First revision

So for all you doubters out there, may you feel vindicated. For the first revision to my packing list I'm going to actually need two duffles for all of my stuff...sadness. Granted I'll be bringing a daypack also (which fits into the second bag, FYI), but I guess there is a reason the PC recommends two bags. Now for me, two bags seems like a lot, but I went through it meticulously and have determined that since I'll be actually living in Peru and not just surviving I might as well bring a few extra items. So the first bag is completely full, packed as follows; shoes on the bottom, then pants, then shirts, then undergarments, cold weather gear, towels, and rain gear. The second bag has my supplies, like toiletries, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, first aid kit, etc. And just to spite the doubters, the second bag is only 2/3 full, ha!
I trimmed a lot of weight by taking things out of their packages and putting the like items in zip-lock bags, as well as taking only enough pens, pencils, envelopes, toiletries, etc., for a month or so. And a packing tip for the sleeping bag is make sure you buy a good strap-tightening stuff sack.
I read a blog awhile back about a PCV stationed in Nepal (when PC was still active there) who brought too much stuff his first assignment, and only brought a daypack and guitar for his second assignment. Now, as romantic as this sounds-a traveling nomad helping the world with only a backpack on his back-I don't think the PC is like what it used to be then. The PC office already has directly recommended dress clothes, a laptop, and a sleeping bag; that's almost one daypack already! So I still stand next to my statement of packing like a minimalist or a Spartan, but one that lives in a modern world preparing to serve and represent-respectfully-a governmental organization for two years. So pack with a Spartan mindset, but just substitute your big ole' bronze shield, helmet, and spear for two bags of necessary living material and you should come out about even. Good-luck!


...As a small addition to this post, I just talked to my RPCV buddy, Kevin, who assuaged my fears of overpacking when he told me that 2 bags is neccessary. He confirmed my thinking in bringing only a few essential toiletries, and stressed the importance of a camera and a headlamp. I hope this helps.

Spanish Classes

So I'm not sure if this happens to many Peace Corps volunteers, but I was nominated to Peru with only having beginning Spanish from college, and a month later they said I couldn't go without a higher level of Spanish!? I was none the less confused about why I would be cleared to serve in a country, then flagged to go to that country because I wasn't cleared to serve there in the first place. I can only imagine I just slipped over the red tape somewhere, but it eventually caught up to me. Besides the popularity of the assignment, I began to wonder why South American PC nominations needed higher language requirements? Why did I meet a retired couple at a Returned PCV picnic that went to Mongolia with no language background, and were tossed into the "complete immersion" test class? Where are there no requirements for the Armenian, Thai, and Togo assignments which simply give you the 3 months at Pre-Service Training (PST) to become a proficient speaker? To me these languages, which many of us have had no encounter with, seem much more deserving of qualified speakers prior to departure...But no matter, it proved to be providential, it forced me out of my comfort zone and into another college level Spanish class- intermediate in fact. I signed up to a correspondence course from the University of Tennessee simply because it was the cheapest, and not because their mascot is the Volunteer. U of T mailed me my courses and syllabus and I purchased the exorbitantly priced book that's no thicker than my thumb- making me wonder if the pages were lined with diamond dust! It took me about 3 months with one vacation to Florida in between, and I got a solid B! On top of that I can now honestly say what millions of people that have learned a language to an intermediate level can say, "I can read it, but speaking it is another story." I actually finished two books in Spanish, El Color de Mis Palabras and El Capiton Calzoncillos; obviously not Neruda, but its a start.



After the Spanish Class the PC also recommended to me, like they now do to all volunteers before departure, to complete at least 40 hours on the complimentary Rosetta Stone program. It was a great way to solidify what I learned in the Spanish class, and even learn quite a bit more vocabulary. And if anyone has had the opportunity to be serenaded by the lovely "you are correct" chime Rosetta Stone incessantly bings at you, you'll know what a great program it is...And for the record my favorite sentence to date has been, "El gato esta debajo de carro!"

Staying fit in Peru

I plan on exercising and staying fit while in Peru. The speech the British POW's gave to Billy Pilgrim and the other American POW's about staying fit in Vonnegut's Slaughter House Five is quite applicable. No need to read it, I'll sum it up; stay clean, exercise, and stay active. 30 minutes, at least, on most days...Of course like most of my advice on this blog its all trial and error, so i'll keep you posted if I can maintain or not...I follow Crossfit at home, but I don't think I can keep that up in Peru, unless of course my community has some bumper plates and kettlebells. What I do plan on doing is a functional fitness routine based around what I can bring; my portable Rouge Fitness pullup rings, a jump rope, and my body. Squats, pushups, pullups, dips, and situps will probably make up most of my routine. I think the air-squats will definitely get the most laughs from my community. I would love to add running to the list, but i'm not sure how that will go over, I guess it really depends on where i'm at. Heck, maybe i'll start a little gym for my community! I can have a bunch of little Rocky's and Rockitas running around, talking about protein and lactic acid and the killer burn in their glutes!

