80 Pounds: Part 6 - Penultimate Chapter

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements for travel to your host country.The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag.This is part 6 of a series to document what I am taking with me.

One Peace Corps tradition is to bring gifts for the host family that you will stay with during training. I've tried to bring some items that will help them to see where I came from, be practical, and be stereotypically cliché.

Gifts For Host Family:

Checker/Chess Set For Their Kids

Reflections of South Carolina Picture Book

Sham-wows!

Total Weight of Host Family Gifts: 4.8 lbs

Other Miscellaneous Items:

Chess / Checker Board Set - 2.9 lbs

Sham-wows for myself - 0.8 lbs

An Orange South Carolina State Flag - 0.1 lbs

A Frisbee - 0.3 lbs

Books Not Yet Accounted For:

The Language of God - Francis S. Collins

Mere Christianity - CS Lewis

A Journal of notes written by my friends and family

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith

Total for new books: 3 lbs

Thing's I'll Have On Me:

Casio Pathfinder - Compass, Altimeter, Thermometer, Barometer, Solar Powered

Hiking Boots

Total Weight from Previous Entries: 82.68 lbs

Total Weight from This Entry: 7.1

Total Weight Thus Far - 89.78 lbs

There is some miscellaneous items I've loaded up as well, plus the weight of my carry on bag. Weighing in today the total weight of all bags is 104 lbs.

I'll carry 36 lbs on my back, 32 lbs in my carry on roller, and 36 lbs in a small duffel bag.

80 Pounds: Part 5

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements for travel to your host country.The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag.This is part 5 of a series to document what I am taking with me.

Miscellaneous:

Franklin Covey Day Planner - 2.15

1 Roll of Duct Tape - 1 lb

Stamps For Having People Carry Letters Home - 0.0 lbs

Passport Sized Photos for Residency Permits - 0.1

Luggage Locks - 0.5 lbs

Shamwows - 1 lb

Gifts From Work Friends:

Starkist Tuna Packets

Peanut Butter Individual Servings

Survival Toilet Paper

Water Bottle Holder

Salt & Pepper Shaker

Texas Star Ornament

Total Weight of Gifts From Work Friends: 3 lbs

I have also decided not to bring a tent and sleeping pad. This was more of a space constraint than a weight constraint; If needed I could have put 30 lbs into my carry on.

Total Weight from Previous Entries: 83.43 lbs

Total Weight from This Entry: 7.75 lbs

Modifications: -8.5 lbs

Total Weight Thus Far - 82.68 lbs

I'll make my final entries tomorrow. Am of course headed out Monday morning.

80 Pounds: Part 4

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements for travel to your host country.The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag. This is part 4 of a series to document what I am taking with me.

Bedding:

2 Twin Sized Flat Sheets - 2.5 lb

1 Full Sized Flat Sheet - 1.4 lb

1 Twin Sized Mattress Cover - 1 lb

1 Full Sized Mattress Cover - 1.75 lb

Gadgets & Electronics:

Netbook & Cover With Adapter - 4 lb

Digital Camera & Bag - 2 lb

160 GB iPod & iPod Nano - 0.5 lb

SD Memory Cards - 0.1 lb

Flash Drive - 0.1 lb

Solar Battery Charger - 0.8 lb

Rechargeable Batteries - 2 lb

Short Wave Radio - With Crank Generator - 1.3 lb

Total Weight from Previous Entries: 66.033 lbs

Total Weight of Bedding: 6.65

Total Weight of Gadgets & Electronics: 10.8 lbs

Total Weight Thus Far: 83.483 lbs

80 Pounds: Part 3

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements
for travel to your host country. The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag. This is part 3 of a series to document what I am taking with me.

