Packing list for Cape Verde

From Peace Corps Wiki

Revision as of 16:40, 4 September 2008

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Cape Verde and is based on their collective experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You can always have things sent to you later. You obviously cannot bring everything we mention, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have an 80pound weight restriction on baggage. And remember, although it may be more expensive than back home, you can find and buy almost anything you need in Cape Verde!

General Clothing

Women

• Dresses: light casual and a a couple of nice ones for special occasions.
• Skirts: wash and wear
• Blouses: casual blouses for work, any style. Preferably light colors.
• Pants: casual slacks and jeans both come in handy and are acceptable for work.
• Shorts: are acceptable for casual wear, but not for work.
• T-shirts
• Shoes: sneakers, comfortable and durable sandals/shoes (cobblestones, dirt, and rocky roads are tough on shoes), shoes for dressing-up, hiking boots (if you are so inclined) and sturdy flip-flops.

Men

• Pants: light cotton pants, khakis, or jeans for outdoor work, teaching, and evenings. A couple of nice pairs of slacks for dressier occasions. In Cape Verde, nice blue jeans are considered appropriate for work.
• Shirts: inexepensive short-sleeve cotton dress shirts for classroom and office. Short-sleeved, lightweight work shirts for outside labor. A good supply of T-shirts is crucial. A dress shirt is needed for official occasions. A few long-sleeved shirts for cooler weather.
• Shorts: acceptable and practical for men as casual wear, but not for work.
• Ties: you will need one for weddings, New Year’s, swearing in, etc. A blazer would be good for occasions such as these as well.
• Shoes: depending on your preference for footwear, you may want one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of work shoes. Sturdy rubber soles are best. The climate and terrain here (and the cobblestones) will wear shoes down rapidly, and Volunteers tend to do a lot of walking. An inexpensive, yet sturdy pair of casual loafers may be your best bet for dress wear. A pair of sandals for around the house and casual wear will be useful, as well as a pair of sturdy flip-flops.

Men and Women

• A sweatshirt or sweater for cool evenings
• A bathing suit or two
• Bandannas or handkerchiefs. Indispensable for dusty road trips.
• Athletic shorts, for sports or at home only
• Hats/caps
• Socks and underwear: a two-year supply (bring extra as traditional washing techniques tend to wear out clothing at a fast rate). Cotton underwear is preferable and difficult to obtain in-country.
• Umbrella or rainwear

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

Most of the items listed below can be found in Cape Verde, however they are more expensive and of lesser quality, so they may not be up to your standards.

• Razors and shaving cream
• Contact lens solutions
• Makeup
• Scissors or other hair cutting device
• Lotions
• Chapstick: though this comes in your medical kit, you might want to bring your favorite brand or flavor
• Favorite personal hygiene items: you can get shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and brush, deodorant, and lotion, but you may not find your favorite brands, and the prices are high
• Tampons
• Prescription drugs: a three-month supply until the Peace Corps in Praia can order refills
• Electronic gadgets with batteries (some of you may not have regular electricity)
• Laptop computer: probably usable, but bring at your own risk. Power surges are common, so bring a good surge protector. Be sure to purchase insurance coverage; the Peace Corps does not provide insurance for personal items
• Computer software: a lot of places have computers with corrupted files, so you will need the backup disks (not CDs) to fix the problems. Since most computers now have USB ports, bringing a jump-drive is ideal for transferring files.
• 220 electricity converter and adaptor plugs (to use for 110-volt electronics you bring from the U.S.)
• Camera and replacement batteries: film can be bought and developed here, but can be expensive. Camera batteries can be purchased here, but they are expensive and may not meet the specific requirements for your camera.
• Shortwave radio: good for news; most Volunteers can tune into the BBC or the VOA quite easily
• Discman with speakers: difficult to find; when you do, they are of low quality and expensive
• Flashlight: an essential item

Kitchen

You can easily buy most kitchen supplies (e.g., dishes, pots, glasses, and utensils) here. There are, however, a few items we highly recommend bringing:

• A good Teflon frying pan
• Zip-lock baggies. Freezer bags are best.
• Good can opener
• Favorite spices
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Rubber spatula
• A basic cookbook (see list of foods available in country)

Miscellaneous Items

• Good-quality towels
• Anti-bacterial, no-rinse soap
• Handiwipes
• Extra batteries
• One or two sets of double-sized bed sheets, mattress cover, and pillow cases, preferably not white
• A compact umbrella
• Backpack for day trips
• A Swiss Army knife, or the equivalent
• Alarm clock
• Duct tape
• Pocket-size dictionary and thesaurus
• Pictures of home, family, friends
• Money belt or other means of concealing your passport and valuables when traveling
• Your favorite music CDs or tapes
• Your favorite games (travel-size)
• Good hairbrushes
• Small sewing kit
• Musical instrument (bring extra strings, reeds, etc.)
• Mattress cover
• Compact sleeping bag
• Leash, collar, and other pet necessities (if you are planning on getting a pet)
• Hair dryer
• Roach motels
• Travel iron
• Snorkeling gear (if that is your thing)
• U.S. postage stamps (many people come and go to the United States and can send letters via the U.S. mail system)
• Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene)
• Sports bras
• Tea (if you have preferences)
• High fluoride (prespcription) toothpaste