shopping and packing for two years in Africa

July 22, 2010 by Jeff.

I leave for Africa in a couple weeks and I find myself shopping to assuage the general apprehension of moving to a completely foreign place to work at an assignment that is still in flux. Two new pairs of shoes so far. I’d fill up my entire duffel with shoes if I could but I guess I need room for all this stuff:

• 3 pairs Banana Republic chinos
• 1 pair Hurley jeans
• 3 H&M short sleeve button-downs
• 3-4 favorite button-downs or polos
• brown belt  
• 1-3 neck ties
• lounge pants
• board shorts
• 3-4 cotton Ts
• 7 pairs of PACT trunks, 6 pairs H&M briefs, 7 pairs CK low-rise trunks
• 7-10 casual and sport socks
• bike rain suit
• JA navy blazer
• CK suit
• wind breaker ???
• american apparel sweatshirt
• long sleeve (lounge) shirt
• cap
• extra pair of eyeglasses
• sunglasses
• LED headlamp + batteries
• toiletries for a month
• Jansport book bag
• power adapter
• towel
• bible, 2 novels, 2 biz/economics texts, Uganda guide book
• GSI Outdoors Personal Java Press + Java Grinder
• 2 27 oz Kleen Kanteen water bottles
• still and video cameras w/ extra batteries and chargers
• duct tape
• alarm clock
• playing cards
• birch bark bed sheets and pillow case
• plastic mattress cover
• Pearce wool blanket
• Leatherman
• 13” Macbook Pro
• iPod w/ Sennheiser HD 497
• external hard drive
• Visa/AmEx cards for emergency
• [Pampered?] chef knife
• vegetable peeler
• feather pillow
• U.S. stamps
• food storage containers
• Tenergy USB-5000 Hybrid Solar Charger

and the shoes (so far):

• Rockport oxfords
• Kenneth Cole oxfords
• Columbia sport sandals
• Merrell hiking boots

The next step is hauling a closet full of clothing to the Goodwill.

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