Two Years in Two Bags

After medical clearance last August, I started seriously thinking about what I should bring with me to Mozambique. I would be there for two years, not expecting to return to the States at all, so figuring out what to pack in two 50lb bags and one carry-on was kind of a big deal. Ok, it was a very big deal and I became a little obsessed with making sure I had everything I needed.

I’m writing this for the next Education group that will be arriving here in Mozambique in four months. I’m sure most of them are waiting to hear nothing about legal clearance (no news is good news) and finishing up medical, dental and eye exams in order to obtain medical clearance. PS: Medical clearance is the LARGEST pain in the rear end. Am I right?

Below is some insight about what to bring, from somebody who has been here for 8 months. I hope this is helpful as you make 15 trips to REI and 27 trips to Target.

Clothes

Every day here is hot. I’m not exaggerating. People told me that winter would come in April…it didn’t. Then they said it would come in May…it’s not here. So pack maybe three pieces of clothing that would be fit for a fall day in Ohio, but not much more than that. All other clothing should be suited for the hottest and longest summer you’ve ever experienced. 

I live in the south, which is less conservative than the north. You should pack for both because there’s no telling where you’ll end up. When in doubt, choose conservative (girls—no knees, no shoulders). 

Teaching: To school I usually wear jeans and a blouse. If it’s a day I know we won’t be doing much of anything (i.e. the week before the trimester ends), I will go with jeans in a t-shirt. On days where I’m feeling especially motivated I’ll wear a skirt and a blouse or a dress. Female teachers at my school look very put together, and some even wear heels (not recommended—the school yard is a beach without water). We all have to wear white batas over whatever we wear, so it feels pointless to put much energy into choosing outfits since it’s going to be mostly covered up anyways. 

Passearing: In my town it’s okay to wear non-spaghetti strapped tank tops, so if I’m just walking to the market or going to visit a friend I’ll go sleeveless with either jeans or yoga pants or a skirt. I would recommend bringing a couple of tanks, because even if you’re in the north you’ll be wanting to sleep in as few clothes as possible.

Working out: I work out every day and always wear crop running rights or yoga pants and racerback tank tops. Sometimes I work out in my quintal, where I could get away with wearing shorts, but being here for 8 months has made me feel uncomfortable showing my knees like ever. 

Shoes: I wear my Birkenstocks 99.9% of the time. Running shoes for running. I have one pair of nice peep toed sandals and a pair of black flats that I only wear on special occasions. Many volunteers wear Chacos or Tevas, too. I have a pair of Tevas but choose my birks almost always (teaching included).

Other notes: Doing laundry is a lot of work, so you will get used to wearing things multiple times before washing them. You don't need nearly as many clothes as you might think for two years worth of living. In beach towns shorts are acceptable and I wish I would have brought a pair of plain denim shorts. I also wish I would have brought a few simple plain v-next t shirts (sold color, light cotton, semi-fitted). Anything you bring that’s white will be not white within a few months and washing these pieces will become the thing you dread the most. Don’t forget your swimsuit and a lightweight rain jacket! 

Toiletries

Bring enough deodorant for the full two years. You can buy it here, but it’s just not the same. Dental floss and mouth wash, if you’re big on that stuff, also for the full two years. I am pretty particular about my dental floss and I can usually only find “herbal flavored” mouth wash, which is disgusting. I didn’t bring mouth wash originally, but got some in a care package and it pretty much changed my life. I also brought enough face wash and face lotion for two years and I’m very glad that I did. My skin changed a lot when I got here (I never dealt with pimples but now I break out a lot), and I’m glad I have face wash I like and that works. I was also really glad that I brought a nice razor and enough cartridges for two years. The razors they sell here are either very expensive or very shitty. 

You can buy shampoo and conditioner here—nice kinds like Dove, Panteen, Sunsilk, etc. in the cities and generic brands that smell like grandma’s house in the markets. I would recommend bringing enough to get you through training at least. Soap is also easy to find here but I’m glad that I brought my own because it smells like me. Toothpaste, too, is very easy to find.

Girls: If you’re used to wearing make up, or having your nails painted, or spritzing perfume, bring that with you. I really miss feeling pretty, and really there is no real reason to get dressed up nice, or style your hair, or put on makeup. But on days when I really don’t want to go to class (you’ll have those), blush and mascara help to perk me up. 

In general, if you are particular about certain toiletries, stock up on those and bring it with you, because you will be in a foreign place experiencing situations and feelings you never have before. It is really nice to have things that smell like you and that feel like home, even if it’s just the smell of shampoo or the way your soap lathers. 

Also remember that people live here, have lived here, and will continue to live here without anything from America. If it’s crucial to your personal hygiene or health, you likely can find it here.

Other Stuff (in no particular order)

1. I’m so glad that I invested in a Kindle! Peace Corps has an e-library and it’s so much easier to travel with. I’ve been here for eight months and am on my 12th book. 
2. A tent! It gets too hot to sleep in my room in the summer (especially when the power is out and the fans don’t work), so I sleep outside in my tent. It is also good for camping trips but more for staying out of the heat.
3. Coffee and a french press. Ground coffee here is hard to find and expensive. If you’re a coffee drinker in the states you probably won’t be too pleased with Ricoffy. Bring your own. You won’t regret it.
4. Protein powder. No matter who you are, it’s likely you won’t be getting enough protein from the foods that are regularly available here. I am really glad I brought protein powder. I kept it in my 2-year bag and it was a nice surprise when I got to site.
5. Yoga Mat. Holy shit. I use this every single day. It was a pain in the rear to get it here, but so worth it!
6. Printed out pictures from home. Nesting is a real thing here and if you live in a house where you can’t paint the walls, pictures help your room feel like your space. 
7. Pens and notebooks. They don’t really have spiral notebooks here, only composition notebooks, which I don’t like very much (it’s hard to write on the backs of pages), and the pens are cheap and explode a lot. 
8. A hard-drive. You will want things to watch on the boring days. Even if it’s currently empty, volunteers will have lots to share and you’ll want a place to store all the shows you’re about to binge watch. 
9. Fitted sheets and pillow case, washed with the laundry detergent you typically use. Keep these in your two year bag. When you finally arrive at the house that will be yours for two years, it’s going to take some time to make it feel like home. Soft, nice sheets that smell like USA life will definitely help the process. 
10. A big backpack. I use a small backpack for school, and also have a big camping backpack for weekend trips to the beach, to visit other volunteers, or Peace Corps conferences. The big camping backpack is also useful for trips into the city to stock up on food and other items you can't find in your town. 

So, that was just me rambling about all the things for a solid two pages. As much as I would like to say "don't worry about packing" I know that everyone that's about to start this journey is indeed worrying about packing. I hope that my insight helps guide your packing decisions.

But truly, as long as you bring an open-mind, limitless flexibility and patience, everything else is bonus. Cheers!