebrity gossip thanks to E! Europe, the newest music and reality shows thanks to MTV and VH1, the real news thanks to BBC and CNN. This is just to show you how things can work out. And no, I do not feel like a complete waste of Space watching E! News daily. “I love it, it’s my thing, leave me alone” (I will be your best friend if you tell me where that is quoted from. Hint: it also has to do with Celeb gossip)