Clothing:
For Professional Settings: (Frieda's suggestions for women)
3-4 nice shirts
1-2 slacks
2-3 skirts / dresses
1-2 sparkly/very nice dresses (for parties - you will go. Your co-workers will be dressed impeccably. The sparkly dress is for New Years.)
1-2 nice sweaters
1-2 nice blazers/cardigans
For Professional Settings: (Caleb's suggestions for men)
5 nice button up shirts
4 slacks (grey, navy, khaki, black)
3 cardigans or pullover sweaters (lessens your need to wash your shirts and hides the wrinkles)
1 suit jacket
2-3 ties
A belt of course
(Note from Freida: Mongolians dress very nicely for work. It is okay to wear the same outfit more than once per week. Choose quality/well-put together outfits over quantity. Dresses and skirts are a good idea to bring because in the winter time you will be able to wear more leggings under them to fight the cold. Also, once you move to site, you will have more time to be able to buy professional outfits so don't stress about bringing enough professional clothes to last 2 years.)
(Note from Caleb: When it comes to packing clothing, make sure that you pack smarter and not harder. Pick a color theme and run with it. That way its easy to mix and match different outfits and not look ridiculous. Shop for clothing against the season and be smart about it. For men, be cautious of the patterns/lack there of that you choose within your shirts. You must remain professional but covering sweat and stains will allow you more wear of your shirts with less hand washing. Darker plaids and thin/close stripes provide you more room to hide imperfections as opposed to a solid colored shirt. Air compression bags will be your best friend.)
Casual: (Frieda and Caleb's Suggestions)
-favorite sweater to lounge in
-2 sweatpants/fat pants
-3-5 favorite t-shirts
-2 pairs of casual pants (hiking pants, jeans, sports pants. whatever you like to wear)
-1 pair of jeans (note on jeans: there is a good chance that you will be hand-washing your clothes for most of your service... Jeans are very difficult to wash and take a long time to dry. Don't put a priority on bringing jeans.)
-1-2 shorts (for exercise, the very hot summer etc.)
-1 bathing suit
(Note: do bring clothes that you can exercise/play sports in - you will play basketball and volleyball.)
Other Clothing Items: (Frieda and Caleb's Suggestions)
-20+ pairs of underwear (seriously... quality/sizes may be lacking here, you don't know how often you will be washing your clothes, and you can always stash away some new underwear for later in your service present to yourself)(For MEN: I would go to the local Ross and TJMaxx and buy a few pairs of the nice athletic NIKE and Adidas compression underwear. If you go and get a few pairs every week, you can save some money and not spend all of your money at once. They help with smell and dry faster than traditional cotton, plus they don't stretch out after hand washing them as much as traditional cotton).
-5-10 pairs of socks (any small stocking footwear you may desire)
-2 pairs of warm wool socks (keep in mind that you can buy camel socks here that are very warm for winter as well)
(Women specific)
-2 bras
-1 sports bra (if you want)
-3-5 tights / leggings (you can get leggings and tights here, but it won't hurt to have more of these to wear under skirts and dresses during the summer and as your first layer during the winter)
All Weather and Winter Gear: (Frieda's Suggestions)
-3-6 shirts to layer under your clothes (Recommended shirts: Patagonia base layers (http://www.patagonia.com/us/shop/womens-baselayer?k=1E-6M) (silk layers for the summer, thicker layers for the winter), thin fleece long sleeve shirts (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/terramar-grid-fleece-base-layer-top-zip-neck-long-sleeve-for-women~p~3648k/?filterString=s~fleece-base-layer-top%2Fclothing~d~5%2Fwomens-clothing~d~6%2F&colorFamily=08 ). These shirts are a great thing to pack because they can help with layering if you want to wear your summer dresses and shirts during the winter, they tend to whisk moisture and unwanted smells away, and can even be used as exercise/hiking shirts. If you pay attention to sales, you can get them pretty cheap too.)
-favorite winter hat (you'll probably buy one here too, but if it makes you happy, bring it)
-favorite summer hat
-sunglasses (you can buy sunglasses here for really cheap!)
