The Essentials

This is for my dear friend, Maija, who seriously needs to get a life and will probably be the main audience of this beautiful blog. But since she is currently in Illinois, suffering through a wedding, I thought I would provide her (and all of you) with some entertainment.

Today, I am packing up my stuff for my trip and thought I would let you all in on the most important things I am packing. Are you ready for this? I thought so...

The essentials...perhaps more than you would like to see.

Top 13 Items on my packing list:

1. Deodorant - As mentioned in the previous post, I am extremely worried about sweating to death. For this reason, I have 2 sticks of deodorant. I was a girl scout after all, so I will go prepared.
2. Children's Chewable Vitamins - The adult multivitamins give me a tummy ache. These will have to do.
3. Malaria pills - Obvi
4. Sunscreen - I'm a white girl. I don't want to be a red girl.
5. 80 Tampons - Apparently, tampons aren't readily available in 'Nam. What do those girls use?!
6. Soap and Shampoo/Conditioner - For when I occasionally shower. You know, like, once or twice throughout the program.
7. Juicy Romance Novels - Always entertaining. I have a 28 hour journey to Ho Chi Minh City. 
8. Digital Camera - Obvious reasons.
9. Hair supplies - Hair always needs to be beautiful, even if super greasy from the lack of showering. I think I can manage this, since I brought clippies, hair bands, sweat bands, more clippies, etc.
10. UNDERWEAR - 2 weeks worth. They are the only thing I won't wear twice. I do have some standards, to the surprise of many.
11. Bug Spray- I hear their bugs are even larger than Minnesota's. I'm assuming they are the size of polar bears. 
12. Knock-off Hydrocortisone cream - For when the polar bear sized bugs get past the bug spray. 
13. Hand Sanitizer - I've got to stay clean. 

Well, there it is. 

-Alissa