packing list

I saw on a fellow PCVs blog that she wrote down the stuff she wants to pack and what she already has.  I figured I should do that at some point too.  Just so I don't forget anything, and also so I don't wait until the last minute to get things.  And as it turns out, there is a LOT more I need than what I thought. I have underlined the things I already have. And I have crossed out things that either don't need to be packed or that will be provided for me.  So here is the list:

Clothing

• lightweight waterproof jacket
• sweater, sweatshirt, fleece
• conservative swimwear
• 1 pair of tennis shoes
• 3 pairs of sandals
• 1-2 pairs of dress shoes/sandals
• 2 lightweight pants
• 3-5 skirts
• 5 blouses
• 2 dresses
• 3-5 tank tops
• athletic shorts
• 2 pairs of cotton pants
• 5 tshirts
• 5 cotton bras
• 40-50 pairs of cotton underwear
• 5 bandannas 

Bathroom

• 1-2 towels
• 1-2 wash cloths
• toothpaste
• toothbrush
• shampoo 
• conditioner
• body wash/bar of soap
• body lotion
• face lotion
• facewash/pads
• nail clippers
• OB tampons
• hair brush
• Q-tips
• razor
• razor blades
• shaving cream
• 3-5 deodorant
• loofa
• chapstick
• ibuprofen
• allergy medicine
• kleenex
• eye drops
• first aid kit
• hand sanitizer

Bedroom

• 1 set double sized sheets
• 1 set pillow cases
• 1 pillow
• alarm clock (wind-up/battery)

Entertainment/Electronics

• deck of cards
• other card games
• eReader
• mp3 player
• external hard drive
• laptop
• laptop bag
• digital camera
• camera case
• world travel adapter
• 2 flash drives
• unlocked USB modem

Personal

• photo album
• small items to give as gifts
• journals

Miscellaneous

• 24 ziploc baggies
• 1-2 water bottles
• 1 pair of scissors
• glue
• swiss army knife 
• handiwipes
• umbrella
• traveler's backpack
• rechargeable batteries
• battery charger
• 3 rolls of duct tape
• prescription drugs (3 month supply)
• 2 pairs of glasses
• prescription sunglasses
• eyeglass repair kit
• sunscreen
• bug spray
• ear plugs
• head lamp
• flashlight
• voter registration card
• forwarded absentee ballot

from computers to calculators

Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote!  Here is what has happened since then.  I got a phone call a while ago saying that the Computer Science program in Ghana had been cancelled.  I froze.  What does that mean?!  Am I no longer going to Ghana?  Do I have to wait even longer?  The guy on the phone said he would transfer me to my placement officer and she would talk to me about my options.  He transfers me, and she doesn't answer.  Of course.  I had to leave for work shortly after that phone call, so I was worried I would miss my POs call.  I left her a message, then decided to send her an email.  I told her I had to go to work, didn't have access to my phone, but did have access to my email.  I told her to email me with any details she could spare and that I was more than anxious to hear from her.  Here is part of her response:

the good news is that we have an alternative assignment for you in the same Ghana training class that departs on June 4, 2012

I didn't care what the rest of the email said, I was just ecstatic I was still going to Ghana!  And even more ecstatic that it was the same time frame!  Then I read this:

Attached I am sending you the Volunteer Assignment Description for the Ghana Mathematics Teaching program

YES YES YES YES YES!!!!  I more than LOVE math!  Of course I would happily accept this new assignment!  So what turned out to scare the absolute crap out of me, turned out to be something amazing!  I am so passionate about math, so the fact that I will now be teaching it excites me so much!  I just hope I will be able to get my students just as excited :-)