-1-3 scarves (if you have favorite scarves that go with the clothes you're bringing, bring them. You can also buy really cute, warm scarves here)
-1 under armor / super warm long underwear sets (pants and shirt)
All Weather and Winter Gear: (Caleb's Suggestions)
-2 scarves
-Windbreaker (It does rain here sometimes, but a lot of sites are incredibly windy in fall and spring and therefore making sure you have a defense against the wind would be better that just waterproof)
-favorite winter hat (you'll probably buy one here too, but if it makes you happy, bring it)
Footwear: (Frieda's suggestions for women)
(Note: with all shoes: you can get cute shoes here, but you won't be able to do a lot of shopping until after PST. If you have bigger feet (size 8/8.5 and above), it may be more difficult to find shoes let alone be picky about what they look like.)
-1 nice stylish boots (you can buy these here, but they are expensive. Once the fall hits, all of the women wear stylish boots to school)
-at least 2 nice flats to wear to work
-1 sports shoes
-1 slip on shoes (these will be worn when you have to go outside to the outhouse and play in the yard. Having shoes that you can easily slip on and off will make your life easier for when you're at home relaxing with your host family or in your future ger)
(Note: you can buy slippers and winter boots here! Also, you should buy some waterproof spray and waterproof all your shoes and bags before leaving the US.)
Footwear: (Caleb's suggestions for men)
(Note: All footwear can be found here in Mongolia, but it would be good to have some basics to get you through PST, the bigger your feet the harder it will be to find shoes. I wear a 10 and sometimes struggle to find shoes)
-1 pair of dress shoes
-2 pairs of casual shoes (I brought a pair of brown and a pair of grey leather Sperry Boat Shoes as casual shoes, but in Mongolia I can get away with wearing them as dress shoes in some more casual/formal settings. It's nice to have a nice pair of dress shoes though because during PST the staff will want you to wear those instead)
-1 pair of sport shoes (If you work out and because you WILL be asked to participate in basketball and volleyball competitions)
(Note: You can find flip flops and slippers here for very cheap and there isn't much need to waste your packing space with them unless you have a pair that you LOVE.)
Hygiene: (Suggestions from both Frieda and Caleb)
-Razors (Note from Caleb for men: I brought an electric razor and it broke 3 weeks into training. I'd suggest bringing enough good 3 blade razors and replacements to make it through PST with a can of shaving cream. After PST you can find 3 blade razors in aimag centers and shaving cream. In soums you'll only find 2 blade BIC razors)
-Feminine hygiene products (many volunteers recommend getting a Diva cup)
-Mouthwash (if you like it, if it fits in your bag, bring it)
-favorite make up (women here dress very nicely and wear make up.)
-Quick dry towel
Note: you can find all of the basics here and even in brands that you are familiar with (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, moisturizer, baby wipes, cologne). If you have a particular brand preference, then bring a bottle with you. The only item that can be a little tricky to find depending on your site placement is good moisturizer (many moisturizers here have bleach in them to make them whitening moisturizers).
Packing Equipment: (Suggestions from Frieda)
-2 sturdy bags (The wheels on these bags should be good. Don't bring only duffel bags. You will have to carry all of your belongings several times over PST. The easier they are to transport (i.e., by rolling or carrying on your back) the happier you will be
-a nice big purse or bag to carry your school supplies to school
-a duffel bag or a travel backpack (something you can use for short trips, use as an airplane carry on, and transport on most transportation comfortably in your lap)
-a tote bag for buying groceries (some places charge for bags)
(Note: you should buy some waterproof spray and waterproof all your shoes and bags before leaving the US.)
