Packing list for Ukraine
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===For Men === | ===For Men === | ||
| - | * Slacks | + | * Professional-looking Slacks (Dark-Colored, Wrinkle-Free recommended) - In most cases, khakis with a blazer and tie are acceptable in schools and universities. Note, however, that khaki pants are a rarity and will certainly distinguish a Volunteer from his colleagues as most Ukrainian men prefer to wear dark-colored trousers. Community Development Volunteers should have at least one suit. |
* Shirts for professional wear | * Shirts for professional wear | ||
| - | * | + | * Blazer |
| - | * Ties | + | * Sweaters - For layering, Ukrainian men commonly wear sweaters and often the same one in the same week. Sweaters are available here, but are mostly acrylic or a blend. |
| + | * Ties - not many | ||
| + | * Quality underwear | ||
| + | |||
| + | Not Recommended/Things That Will Make You Stick Out | ||
| + | * Baggy pants - men here wear things a little more fitted | ||
| + | * Big, bright-colored coats (Columbia, Helly Hansen, North Face or similar) - most men here wear short, dark-colored or black jackets or coats | ||
| + | * Jeans worn with big sneakers and white socks | ||
===For Women === | ===For Women === | ||
Revision as of 15:25, 4 February 2011
| Packing List for Ukraine | ||
 | These lists has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Ukraine based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that experience is individual. There is no perfect list! |  See also: For information see Welcomebooks |
See also an alternative packing list
This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Ukraine and is based on their 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 obviously cannot bring everything we mention, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in Ukraine.
Luggage should be tough and flexible, like duffel bags and backpacks without external frames. When choosing luggage, remember that you will be hauling it in and out of buses and trains and often lugging it around on foot (there are no porters!).
Contents |
General Clothing
Bring comfortable, professional-looking clothes that are appropriate for many occasions and can be layered according to the weather. (Note: you are expected to dress professionally during training.) Because you may be wearing the same clothes for two years, quality is more important than quantity. It is culturally acceptable in Ukraine to have a small wardrobe, so do not overpack. In addition, clothes should be wrinkle-free (polyester-cotton blends are recommended), easy to clean, and dark colored (you are likely to be washing your clothes by hand and cleaning whites is a chore!). It is possible to buy clothes in Ukraine, but selection and sizes are limited in the smaller towns. The price of clothing is also expensive relative to your living allowance. There are second-hand stores in Ukraine that get clothes mostly from the UK.
- Mid-weight coat for spring and fall and possibly a light jacket
- Full-length, winter coat or parka with lining (it is possible to buy a good, winter coat in country; outdoorsy, 'tech' coats like Columbia, North Face, etc. will stand out)
- Lightweight and heavyweight sweaters
- Gloves or mittens, preferably wool; glove liners are nice, too (and available locally)
- Hats (even if your head isn’t cold, the babushkas will make you wear a hat)
- Long, thermal underwear (silk or some brand like Smartwool or Patagonia recommended, cotton not recommended)
- Good quality socks (brands like Bridgedale, Smartwool, and Teko are recommended; white cotton socks not recommended)
- Casual clothes: jeans (1 pair), walking shorts, T-shirts, workout clothes (running)
- Lounge wear: Sweats, fleece, yoga pants
- Swimsuit (in Ukraine, women of all ages, shapes, and sizes wear bikinis. It is the norm for men to wear Speedos)
For Men
- Professional-looking Slacks (Dark-Colored, Wrinkle-Free recommended) - In most cases, khakis with a blazer and tie are acceptable in schools and universities. Note, however, that khaki pants are a rarity and will certainly distinguish a Volunteer from his colleagues as most Ukrainian men prefer to wear dark-colored trousers. Community Development Volunteers should have at least one suit.
- Shirts for professional wear
- Blazer
- Sweaters - For layering, Ukrainian men commonly wear sweaters and often the same one in the same week. Sweaters are available here, but are mostly acrylic or a blend.
- Ties - not many
- Quality underwear
Not Recommended/Things That Will Make You Stick Out
- Baggy pants - men here wear things a little more fitted
- Big, bright-colored coats (Columbia, Helly Hansen, North Face or similar) - most men here wear short, dark-colored or black jackets or coats
- Jeans worn with big sneakers and white socks
For Women
- Professional Attire: separates that can be mixed and matched are better than a suit
- Variety of slacks for different seasons, preferably in dark colors, with belt loops and pockets
- Blouses and tops that can be layered with long underwear and sweaters (with a bit of stretch, will hold up better in the wash)
- Durable stockings (available in Ukraine, though not in all sizes)
- Good quality bras and underwear (the selection and fabric available here may not be what you're used to)
Shoes
- Comfortable, durable shoes for work (you will be doing a lot of walking), which are not easy to find in Ukraine (quality shoes are very expensive and the rest of the selection is low quality and expensive for what you are getting)
- Warm, waterproof boots that are dressy enough to wear with work clothes and large enough to wear with a pair of warm socks. Although boots are widely available in Ukraine, large sizes may be hard to find. Also, professional boots for women typically have a high heel. It is better to start with a high-quality pair ahead of time than to have to invest in possibly multiple pairs after arrival. Shoe and boot repair shops are ubiquitous.
