What am I taking with me to Africa?

I had a request for a blog post about what was on my packing list. (thanks Mrs. Barnes) This is what I brought in my attempt to mount an expedition to Sudan. Most useful items so far? Hand sanitizer and the sleeping sheet. Anything you think I forgot?

Clothes:

1 pair long hiking pants treated with insecticide
2 pairs hemp/ cotton blend Patagonia trousers
1 pair 100% cotton Capri pants
15 pairs underwear
6 pairs hiking socks
2 sock liners
1 pair Vasque high top hiking boors with Gore Tex
4 long sleeved cotton button up shirts
4 cotton tank tops
4 t-shirts
1 pair pyjama pants
1 pair yoga pants
1 long skirt
1 knee length skirt
3 sports bras
3 regular bras
1 fleece jacket
1 lightweight rain jacket
1 Tulane University baseball cap
1 hat with flap in the back (very sexy)
1 pair black slacks
1 pair flip flops
Sandals
Slip-on shoes
Bath robe
Office Supplies (perhaps a luxury category… but important for my mental health and efficiency)
Sharpies
Colour pencils
Sketchbook
Computer cable
Laptop
3 blank notebooks
Pencils
Scientific calculator
Anti-bug supplies
Mosquito net
Sleeping sheet treated with insecticide
2 cans Permethrin clothing and gear treatment spray
3 cans Ben’s 30% DEET tick and insect repellent
4 tubes UltraThon inset repellent
Preventative Health Items and Meds
4 packages Chlorine Dioxide Water Purification Tablets
1 Water purification filter system with bag
1 International travel medical kit with syringe and sutures
SteriPen water purifier
Moleskin
Medical gloves
Non-stick gauze pads
Band-aids
Cotton balls
Medical tape
Tums (lots of these, not surprisingly I’ve had a sour stomach for weeks)
Dayquil
Nyquil
3 small bottles antibacterial hand sanitizer
20 packets Emergen-C
Thermometer
Homeopathic throat spray
Tylolhot (some sort of powder you add to hot water that I bought in Turkey once, the best cure for a head cold or flu you can find)
Imodium
Zantac
Allergy meds
Tylenol
First aid ointment
Antifungal cream
2 bottles SPF 70 face sunscreen
Hibiclens (surgical strength antibacterial soap)
Multi vitamins (Nature Made Multi for Her)
Hydrocortisone cream
HS3 (a homeopathic cure-all salve)
Ace bandage
Entertainment
DVD’s
Various fitness DVD’s (Jillian Michaels Power Yoga, Yoga Booty Ballet, Hip Hop Abs and Morning AM Yoga)
IPod
Small, battery powered, iPod speaker
Nook
Quiddler
UNO
Photo album with family photos
Yoga mat (a serious luxury item, I realize)
Reference Books
Work-related reference books:
RealWorld Evaluation
The Good Enough Guide: Impact Measurement and Accountability in Emergencies
The Sphere Project Handbook
SPSS: Survival Manual
Principles of Statistics
The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read and Write it
Bible
Toiletries
Super absorbent camping towel
6 small packets of Kleenex
4 razors
Floss
4 Chapsticks
2 packets of 30 facial cleansing towelettes
Q-tips
Hair ties
Bobby pins
Headbands
Baby powder
3 bars soap
2 toothbrushes
Scrunchies
Finger-nail brush
Eye cream
Night cream
Baby wipes (family pack)
2 deodorants
2-in-1 everyday clean shampoo and conditioner
Vaseline
Hairbrush
2 large containers contact lens solution
2 small bottles contact lens solution
Extra contact lenses (6 month supply)
Emory board, cuticle sticks, nail clipper
Small mirror
Miscellanea
Fabric and a dress pattern to have a dress made for Jyn and Josh’s wedding (yay!)
Camelback and backpack
Tote bag for grocery shopping
Stuffed animal
2 pairs of glasses
2 pairs of sunglasses
2 solar powered watches
Leatherman multi-tool (the use of which is probably the most likely source of danger for me in Africa)
Sewing kit
2011 weekly planner
Water bottle
Lighter
Chewing gum
Camera
Money-belt
24 AA batteries

Note for second career option: This all fits into 2 large bags + 1 carry-on and a purse, all of which I can carry by myself for at least 15 minutes. I can see the business cards now…

Jennifer Neelsen.

Services offered include: ruthless German efficiency and organization

applied to luggage planning and packing.