Clothing

North Face Rain Jacket

4 Pairs of Pants - 1 Dockers, 2 Columbia ROC, 1 REI

Button Down Shirts - 3 ExOfficio Insect Resistant, 2 REI, 1 Columbia Titanium

2 Dress Shirts & 2 Ties

1 Pair of Khaki Shorts

5 White T-Shirts

7 Pairs of Underwear

7 Pairs of Socks

2 Pairs of dress socks

1 Swim Suit

1 Webbed Patagonia Belt

1 Pair Dress Shoes

1 Pair Tennis Shoes

1 Pair of Rainbow Sandals

1 Citizen EcoDrive Watch

And some comfort clothing:

Pink Floyd 'Dark Side of the Moon' Pajama Pants

Oversized American Eagle Sweatshirt From High School

2 Pairs of Gym Shorts

A Clemson Hoodie

My Favorite Long Sleeve Clemson T-Shirt

Clemson Bucket Hat

Also this week, I switched out my small duffel for a medium sized duffel bag that will max out my luggage dimensions. This added 0.3 lbs

Total Weight from Previous Entries: 37.683 lbs

Total Weight from Clothing: 28.05 lbs

Modifications: 0.3 lbs

Total Weight Thus Far - 66.033 lbs

80 Pounds: Part 2

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements for travel to your host country. The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag. This is part 2 of a series to document what I am taking with me.

Luggage

GI Style Canvas Duffle Bag (Black) - 3 lbs

Small Duffle (secondary bag) - 2.2 lbs

Toiletries

Deodorant - 0.25 lbs

Shampoo - 0.5 lbs

Toothbrush/Paste - 0.25

Hairbrush - 0.25 (odd because i dont brush my hair here)

Nail Clipper - 0.1 lbs

Hair Cutting Scissors - 0.1 lbs

Sewing Kit - 0.1 lbs

Palm Sized Travel Mirror - 0.1 lbs

Chapstick - 0.1 lbs

Books

New American Translation Bible - 1.8 lbs

Personalized New Testament - 0.6 lbs

Catch 22 - 1 lbs

Lord of The Rings - 2.7 lbs

Pocked English Dictionary - 0.5 lbs

Total Weight of Luggage - 5.2 lbs

Total Weight of Toiletries - 1.75 lbs

Total Weight of Books - 6.6 lbs

Total Weight from Previous Entries - 24.133

Total Weight Thus Far - 37.683 lbs

80 Pounds: Special Edition

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements for travel to your host country. The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag. This is part a special edition of the series documenting a single item I have decided to take with me.

Today I made a purchase I've been debating. My gut has told me to just bring enough batteries to last a while and then find a source of batteries once I get to Uganda, whether it is by mail, travel into cities, or some other means. But this little guy seems to be well received.

So I've decided to include in my 80 lbs, the Power Monkey Explorer and Solar Charger.

What I'm hoping is that I'll be able to find a AAA and AA battery charger I can hook up to this and then I'll be about set.

In future installments of 80 Pounds, I will discuss electronics that I am bringing. Of course one such item is an iPod. My real intent on this purchase is to power an iPod, disposable cell phone (to be procured in country), and possibly AAA and AA batteries for my camera and flashlights. If it can do that I'm more than happy with the purchase. I'm also planning to bring a netbook to Uganda but expect to power that up on occasional visits to a major city where I will get on the internet with it.

Next step is to find a AAA / AA battery charger that can hook up to this guy.

Total Weight: 2 lbs

80 Pounds: Part 1

The Peace Corps has very strict luggage requirements for travel to your host country. The authorized baggage allowance is two checked pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and the carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight allowance of 50 pounds for any one bag. This is part 1 of a series to document what I am taking with me.

Gear

REI Flash 65 Backpack - 3.25 lbs
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45 Sleeping Bag - 1.75 lbs

Thermarest - 2.75 lbs
Northface Daypack "Heckler" model - 2.2 lbs
Eureka Apex 2XT Tent - 5.75 lbs (not the lightest tent on the market but cost efficient and durable)
Petzl E49P TacTikka Plus 4 LED Headlamp - 0.5 lbs
Gerber Pocket Knife & Leatherman Multitool- 1.5 lbs
Knife Sharpener - 0.33 lbs
2 Nalgene Bottles - 1.5 lbs
Camelbak - 1 lb
Mess Kit - 1 lb
Camping Mug - 0.5 lbs

Total Weight of Gear: 22.1333 lbs