Suggested Packing List for Future Peace Corps Senegal Volunteers

So, I really wish I would have had a list of things to bring with me when I found out I was going to come to Senegal with Peace Corps.  Here is my list of things that I would have brought, or at least ideas, to get you started.  This list is mainly geared towards the female population and agriculture volunteers, but it can be useful for everyone. Here it is-

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Suggested Packing List (for Women)

T-shirts (think pocket T’s)

Tank tops (spaghetti straps, or shoulder covering tank tops) *see note below

Long sleeve shirts

Hoodie or Sweatshirt Jacket

Coat (think fleece or similar- it can get down to 40’s)

Shorts *see note below

Pants (jeans, sweatpants)

Skirts

Professional outfit (dress or nice pants and collared shirt)

Underwear (the more the better)

Bras

Swimming Suit

Leggings (you can’t show your knees here so these are used a lot by volunteers wearing shorter skirts, shorts, etc.) *see note below

Sleeping Bag (you can find these lightweight and compact- I would really recommend bringing one)

Flip flops/ Sandals

Tennis shoes

Hiking/work boots

Dressy shoes

Hat

Belt

DryWick Towel- bodysize or L (towels can be found here, but they take time to dry especially during rainy season)

Contact Solution- enough for 2 years

Toiletries- Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Razors are all expensive but available at “toubab” shops. Deodorant- is also hard to find and expensive.

Snacks

External Hard Drive-1 terabyte, bring it.

Computer- bring one and a good case because you will be traveling with it a lot. 

iPad, iPod, etc.

Nook/Kindles- lightweight and can hold loads of books in a compact space,batteries last a long time. 

Plug adapter and electricity converter- you can buy them in country if they break but I would encourage you to bring them so you have one upon arrival.
Memory sticks

Camera

Headlamp

Flashlight

Multi-tool- think Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife.  I use mine almost every day.

Water Bottle

Backpack

Makeup- you might actually want this at one point.

***Anything that will show your knees, is not appropriate outside of Dakar. Mid to upper shin is acceptable.  If you want to bring shorts or skirts that will show your knees be prepared to wear leggings beneath to cover yourself up. 

***During PST (Pre-Service Training) the training center will not want you to show your shoulders so t-shirts are good.

Things you will not need:

Mosquito net

Water purifier

Medicine- we are supplied with in our own Medical Kits and pharmacies are all over.

Fun things:

Games- cards, Bananagrams, etc.

Hammock

Cooking supplies

Tupperware

Pillow

Blanket

Earplugs or Noise Cancelling headphones

Yoga Mat

Exercise gear

Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils, stuff for the kids

Rechargeable batteries and charger

Bike supplies- you will be given a Trek bicycle that you will either depend on or never use subject to your site and its paved road situation.  It will have a messenger rack on the back. Peace Corps provides us with a bike pump, tools for repair, tire patches, helmet, oil, and water bottle.

Handkerchiefs

Drink Mix Packets, tea, coffee

Dried Fruit, nuts, granola bars

Break down of Daily Costs in PST

As a Peace Corps Trainee we have been given 14,000 Fcfa as our bi-weekly stipend for incidentals throughout training. With one week left, I thought I would break down the costs so one can understand basic daily costs here, and how they compare to American prices.

US $1.00= 450 Fcfa

1 orange: 250= $.55
1 kilo bananas (about 5 large): 600= $1.33
1 250g yogurt packet: 250= $.57
1 small cup yogurt with millet: 350= $.78
1 kilo tomatoes: 900= $2.00
1 grilled corn cob: 100= $.22
1 cucumber: 200= $.44
1 two liter water bottle: 500= $1.11
1 can coke/sprite: 300= $.66
1 bean/egg/mayonnaise sandwich: 400= $.88
1 cup café touba coffee (1 oz): 50= $.11
1 half loaf of bread (about a foot long): 100= $.22
1 liter of juice: 1,000= $2.22
1 egg: 100= $.22
1 medium bag of chips: 800= $1.78
1 chocolate bar (500 grams): 900= $2.00
1 chebu jen bowl (oily red rice with boiled veggies and flaky fish): 500-800= $1.11- $1.77
1 small pizza: 2,500= $5.55
1 small salad: 2,500= $5.55
1 liter bottle olive oil: 4,500= $10.00
1 photocopy: 100= $.22
1 toothbrush: 700= $1.55
1 tube toothpaste: 1,500= $3.33
1 200ml bottle of shampoo: 1,500= $3.33
1 bar of soap: 500= $1.11
1 postcard: 1,500= $3.33
5 meters wax fabric (to make an outfit at a tailor): 6,000= $13.33
Fabric tailored into an outfit: 6,000-10,000= $13.33- $22.22

Here is an example of my daily gastronomy at my Community Based Training (home stay) site in Bayahk:

Breakfast-
Baguette bread with butter
Hot powdered milk and instant coffee with sugar
Lunch-
Cheb u jen: boiled vegetables (2 carrots, 1 potato, 1 cassava, 1 jaxatu (bitter tomato) and 1 eggplant) with chunks of fish (think bony fish) all tossed on top of oily red or white rice in one big bowl.  The family gathers around the large bowl and eats together, often times sharing with 10 or more people. I usually end up getting to eat around 1/2 carrot, maybe some eggplant, and a few chunks of potato with rice. Not a very filling lunch, but I would say it is pretty well rounded nutritionally speaking, other than the oil content.
Dinner-
Varies between either:
“red” rice (rice with tomato paste)

or

“red” rice with black-eyed peas and lime

In Senegal dessert really doesn't exist, besides the occasional watermelon or mangoes after your meal. I would say I get fruit at my CBT family’s house once a week, so not too often.

So that is the breakdown of daily costs. Overall, I have heard that once we get installed as actual Peace Corps Volunteers, our monthly stipend will be more. We will see, and I hope this is the case! We swear in as volunteers on November 4th, spend the 6-7th with our CBT families for Tabaski (mine is in Bayahk), and then I move into my apartment in Mbour on the 10th. Lots of exciting things to come!


Lastly-
Last night, as I was sitting in Dakar at the medical office sick with bronchitis, I learned some very sad news. In a phone call with my mother I was informed that my grandfather was slowly dieing. He had recently fallen and blood was slowly filling an area of his brain. He was already too weak to operate on, so it was a matter of what his body could handle. My mother called me around midnight, letting me know that he had passed away. I am extremely sad to hear about his death, but I know he's no longer in pain and is in a better state above. Hearing and thinking about my grandfather, I am really thankful that he and my grandmother were able to come to my going away party back in August. Everyone got to see him at his best before he passed, which makes me eternally happy and grateful. I will be praying for the rest of my family, since I am not able to physically be with them at the funeral- but will most certainly be with all of them spiritually. My grandfather was an inspirational character with which I have shaped many long-lasting memories. I am happy for the memories we shared and he will truly be missed!