Less than a Month!

I've done a lot of stuff since I last posted so I will probably forget to write some things! In the last month I have gotten all my loan deferment papers sent to me. I have bought nearly all the stuff I need to buy.  I have contacted friends about taking part in the World Wise Schools Correspondence program, and they both accepted. I activated both my debit card and Visa card with my banks. I was able to use the "military option" through my cell carrier, Verizon, which delays my payments up to 3 years. One note, Peace Corps is not military, but they accepted it anyways. They just asked for my "station", Namibia, and the name and rank, Namibia Desk Officer, of my "commanding" officer. It's kind of funny because they know I'm not in the military, but we are government employed. This may not work for all because some other PCVs were denied. Anyways, the benefit is no cancellation fee and I get to keep my cell number when I return. I practice packed my luggage to see if all my stuff fit and I was so pleased to find that I was within the Peace Corps limits. At the end of this post I will list almost everything that I packed.

I also got a DURABLE Power of Attorney and a Healthcare Power of Attorney. A durable POA gives the appointed person the right to make financial decisions even if you become incapacitated. You can just go online and get forms from a number of free websites. One note, after you fill it out, it is better to pay a notary to notarize it. Then, take it to any financial institution, such as your bank, so that your appointed person can be put on the account. You can also have the person take the POA once you've left and get them added, but it's easier to do it in person so no questions arise. My Healthcare POA also gave my Dad or Mom permission to make medical decisions. Notarize this too. I have made lists of things I need to bring to staging with me, and there are about nine that I can think of right now. Anyways, it's less than a month away. People kept asking me, "are you excited?" I actually wasn't really excited, just looking forward to it, until this Monday, when we got our email for staging. I kept wondering when I would get it or if I would have to call, but nope, they sent it. I then called SATO Travel and booked my flight to Philly for staging. I am excited that I will get to stay a night with my Aunt and Uncle the night before staging! Anyways, I need to some more prep work and get a few more things, but I am mostly done!

Here is my packing list. However, I must make a few notes. I brought some of this stuff because it seemed like it might be useful. Later on I will post or add onto this post about what I should and shouldn't have brought.

1 Book of Stamps	Playing Card Deck	Air Pump for Bike	2 Boxes of Gillette Spare Razors
Bible	2 Luggage Straps	Swimsuit	2 Cortizone Lotions for Dry Skin
Stationary	Flash Drive	Leatherman	1 Hand Sanitizer
Gifts for Host Family	Headphones	$300 US Cash	2 Hair Shears
1 Dummy Wallet	Camera Charger	Sewing Kit	2 Floss
1 Flashlight/1 Black Diamond Spot Headlamp	Flip Flops	Superglue	Black Dress Coat
AAA Batteries	Backpack	Ductape	2 Family Pictures
1 Travel Clock	2 Nalgenes	Cologne	Nail Scissors
5 Slacks	4 Athletic Shorts	Keen  Newport H2 Hiking Sandals	500gb Hard Drive
10 Collared Shirts (7 Dress shirts, 1 tshirt, 2 Flannels)	2 weeks underwear (14)	Vans	Camera
5 Ties	3 weeks of socks (8 Black Socks, 11 White Socks, 3 Tube socks for winter)	Brown Shoes	1 Watch
3 Belts (2 Black, 1 Brown)	iPod Speakers	2 Toothbrushes	1 Shampoo
1 Light Hoodie	11 tshirts	Running Shoes	Business Suit
Winter Gloves	6 plain undershirts	5 deodorants	2 Sunglasses
2 Jeans	1 dress shoes	Laptop	Sweatshirt
3 Shorts	1 Bungie Cord	2tb Hard Drive	Rain Jacket
1 Ipod Touch	Kindle	Planner	1 Laptop Lock
Binoculars	Bike Repair Kit	2 Frisbees	Solar Lantern
6 black dress socks	4 brown dress socks	1 Underclothes Travel Wallet	3 Apple USB Cords (Ipod Touch and Iphone) and Wall Adapter
1 Headphone Splitter	2 Headphones	Kindle USB with Power Adapter	1 Binoculars
1 Nerf Ball	20 Taco Seasoning Packets	1 Large Towel	1 Small Towel