Packing Equipment: (Suggestions from Caleb)
-1 suitcase (Rolls and holds a bit more, I used as my summer bag)
-1 65 Liter backpack (For longer trips out of site, and I used as my winter pack that you will leave at the PC office during the summer)
-1 30 Liter backpack (MHM has a PCV discount and great hiking backpacks)
-1 Small duffle
-2 bags that fold-into-themselves (I found these at outdoor stores in the packing section. They fold into themselves and save packing space. I have a shoulder strap bag I bring for short trips to the store when I dont need a lot and then one that turns into a small backpack for larger market trips. These would be on my MUST HAVE LIST of things to bring, because lugging around a hiking backpack isnt fun and a school pack takes up a lot more space.)
(Note: In theory this bag combination will work. I am a pretty independant man and don't like help so for me I like to carry all my bags. Therefore, with this combination you have the 65 liter on your back, the 30 liter on your front side, the suitcase to roll behind you and the small duffle over your shoulder on your side)
Electronics: (Suggestions from Frieda and Caleb)
-at least 1 External harddrive (2TB is a good bet. You will have plenty of opportunities to stock up on movies/tv shows/books from other volunteers, and it is a good to use an external harddrive to back up your photos/computer)
-plug converters (http://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/mongolia/ )
-external power charger (These are great for long bus trips or for in the winter months when you'll want to sleep with your electronics, you'll be able to charge your phone(s) and other small electronics. My mikr trips to and from site were on average 25 hours each way so this was nice to have so I could listen to music the entire way.) (One example: http://www.amazon.com/Compact-20000mAh-Portable-Anker-PowerCore/dp/B00X5RV14Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1447379983&sr=8-3&keywords=external+power )
-kindle / tablet (not required, but a great idea for entertainment)
-camera (extra batteries/memory cards and other equipment as you see fit)
-computer (Bring one. You will be given a flashdrive over PST with a lot of Peace Corps information and having your own computer will make lesson planning / entertaining yourself a lot easier. However, Mongolia is tough on electronics, so if you need to buy a new one, don't buy a very expensive one.)
-extra flashdrives
-a dust protector for your computer keyboard (Find your computer's specific model but here is an example: http://www.amazon.com/DV6-6118NR-DV6-6158NR-DV6-6152NR-DV6-6170US-Description/dp/B007Y61QV0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1447380058&sr=8-4&keywords=laptop+keyboard+protector )(this isn't necessary, but everything in your life will get dusty. Might as well do what you can to protect your computer.)
-protective cases for your computer / smart phone / kindle (not a requirement, but might as well do as much as you can to protect your electronics from rough car trips / people invading your space and accidentally dropping said electronics)
Miscellaneous Items:
-Uno/Phase 10/Spot It!/Bananagrams (bring several decks - Mongolians love it and you can use them as gifts)
-small photo album/book (If you want to spend time getting ready, spend time on this. Mongolians love to look at photo books and every family has at least one. This is a NECESSITY to bring with you.)
-multiple small flashlights / headlamps (The power will go out. You will be walking somewhere late at night and there will be no lights.)
-Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife
-Duct tape
-1-2 good sturdy water bottle (two recommendations from Freida: Life Straw: http://lifestraw.com/ (to be able to drink water without waiting for it to be filtered first), hydro flask: https://www.hydroflask.com/ (so you can bring hot coffee/tea with you wherever you go, all day!)) (If you aren't interested in having one of these 2 specialty water bottles, know that you can also buy good water bottles here.) (Recommendations from Caleb: I brought 2 of my favorite Blender Bottles and they would just fine. Other volunteers bring a Nalgene too and those work great as well)
-1 good notebook (you can buy notebooks here, but you may want at least one for PST)
-a packet of good pens (you can buy pens here, but sometimes it feels like they run out of ink a lot faster than you'd expect them to)
-a box of ziplock bags (Mixed sizes is good. These are invaluable not only for food and cooking, but for supplies and games.)
-1-2 things that make you happy and comfort you (a favorite book, stuffed animal, pictures of your family/friends, sweater, drink mix, etc)
(Note from Caleb: I cannot stress how important bringing some important comfort items are for your mental health. I have had some bad days but I am happy when I get home and put on my old ratty harem pants and favorite sweater, the problems of the day seem to go away and reminds you of home just a bit.)
