Packing for Mauritania

I've begun the packing process for Mauritania. Actually, I've started gathering the items to bring with me in an attempt to make my transition a little more smooth. I've got shampoo, conditioner, and all the traditional travel stuff, but I've also gotten a new tent. It's called a Bug Hut and probably what I will be spending most of my nights in. It looks like a tent and sets up like a tent, but has only one door and has four mesh walls. I also got a new Therma Rest for camping or maybe spending night visiting other volunteers sites. I really hope to use the Therma Rest for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Although it doesn't look like that will happen until the end of my time with the Peace Corps.

Perhaps the most important item I've gotten is a case to keep sand away from my iPod, and more importantly my camera. I want to be able to take as many pictures as possible, and hopefully I'll figure out how to post some of them here.

I've also started my collection of skirts. This is the most difficult part for me. I still don't understand the appeal of skirts. I just pretend I'm playing dress-up and I'm not actually going to be wearing them. I'm having much more fun choosing shirts. I've found some that I would like to wear around now, but I don't want to wear them out.

This collecting of items to bring to Mauritania is really making me excited to begin the adventure. Pretty soon I'm going to have everything sitting in a corner of my room waiting for me to pack. I am concerned about the weight of everything I want and need to bring. I have an 80 pound weight limit, compared to the usual international traveler who has a 100 pound limit. At least I don't have to bring supplies for all two years though. I'm actually trying not to think too much about it, because then it seems like time moves slow.