Reading Lists and dress clothes

Do I plan on taking dress clothes? Yup. To my dismay of course. Not because I don't like puttin' on the ritz, but because its more stuff to pack and something you have to worry about what you pack around it. So I plan on bringing two polo's, two long sleeve button up's, one actual dress pant and use some khaki cargos for another pair, nice socks, and nice shoes, two ties. Oddly enough, the more I learned about the PC, the more I realized this wasn't the hippies retreat everyone seems to have the connotation of. In fact, many places I read that the PC needs hair and beards to be neatly trimmed and clothing should be respectable in order to remain presentable in the community. Most of the communities we'll be living in take great pride in their appearances. They would scoff at the "devil may care" look many college students take when they go out in public, and ironically the worst dressed of those college kids are usually the types that are the ones attracted to the PC, myself included.



As for the reading lists, since I'll be an Agroforester/Enviro ED, I started compiling online articles and journals months before and saved them to my harddrive. I recommend the Overstory Agroforestry website, http://www.agroforestry.net/overstory/index.html for its periodicals, and its recommended reading lists http://www.agroforestry.net/aflibr.html. I also went to the USDA National Agroforestry Research Center website and requested some free material http://www.unl.edu/nac/order.htm. The History and Conquest of Peru was something I had always wanted to read and I definitly picked it up after I was assigned there. Ultimatley I enjoyed it, it does have a weighty portion AFTER the actual conquest, but if you stick with it you eventually discover where many of the modern cities get their names and even the ancient ones. You also learn how the fragile relationship between Peruvians and Europeans was created, and it sheds light on how their modern culture and religion is shadowed by events that happened in the 1500's!

Packing Lists

First issue, packing lists. As you may know, they recommend packing for every environ; from rainforest to desert, mountain to ocean, obviously a person really has to be prepared. But don't let the numerous situations scare you because no matter where you're at the same rules apply; layering, staying dry, protect your feet, staying healthy. I'll update this list as I actually test each piece of equipment in country. This list is a "must have" type, not including your own personal doo-dads you might need, like a lucky cap or favorite toe socks.

*All of this equipment shouldn't take up more than one large backpack or Army sized duffel bag. Remember not to pack everything you might use today, tomorrow, and possibly touched yesterday. Peru is a growing country who was hardly affected during this global recession, there are large cities and universities where you can get most anything you need. Based off my experience, you'll end up with more crap then you can carry back with you and will probably be selling your stuff to the next guy/girl coming in after you, (which means you'll be getting sold to as well.)

Primary Items:
A. Three pairs of foot wear--1. High quality, low fashion work boots. You'll want Vibram soles at the least, and ones that don't scream "I cost 150$!," good laces, and solid eyelets (preferably metal). To decrease the fashion you can skip on the Gore-tex, and just get some all leather one's with a small can of minkoil if waterproofing is a concern. 2. Trail Runners/ Rugged low tops. Once again go for low fashion high quality, neutral tones, good laces and eyelets, Vibram soles or equivalent. You'll want ones that are comfortable enough to run in, but also rugged enough for casual hiking and everyday use. 3. Sandals/Shower shoes. If you wear sandals, obviously I recommend Chaco or Teva. For those less inclined to reveal their phalanges and meta-tarsals, I still recommend a pair of flippy-floppies for the shower. Athletes foot or just foot fungus in general can easily be prevented with a half-inch of barrier between you and the wet floor. Final Note, never skimp on price or quality, your feet are your primary mode of transportation and always need to be protected. Footwear will be the starting point for many of your skeletal and muscular aches and pains, so get a solid pair that will last.

B. Clothing; its all about layers, its easier to take it off then put it on.-- Get smart with "ninja tights!" Light weight, long-john substitute, synthetic fiber tights and top for a base layer. Even in hotter climes they are practical to use for late nights and as P.J.'s. Socks and underwear are personal, so I will only recommend making sure you have a few pairs of long "wool-like" socks and also thin black socks for dressing up or blister prevention in hotter climes. Pants and shorts should have as many pockets as possible, as few snaps as possible (can't repair them easily), and rugged seems for durability! I'm biased to cargo and Carhart, blue jeans rip easily, stay wet longer and can't carry more then your keys, I won't be bringing a single pair. Shorts aren't usually worn outside the home in many other countries, its good to assume you'll be wearing pants most of the time in your community. Your shirts should have a higher portion of short sleeves to long sleeves, since you can substitute a long sleeve with a good fleece and you can typically use long sleeves more often since they are more of a shell then a primary base cover. Fleece and/or vests are an awesome way to stay comfy in all climes. A nice synthetic fiber fleece (or recycled synthetic from Patagonia) and/or a good quality, insulated vest with as many pockets as possible, are both great way to continue the layering process; you can be covered in mild climes or add insulation in colder climes. Coats shouldn't make you look like the kid brother in "The Christmas Story." If you've followed the layering process, your coat should only have these characteristics; Waterproof, windproof, tons of pockets, a hood, and no more then a 1/4'' to 1/2'' of insulation. Your coat should protect but not restrict, you're not going snowboarding, your going to work in a foreign country and need to move freely. Final Note, your clothes like your footwear should be high quality, low fashion. You'll possibly be hand washing which is hard on clothes, and you'll probably start wearing clothes for more days in a row then you are used to. Plan on taking less pairs of higher quality clothes to minimize packing weight, start thinking as a Spartan, as a minimalist, as a practical person that doesn't want to be a target. Remember you can air out clothes by hanging them up, and extending their wearge during the week.

