What does one take to Fiji for a two-year stint?

With only 4 days left in Sandy OR, the time to start packing has arrived. After a few requests, we are including a photo of what we’re taking in our 160 pounds (80 lbs each). We, by no means, claim to know what would be best to bring. This is only what we are bringing. We used input from the Peace Corps official packing list, the revised list from PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers) already in Fiji and input from PCVs and RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) via our Facebook group, "Peace Corps Fiji". Note: we are, of course, not taking the bed, the bedding, the art on the walls, the bedside tables, or the lamps.


This is a list of the items in the picture. It roughly goes from left to right and top to bottom. I stress roughly!

• Snorkeling gear sets (2)
• Camping pillows (2)
• Bag/purse (made by Mom and Karen from the scraps of my homemade, ankle-length skirts)
• Inflatable globe (to show people where we’re from or give as a gift)
• Stuffed animal monkey to keep us company
  
• Power adapter
• Sunglasses and cases
• Asis Eee PC Laptop computer
• Non-stick pots and pans
• A really good can opener
• Silicone spatula
• Camping bowls and cups
• Light My Fire all purpose utensils (It's a knife, fork, and spoon all in one!)
• Cheese powder from Kraft Mac and Cheese (for a homesick day when we just want some junk food from the USA)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mini globe ball
• iPods
• Alarm clocks
• Bag of batteries (AA and AAA)
• Digital camera
• Small cord (for clothes lines and other times that we’re sure we’ll be glad to have it)
• Carabineers
• Really good scissors
• Shortwave radio (Primarily in case of emergency, but also in case we don’t have electricity in whatever type of home we have. We have to have music!)
• Headlamps
• Pocket knives (assorted; Jonathan and Megan, we like yours the best!)
• Duct tape
• Books: Journal from Josh and Meg, sketchbook, Lonely Planet‘s South Pacific and Micronesia, God: A Brief History, Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, Obama’s The Audacity of Hope, Lonely Planet‘s Fiji, Map of the South Pacific Islands, Wellspring journal, "The Calorie King", Fijian Phrasebook, Webster’s Pocket Dictionary, The ADA Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, How to Cook Everything cookbook, two small photo albums of winter scenes and most of the people we love
• Fancier digital camera
• Headphones
• Gameboy
• Hair clippers (I’ve learned to cut Chris’s hair for him, but I think I’ll just let mine grow)
• Electric shaver
• iHome speakers (in little black bag)
• Games: Uno, 2 decks of playing cards, Dominoes, Quiddler (Tim and Debbie, we love this game! Thanks!), Zigity, set of dice, SkipBo, Phase 10, and Bananagrams
• Screwdriver
• Pliers
• MSR micro fiber towels (4)
• Ziploc bags (200; assorted sizes)
• Beaded bracelets that change color in the sun and Obama buttons (gifts)
• Tent
• Kitchen knives and knife sharpener
• Stationary
• Calculator
• Water bottles (a few of which are not PBA free, but we‘re hoping the BPA scares away the worms!)
• D-link portable wireless router (for use when we have Internet access, however often that may be)
  
• ShedRain umbrellas (2)
• More calculators (gifts)
• Bag of pens, pencils, and Sharpies
• Frisbee
• Raincoats
• Nan’s clothing
• Cubs hat
• Beanie for cold nights
• Nan’s shoes: Chaco sandals (2), flip-flops, trail runners
• Chris’s shoes: flip-flops, chaco sandals, trail Runners
• Chris’s clothing
• Cardinals hat

Not pictured: toiletries, inflatable sleeping pads, the few items of clothing that we are presently wearing or are in the wash, and our silk sleep sack. We opted to leave the 20 degree down sleeping bags in the states, and instead will use a thin silk sack for camping and overnights at any questionable hostels.

Now if we can just get all of this stuff into our four bags and distribute the weight evenly enough so that no bag weighs more than 50 lbs. Oh, and we'll also need to pack the bags so that 2 of them have everything we'll need for our first 10 weeks in country. We'll have access to the other two once training concludes. This may take some serious strategizing!

Nan (and Chris)