Unpacking Baggage

You can find almost everything on this list in Albania. If you are freaking out because you can't fit everything, you'll be okay. I was 20 lbs under the maximum weight allowance. Not ideal, but I have been just fine.

What I'm Glad I Brought:

• Slippers. Albania is a slipper culture like none other. You might as well hit the ground running in them.

• Snuggie. My snuggie took up a ton of packing space, but it's been saving me since day one (I’m in one of the coldest parts of Albania).

• Hiking Boots. You need good walking shoes. Mine function as both winter boots and hiking boots.

• Power Bank. My site regularly experiences power outages, especially during storms and the winter.

• Re-chargeable Lantern. Again, power outages happen. Also, I have yet to see an Albanian home that uses lamps. A lantern is super nice if you like to do some bedtime reading with something dimmer than an overhead light.

• Computer. I almost did not bring one, but it's so important for not only this blog but also online PC work. You could technically go to the PC office and use their computers, that hassle is wild.

• Water Bottle. A water bottle is great if you live in a village and/or have water on a schedule. Plus, it's nice not to regularly consume plastic water bottles.

• Long Underwear and a giant scarf. My site is one of the two coldest parts of Albania. Neither my home nor my school have central heating. Right now, some things in my room - my medicine, for example - are frozen.

• Headphones. You never know when you'll need these. I've used them to block out snoring (you room with a lot of other PCVs during trainings) and sounds at site.

• Hiking Backpack and Smaller Backpack. These are essential for day and/or overnight trips. Bonus points for a rain cover.

• Rain Coat. You can buy umbrellas here, but I prefer raincoats. Mine is bright yellow and, given the Balkan’s dark color palette, makes me look like a tourist more than my hiking backpack ever has.

• Hobbies. I brought drawing pencils, writing supplies, etc. I was optimistic about rock climbing and brought my shoes. Climbing is not a developed sport here despite great potential. In reality, my climbing shoes just took up valuable space.

What I Wish I Brought:

• Luggage with Wheels. I'd read that wheeled luggage is not recommended for PCVs (uneven terrain breaks wheels). Taking that advice to heart, I used only one measly suitcase, packed everything else in bags, and wore 5 layers because the bulky winter clothes couldn't all fit in said bags. PC then gives you more giant bags that contain featherlight items like fire extinguishers and space heaters. In the words of another PCV, "dang, girl, you've got a lot of bags." Please, for the love of god, do not be me. My sweat glands were one pound away from a worker's strike when, as it turns out, Albania has plenty infrastructure for wheeled suitcases.

• Another pair of running shoes. A real, quality pair are challenging to find in Albania. I don't even usually run, and I wish I'd brought an extra pair.

• More gifts for host family. I unexpectedly got a massive host family, so I was a bit under-prepared.

• More Hand Sanitizer. Public restrooms almost never have soap (or toilet paper). I have found hand sanitizer in only one location in Albania, though you can find alcohol wipes easily enough.

• More layers/comfy clothes. I'd love more fuzzy socks, fuzzy pants, and long underwear. While you can buy all those here, it's nice not to spend your stipend on them.

• Smaller purse/cross-body bag. I bought one here because, contrary to all my years of schooling, you can't always walk around wearing a backpack.

• Kindle. Nothing turns you into an avid reader like PC. There is a PC office library, but it can be challenging to access and cart books back and forth. PC luckily gave my cohort tablets, so I download books onto that. If I didn’t have the tablet, I would have shipped a Kindle to Albania.