Today i picked up a couple of the larger items that I'll need for my time in Burkina! I think REI should pay me for the little shout out I'm giving them here, but these are the 3 things i picked up tonight:
Screen tent. Many of the volunteers choose to sleep outside because the houses sit in the sun all day retain all that heat! Sometimes as much as 90 degrees at night still. Most houses are surrounded by a locked gate, so they are safe from both people and animals :P Because of the risk of malaria from mosquitoes, I will need some sort of protection, and this little tent was definitely the best bargain.
Camping pad. For sleeping outdoors, in my new tent. I originally was looking at a more expensive, but lighter pad (more expensive because of the technology required to make it lighter...) But i realized that i won't often be trekking this around, so the extra cushion would be worth the pound or so more i would carry on the trip there and back. Also, it isn't the name brand, so i got about double the thickness for less money!
My daypack!! I bought the grey/green one pictured, because it was $25 cheaper. It has the exact same features, but was $25-$40 cheaper than comparable packs. I've heard that once i am in burkina (and especially once i move to my permanent site) i won't travel more than a couple days at a time, meaning my large hiking backpack would be too much for a couple outfits and the necessities. I thought about just using my school backpack I've had for a few years, but i was really afraid it just wouldn't hold up. And it doesn't have all the fancy zippers and straps :)
The last item i am really struggling with is the solar charger. There are many options to choose from, and i think my biggest problem is that i don't know exactly what i expect from it. I know i don't expect it to charge my computer (to get one that can charge a laptop makes the cost jump from less than $100 to as much as $600, though you can probably get one close to $300). I think i want one that can charge my phone (which i will purchase in Burkina), my ipod, rechargeable batteries and my camera. I just haven't found one that can do that mix. Or i just don't know enough about all the adapters out there either.
So, if anyone has any sort of insight, please let me know :)
In other exciting news, via facebook i found a couple from minnesota who is going to be in my program!! The woman even works with my dad! We discovered that they even work in the department, just a couple rows away, which is amazing when you consider how many thousands of people work in that building! We might try to meet before we go, but either way it has been fun to talk to people going through the same steps and asking the same questions i have been asking :) And they are from iowa, so we are all familiar with both areas!
well, that's about it for now. i just got back from out little family vacation on tuesday with just a little sunburn... i guess it's just a warm-up for the years to come! I have to admit that my days of staying up late, sleeping in & napping every afternoon to then start the cycle over have not made for an easy re-adjustment to working at 6...
and wish me luck, tomorrow is my first appt with the oral surgeon! time to get these wisdom teeth checked out, eek!
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