C. Your packing bag;-- Its easy; high quality, low fashion, neutral colors and should have that worn-in look if possible. Increase main compartment room and decrease external pockets, the more stuff on the outside in small pockets means less stuff inside in the main pocket. Recommendations; Army duffle bags with your name spray painted on the side, and/or an Army ruck-sack for smaller items and day-trips. The brighter and fancier your backpack the brighter the target you wear on your back! You'll be lugging your bags across a foreign country, make sure you've actually worn it around a few times to make adjustments.

Secondary Items:
A. Hats, gloves, belts, extra shoe laces. Have a sunny hat and a cold hat, have work gloves and cold gloves, have a sturdy belt, and the extra shoe laces are a no-brainer.

B (a). A sleeping mat and wet weather gear. The sleeping mat shouldn't be bulky, it should only be about the size of a Nalgene bottle when rolled up. Your coat should already be waterproof, but its good to have a large poncho and extra tarp. These last two items can be used as a shelter and also a place to set stuff on you don't want to get dirty/wet/dusty.

B. (b). A Sleeping Bag. A nice sleeping bag, perferably rated to 30F should be adequate. Even if you don't go camping it can substitute the need for sheets and a comforter, and can come in handy if the bus doesn't make it to your community in one day.

C. A First Aid kit. Not a whimpy freeby the size of a piece of toast, but one that has a good case with compartments so you can take out the silly stuff ( i.e. itty bitty band aides, cotton balls, etc.) and put in the important stuff, (i.e. lots of medium to large dressings, rubber gloves, tweezers, tape, pain-reliever, anti-biotic/anti-fungal cream, and Pepto-Bismol.) Seriously, open your first aid kit and get to know where each thing is, not only because of emergencies but because you may not have a light to see it at night.

D. A multi-tool. Its just good to have, I recommend the Leatherman Wave. Even if you don't carry it, when dealing with a common sense, practical farmer, sometimes the first way to impress him or her is having the one tool everyone needed.

E. The laptop. Its definitely a debate I'm willing to have with anyone, but as authentic as you want your PC experience to be, wireless is everywhere man! Not to mention the PC is a governmental organization, which means lots of emails and lots of electronic regs and journals that might help you. Also you can create professional looking projects and documents, as well as save photos and videos. Keep the purchase on the low end without a lot of gadgets and whizzers. Most laptops should be replaced in two years anyway, so consider it your PC laptop. And remember to either remove the harddrive or back it up, not just because of crooks but also because sh*t happens and its usually harder to get the smell out when your away from home.

Tertiary Items, no explanation necessary:
Camera, Bug spray, multi-vitamins (i.e. GNC Megaman, or Centrum), safety pins, gallon sized or larger zip-lock bags, nail clipper set, some exercising/sport clothes, swim-suit, tweezers, anti-fungal/anti-biotic cream, hand sanitizer, foot powder, duct tape (seriously its been recommended by every RPCV I've met), military 550 cord or equivalent, journals and writing materials, external hardrive, travelers wallet or neck-purse, headlamp/flashlights, pad locks, portable mirror, and possibly a traveler's set of outlet adaptors...OH! and don't forget dress up clothes, bleck!...

I'll keep adding or deleting as I find out what is best suited for Peru. Please feel free to add comments about what I've recommend or forgotten.

A Practical Man's Guide to Peru

The "B.L.U.F." as defined by my old commader stands for Bottom Line, Up Front, pretty much getting to the freaking point! So here I am, at the freaking point. The reason I made this blog will not only serve for my family and friends to check up on me, but more importantly to serve as a guide for what I found lacking in the hundreds of other blogs I perused before hittin' Peru--practical information and actual advice for future volunteers. Of course i'll share about all five senses being bombarded upon first arriving in country, or even the struggles with the language and customs, but I want those who read this to know that i'll be taking a practical man's standpoint on the experiences I encounter and how best to prepare yourself for similar instances.

So let's get started; first we'll need some background. It will be 15 months from the time I started to apply for the Peace Corps (PC) to the time I step on the plane. I got out of the military in June 09' after 5 years. I was enlisted for two years and an officer for 3...long story short it paid for college. I was raised on a small acreage farm in Cheyenne, WY, and worked for the cities Parks and Recreation and as a landscaper before joing the military. And just to top it off I was a Boy Scout and Boy Scout First Aide Counselor, and also certified EMT. I leave for Peru on September 9th as an Agroforestry/Environmental Educator, and I couldn't be more excited to finally be on track for what I truely want to do in life.