Dee Warren's advice on what to pack to bring to Uzbekistan



Dee Warren's advice on what to pack to bring to Uzbekistan

Peace Corps Packing…

This post is for those who are coming with UZ19 in January (or are you guys UZ18 since we skipped August installation?)…

OK. Everybody knows I did not pack lightly when I came to Uzbekistan almost one year ago. I pushed the airline limits over the top, and by luck only, did not have to pay for any overage. Despite cutting all the labels off my clothes ; ), I had weight…and mass. I’m writing this now to calm your nerves from all the horror stories you’ve been reading about having to pack everything onto a crowded marashuka, sitting on one bag while hugging another on a six hour ride to Qarshi. I can tell you that if I made it with all my stuff – to Tashkent, to training site, to my host-family, then to my second host-family, and finally out to Andijon – then you will, too. People will help you, from your arrival by Peace Corps staff (Peace Corps even had designated luggage trucks available whenever we had to mobilize en mass), and by the kind locals when you’re trying to stuff the biggest suitcase ever into a tiny Tico trunk. If its definitely not feasible, worse case scenario is you’ll have to give away the twenty pairs of socks your mom packed, or maybe the clothes steamer your least favorite Aunt bought for you at the airport. Also, you will get two trips to lug all your stuff out to site – once during your site visit and again after swearing in…so don’t worry.

Having said that, there are definitely things I wish I hadn’t brought…six months supply of vitamins (medical will give you plenty), the Jenga set gift to my host-family (they were not impressed, and it was a freaken heavy block of wood), extra toiletries (there is plenty here and readily available), two thick towels (they’re an animal to hand wash, and mold as they’re drying), 20XPF film shield and film (its heavy, unnecessary, and I haven’t taken many pictures with my attention hog of a SLR camera anyway), Pac-Safe system (haven’t felt a need for so much security), stationary and envelops (I mostly email and there’s plenty of paper here you can recycle; plus, you have to use Uzbek postal envelops to mail letters anyway, even postcards!), thick thermals (light-weight and thin silk ones work best and travel easier), and Scrabble (no takers).

I don’t regret…all the shoes, sleeping bag, two Nalgenes (already lost one), laptop, digital camera, jump drive, and nice clothes.

I wish I had brought…a good pillow, more DVD’s, more music, more books (via M-bag), two jump drives, and a digital short-wave radio.

Good Luck!!!

When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

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December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories Dodd says Rumsfeld's answer was unacceptable 9 Dec RPCV Blake Willeford runs classic movie theatre 9 Dec RPCV says education is key to curbing AIDS 9 Dec RPCV Dannielle Tegeder opens exhibition 9 Dec Shalala 1st Woman In Touchdown Club 9 Dec "Today we have a new country" says Toledo 9 Dec DDN wins Investigative Reporting Award 8 Dec Celeste on Panel to study Colorado finances 8 Dec RPCV leads Rotary Club medical team to Togo 6 Dec Vasquez to speak at Hawaii, Wisconsin commencements 6 Dec Tom Murphy warns Pittsburgh on budget abyss 2 Dec Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan runs Pachamama imports 30 Nov more top stories...

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Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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