Optional Miscellaneous Items:
-gourmet coffee + French press (you can buy good coffee and a French press here, but they require either a lot of searching or a trip to UB. If you are an avid coffee drinker and don't like instant coffee, you will want to do this.)
-puzzles (cut out the pictures from the boxes and put the pieces in ziplock bags to save space. This is fun to do with your host family and friends at site.)
-If there is something you've always wanted to learn how to do, bring a book on how to do it or the equipment you need (for example: musical instrument, learning how to draw, knitting needles) (You will have time to do this, make it one of your winter time goals) (Note from Caleb: I took this to heart and taught myself how to sew this winter because I had a lot of free time. I managed to make an entire winter jacket from hand sewing because I got bored and it kept my sanity)
-American board / card games (if it's pack-able, you have the space, and you love to play it, bring it.)
-Frisbee, tennis balls
-A pillowcase
For TEFL:
-English language teaching materials (a favorite textbook, flashcards, a particularly cool English learning game)
-a favorite children's book
Gift Ideas: (you will want to give gifts to your host family and Mongolian language teacher. It doesn't hurt to have a few extra gifts in your bags for future co-workers, hashaa families, and community friends)
-a picture book on your state/city
-quality playing cards with cute pictures
-candy (you can get Snickers, Twix and M & M's here, but a box of quality chocolates or something in a nice container will be appreciated)
-a nice mug/bowl filled with something (never give a mug or bowl to someone empty)
-children's games (examples: Spot It, Go Fish, Uno, etc) (you can play these games over the summer or even when you're at site and then gift them to the children when you leave)
-a nice shot glass (put candy in it though)
(Note from Caleb: I got my host family a nice thermos filled with candy as well as some fun things from my hometown. They really enjoyed the gesture and then once I got to know my host family more I got them things that are practical to them once I was in town, for example; my host brother loves the Golden State Warriors so I got him a Golden State uniform and my host parents needed a new house fan. Those aren't easy to know beforehand or pack, but something at first is great and then if you want to during the summer something more thoughtful and personal is great for them as well.)
Digital Packing: (You will very likely have very limited internet over the summer. These are some programs that you should install on your computer before traveling to Mongolia)
-Virus Protection (some good programs: Sophos: https://www.sophos.com/en-us.aspx Avira: https://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus ) or AVAST!
-Calibre (http://calibre-ebook.com/ ) (this program allows you to open any text document and is really handy for converting books into formats compatible with whatever devices you choose to bring)
-VLC (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html ) (allows you to open every video file. Imperative for watching the movies/tv shows that you will acquire from other volunteers. VERY IMPORTANT!)
-Anki (http://ankisrs.net/ ) or Repetitions (https://www.repetitionsapp.com/ ) (these are great language learning programs. You use them to create flashcards of new vocabulary. Both of these have versions for smart phones too. If you download these, make sure to save a copy of their manuals/directions and/or play with them before you leave America. They take a little getting use to in terms of how to use them / create flashcards, but they can make invaluable study tools.)
-Extra chargers for your computers and phone if you're paranoid.
The Peace Corps Discount / Good Shopping:
http://www.peacecorpswiki.org/Volunteer_discounts (This site has a list of places that offer discounts to Peace Corps volunteers)
sierratradingpost.com (this site has great coupons! Sign up for their newsletter and pay attention to their sales.)
(FINAL NOTE: A few small exceptions to this general note: if you have big feet (bring shoes with you - for women, feet bigger than size 8 can be tricky at times but not impossible), quality underwear (sizes and quality may be lacking here), business attire for PST (you won't have time to go shopping for this attire during PST and you will be required to wear it. Peace Corps requires and it is very important in Mongolian culture.), good external harddrive (you'll want one - 2 terabytes is a good choice), favorite spices (don't worry, you can buy spices here. However, it can make your PST more delicious and if there is something you can't live without, bring some of it with you until you can establish if it's readily accessible here (e.g., basil, Tabasco sauce, Parmesan cheese)), and good bras (size and variety may be lacking).
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