Packing Precision

Welcome to the final countdown. After talking about this for what feels like years, it's suddenly time to go. And I don't know how I feel about it. My emotions vacillate wildly from one extreme to another. Whether I'm crying at a bar (or wedding), sitting alone in my room crippled by anxiety while staring blankly at a mound of clothes and two empty bags, or dancing wildly around the room in sheer excitement...it's safe to say that I'm in a glass cage of emotion. I'm Ron Burgondy?

So in lieu of waxing philosophical, I've decided to dedicate this post to something hopefully more useful to future PC volunteers or anyone else interested in what goes into packing for two years.

Image one: the things I think I want to take to Peru.











Image two: the empty bags I'm taking to Peru.









The challenge: get everything from image 1 into image 2 (plus a few odds and ends not pictured). Further complicating the matter is the fact that I have no idea where in the country I will actually be living. Peru's climate varies widely from region to region -- the Andean highlands are quite cold and wet while the coastal desert is well, dry and hot. I'm hoping for a coastal placement, but there are no guarantees so I need to be prepared for two distinct climates. I've opted for the basics, tank tops, t-shirts, lightweight sweaters, that I can layer depending on temperature. But you'll notice from the first picture that I've also opted to forgo color for the next two years. I guess I'm going for the mix 'n match fashion statement. Also add to the mix all the toiletries, shoes, books, electronics I want to take with me, and well, you can see my predicament. Lots of stuff, limited space.

But as I've gone through my stuff and eliminated the excess and condensed it all to the smallest possible surface area (ziploc bags are a lifesaver!), I've actually started to enjoy it. There's something to be said for living off only what you need and/or can carry. Oddly enough in all my preparation and thinking about Peace Corps, the idea of living a simpler life never really came to mind. Sure I've been thinking about living a different kind of life, exploring a new culture and language, seeing things from a new perspective, but I hadn't focused on the beauty of letting go of material possessions. At the end of the day, my experience is not going to be defined by whether I bring two pairs of jeans or three. The things I'm bringing are just that, things. What matters more is the attitude I carry with me -- an open mind, a sense of humor and lots of patience (well, I'm working on that last one).

So without further adieu, I present to you the final product. I did it! So that's that, now all that's left is getting there. See you on the flip side!