- Heavy-duty sandals - sandals are common in the summer (brands like Teva, Chaco, and Keen are recommended)
- Athletic shoes - high quality athletic shoes are expensive in Ukraine (if you are a runner or anticipate playing sports bring a nice pair of sneakers)
- Slippers - you will wear these a lot, as Ukrainians remove their shoes as soon as they walk in the door, but they are readily available in Ukraine
- Traction aids (e.g., Yaktrax): Walking on slippery roads in winter might be challenging as it increases risk of falls and traumatic injuries; traction aids will help you feel confident and safe when walking on ice.
Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items
Unless you have to have specific brands, you can get almost everything you need—e.g., shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shaving cream, toothpaste, antiperspirant, hairspray, coloring products, razors—in Ukraine. Things to consider bringing:
- Two pairs of eyeglasses, if you wear them; also consider bringing a repair kit
- Two-year supply of contacts lens solutions (the Peace Corps does not provide supplies for contacts)
- Three-month supply of any prescription medication you take
- Makeup (also available in Ukraine if you are not particular about brand)
- Start-up supply of feminine hygiene products (widely available in stores, bazaars, and kiosks, but it may take some time to determine where to get what you want)
- Moisturizing hand cream
- Hand sanitizer that does not require water
- Foot aids such as pads for corns, if you have tender feet
- Tweezers
- Nail clipper or emery boards (although they can be found in Ukraine as well)
- Dental floss (which can also be found in bigger towns and cities, but rarely in small towns and villages)
- Special vitamins or supplements (the Peace Corps provides multivitamins) Kitchen
You can easily buy most kitchen supplies in Ukraine. There are a few items, however, you might consider bringing:
- Basic cookbook (bring a vegetarian cookbook if you prefer vegetarian dishes); a cookbook of dishes that can be prepared from locally available products will be provided to you
- Favorite recipes
- Measuring cups and spoons with both metric and nonmetric markings
- Oven thermometer
- Good vegetable peeler (virtually non-existent in Ukraine; the locals use a knife)
- Artificial sweetener (sugar and honey are available)
- Brown sugar (Even better, bring molasses to make brown sugar. Easier to transport.)
- Durable garbage bags (in Ukraine, they tend to be flimsy and small)
- Twist ties
- Plastic storage bags (one-quart and one-gallon freezer bags are best)
- Favorite seasonings, such as Tabasco sauce, vanilla, Old Bay seasoning, cloves, taco spices, cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, soy sauce, and basil (although many spices are available locally at a fraction of the price)
- Favorite foods such as chocolate chips, peanut butter, maple syrup, popcorn, and gravy and salad dressing mixes
Miscellaneous
- Exercise Equipment - yoga mat, resistance bands, free weights, etc. if you want to be able to exercise at home, although these are available in Ukraine
- Sport Equipment - consider bringing an American football, a Frisbee, a kickball, which are hard/impossible to find here
- Laptop computer - most volunteers have a personal computer, useful for work and entertainment
- mp3 player - for listening to music while traveling/exercising
- Digital camera - self-explanatory (photo printing/services are widely available in Ukraine)
- Flash drive - useful for taking documents to be printed or saving emails at an internet club
- Medium-sized daypack for weekend travel (although most locals travel with duffle bags or plastic bags)
- Umbrella (available in Ukraine)
- Durable, water-resistant, and inexpensive watch, with an alarm if possible
- Reliable alarm clock that runs without electricity
- Flashlight or Headlamp - for reading on trains, walking home in the dark, or during power outages
- Neck safe or money belt
- Water bottle (Nalgene or similar) - Ukrainians, as a rule, drink a lot less water than Americans
- Sewing kit (with safety pins)
- Swiss Army knife with corkscrew or Leatherman tool (very useful)
- Duct tape (can be used for all sorts of things)
- Pictures of home to show your host family, students, friends, and colleagues
- Games such as Scrabble, cards (decks of cards here have 36 cards, 6 and up), Uno
- Quick-drying travel towel (available at www.rei.com) and washcloths
- Travel books and other books to read - there is a Peace Corps library but selection is limited; the Bradt guide to Ukraine is better than the Lonely Planet
- Day planner
- Maps
- School supplies - pens and markers here don't last very long; index cards, post-its may be useful
- Compact sleeping bag - very useful for traveling, visiting other volunteers, or for keeping warm in a cold apartment
- Dictionary - you will receive a Russian or Ukrainian dictionary
- Suntan lotion - widely available in Ukraine but a little expensive
- Notecards and greeting cards - available in Ukraine