What to Pack?

So I’ve been working on my packing list for Peru pretty much since I got the Welcome Book and I figured out where I’m going. I’ve always considered myself a light packer-- backpacking will make anyone a light packer—but fitting stuff for 2 years in 2 bags weighing less than 80lbs is an adventure to say the least. So for the benefit of my fellow stressing out PC people and the curious here’s what I’m bringing in my 2 bags:

· 2 pairs of jeans

· 2 pairs of carhartts

· 2 pair slacks

· 2 skirts

· 2 pair hiking shorts

· 2 pair hiking pants

· 2 pair soccer shorts (yeah you people didn’t think I’d actually leave without them did you?)

· 1 swimsuit

· Button-up blouses

· 1 dressy outfit

· Polos

· Cotton shirts

· NCSU Field Hockey and Lacrosse t-shirts (gotta represent my team!)

· Quick Dry shirts

· Tank tops

· Bras/Underwear

· Socks

· Long Underwear (2 tops, 1 bottom)

· Down jacket

· Down vest

· Rain Jacket and Rain Pants

· Fleece Jacket

· Hoodie

· Sweatpants

· Down Booties (yes the moon shoes are coming!)

· Beany

· Baseball Caps

· Belt

· Dressy shoes

· Chacos

· Hiking boots

· Rainbows

· Work Gloves

· Fleece gloves

· Buff/Bandanas

· Sunglasses

· Regular Glasses

· Bathroom Mess (The usual, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, razors, so on)

· Pack Towels

· Sleeping Bag

· Headlamp (times 2)

· Leatherman

· Laptop

· External Hard Drive

· Big Camera, Small Camera

· Watch

· Crazy Creek

· iPod

· Nalgene

· Duct Tape

· Ziplocks

· PEANUT BUTTER (Jiff of course)

· Carabiners

· ENO hammock

· Travel Pillow

· Dry Bag

· Flash drive

· Calculator

· Wallet (plus a fake one)

· Small Duffel for short trips

· Pictures from Home

· Map of NC

· Journal

· Sharpies (can’t go anywhere without them!)

I’m sure there are a few small things I’ve left off of it, but that’s the basic idea. I mocked packed a few days ago just to see how close to the weight limit I was—Lucky me, it all weighed in at 52lbs. So that leaves me 28lbs of wiggle room (which I’m sure will get filled with random stuff I think of the night before I leave).

Community Health Promoter

Hey everyone! So i have gotten some questions from people wondering exactly what I will be doing while in Peru and figured I'd share what my assignment packet said about my job details'

"Your specific responsibilities might include:
~Developing education and awareness campaigns with community partners to promote community health among residents.
~Training local health promoters and community leaders in nutrition, proper hygiene, and disease prevention.
~Teaching school children basic health, nutrition, and hygiene practices, such as the importance of hand-washing.
~Training mothers in the importance of a balanced diet, including higher levels of vitamin A, iron, iodine, and other micro-nutrients.
~Training mothers with infants to improve breastfeeding and weaning practices, so that children maintain more stable growth.
~Health community partners establish backyard and community gardens, and teaching them to prepare culturally acceptable foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
~Training community members how to construct and utilize latrines.
~Training community members how to construct and utilize improved cooking stoves, which produce far less smoke and utilize less wood.
~Helping local municipal government implement proper trash and waste disposal techniques.
~Training rural families in alternative income-generating activities (such as animal or handicraft production), so they can add new income to their households."

I will also have the opportunity to engage in secondary projects with my spare time such as coaching soccer, teaching math, or teaching English--pretty much anything that will help the community that I have some experience in.

I'm counting down to September and can't wait to return to Peru!!
Te amo,
-Jenny

Ire al Peru!

Yes, that's right! I finally get to go back to Peru!

Now to clear up a few things because I know a lot of you are very, very confused. I will no longer be going with the Peace Corps to Kiribati--rising fuel prices have crippled their only airline and forced them to cancel many of their flights. Therefore the Peace Corps decided to pull the program and relocate all of the volunteers to other programs around the world. I was sad at first, the idea of living on an island really was starting to grow on me, until...I found out there was a spot for me in Peru!

I will be joining the Community Health Promotion Program starting in September 2008. To say I was excited beyond words might be an understatement. Ever since the completion of my summer study abroad program in Peru back in 2006 I have been looking for a way to get back to the country I fell in love with. As fate would have it, the Peace Corps decided to grant my wish and send me back to help educate Peruanos on basic hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention.

For those of you who went to Peru with me last time, I still do not know where in Peru I will be located for my service (I wont find out until the end of my in-country training) so I will probably not run into Kay, Leo, Carlos, or Andress--but who knows, maybe they will come and visit me! Keep checking the blog to track what I'm up to and to keep in touch. Thanks for reading!