Packing List and Final Details

So you might be wondering just what I might need to pack for a month plus in Ghana. Well, thanks to some wonderful friends that I have yet to meet in person that have traveled this road before our family, I was able to draft a packing list. Hopefully my version of the packing list will help other families who are preparing to adopt from Africa, if not Ghana specifically.

Packing List for Ghana:

Medication/Hygiene Needs for Adults

First Aid Kit (Betadine or similar, band-aids, moleskin for blisters, small scissors, tape, gauze, gloves, Benadryl, alcohol wipes, tweezers)

Surface Disinfectant (wipes) (travel size Lysol or Clorox wipes)

Medications: Prescriptions, Hydocortisone, Lotrimin, Clotrimazole

Cipro & Immodium, Pepto, Anti-Malaria, decongestant, Tums

Pain relievers: Tylenol, Motrin, aspirin

Electrolyte powder (crystal light, lipton iced tea packets, or Kelloggs Fiber water packets)

Mosquito repellant w/DEET (75% or higher)

mosquito net for sleeping

Sunscreen

Hand sanitizer (pocket size and larger size)

Airborne, Vitamin C

Qtips, cotton balls

Feminine products

toilet paper

Heat pads/biofreeze (for sore muscles)

Travel Needs

Travel Kleenex

Travel Alarm clock

Small Flashlight (w/o batteries?)

Sink stopper, stain stick, laundry soap, clothes line

Small bottle of dish soap

Money Belt

Passport holder (neck – for airport only)

Ziploc bags (airport and other asst’d sizes)

Febreeze,

Downy Wrinkle Releaser

Small Travel Pillows

Converter, plug adapter (w/ 220 wattage option)

Swiss army knife

hand held electric fan

Extra duffle or two (for gifts on return trip)

steel water bottles

sterilizing pen for water bottles or sterilizing bottle

books to read

Backpack

Snacks

Instant Oatmeal, trail mix, protein bars. granola bars, ramen noodles, tuna packs, crackers, PB, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, MREs

favorite teas

bowls, spoons

Documents & Office Supplies

Passports (and copies x2)

Copy of Dossier (x3)

(X3 copies of all documents is recommended)

Referral information

driver's licenses

copy of insurance information

emergency contact numbers

Vaccination records (our travel vaccination record)

Journal, black pens in baggies. Pencils, calculator, paper

clips, mini-stapler & staples

Photos of family to share

laptop

digital camera, camcorder (extra battery, memory cards)

iPod -- chargers, connectors

blank cds to burn pics

Gifts, hand-outs, gift bags/tissue paper (kids: pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, erasers, wrapped candy, stickers, post cards. in-country coordinator: foster mother: orphanage director: orphanage caregivers: card w/ note and $20 each Guest house employees: )

Adult Clothes

Beckie:

4 pairs lightweight pants/capris

3 skirts

8-10 shirts/blouses

1 sweater, black long sleeve top (for travel)

clothes for hotel lounging

bathing suit

Pjs

Shoes (clogs, flip flops, mules), Socks, Footies

Bandanas/headscarves

Packable hat

Underwear

rain coat

slippers for in guest house

Chris:

3-4 prs lightweight pants 3-4 shirts

1 dress shirt

1 pr shorts (for hotel)

5-6 shirts

Bathing suit

Sleep shirt

1 sweater/sweatshirt

Shoes (tennis shoes, tevas)

Socks

Hat

Underwear

Travel outfit

rain coat

slippers for in guest house

Cosmetics/Toiletries

Shampoo/Conditioner

Soap

Shave Lotion/razor

Cosmetics & face wash/lotion

Body Lotion

Deodorant

Tooth paste, brush

Bobby pins

Lip balm

wash cloths

travel hairdryer w/ dual wattage

Kiddo Clothes

Edward:

4-5 comfy outfits

1-2 dressy outfits

Socks

shoes

2 warm outfits for trip home

Pjs

bathing suit

underwear

Lydia:

4-5 comfy outfits

1-2 dressy outfits

socks

shoes

2 warm outfits for trip home

Pjs

bathing suit

underwear

Kiddo Medication/Hygiene Needs

Thermometer

Gas drops

Children’s Tylenol, Motrin

Orajel

Ear ache drops (anesthetic)

1% Hydrocortizone

Children’s repellent with DEET (up to 50%)

Saline

Kiddo Needs

2 yd cloth

Plastic bags for trash (hotel and airplane)

bowl, spoon

Few toys

Kiddo Toiletries

kiddo Wash and shampoo

baby wipes

Today has been spent getting the final preparations ready for travel. I have found the last items from the packing list that I still needed and am making the third copy of my paperwork. Tonight I need to prepare our presents for our coordinator and foster family. The big gift for both is a framed print of Oceanside Pier that I have taken in the past month. Hopefully they will enjoy it, and we are also giving the foster family a jar of shells and our coordinator an Obama t-shirt (he's a BIG fan). Part of me thinks that I am still forgetting something important, but I have time still to check and triple-check our lists again. Oh, plus I need to prep the photo albums for Eddie and Lydia so they can start learning the faces that already love them. Gonna be a fun, short night before we hit the highway at 3 AM to catch our flight!

Next time I post I'll be overseas!!!! Please leave any comments you want me to actually read and respond to on here directly. Otherwise, I'll be able to read all the FB comments when I return next month. God bless, Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas!