Peace Corps Fiji Packing List

I remember trying to pack for Peace Corps and being unable to decipher the messages I received from country staff about exactly what it was we were supposed to wear during Pre-Service Training. "Pacific business attire? Pocketsulu? What are they talking about?" I asked myself. Hopefully this list will help clear up some of these questions and provide you with a comprehensive packing list for your Peace Corps service in Fiji.

Note: I am a bit of a minimalist. I was the only person in my group to bring one bag of the two fifty-pounders allowed. Still, I feel like I brought too much. This is a list of essentials that will get you through your service.

Pre-Service Training (PST)

This is where I felt most in the dark about packing and what we were supposed to wear.

Men: PST wear during training sessions is slacks or a pocket sulu (basically a skirt, you will only find this incountry for about FJD $20) with a bula shirt (flowery, "hawaiian" button down) or a polo. During hours spent with your host family you can wear shorts and a t-shirt or whatever you would like.

Women: Long skirt or dress that covers the shoulders. You can also wear a sleeveless dress, but will have to wear a light sweater or something over it to cover your shoulders. During your time in the village you can wear a sulu (Basically a piece of fabric that wraps around your waist and drapes to mid-calf/ankle) and a t-shirt. Peace Corps provides all volunteers with a sulu free of charge the day you land in Fiji.

Service

Your actual service consists of the same dress as PST for most occasions, though in many settings you will be able to dress down a bit. This is especially true for men. Ninety percent of the day I am in gym shorts and shirtless. I put on a t-shirt when I leave my house. I wear a pocket sulu and bula shirt when I go to work or to an important function like a wedding, funeral, or meeting.

Packing List:

• Men
• 2 Pairs of slacks
• A must have for PST and other formal settings, especially if you are in an Indo-Fijian (Fijiancitizen of Indian descent) community.
• 4 Collared shirts
• Polo or button up.
• 1 White, short-sleeved button up
• For funerals and church.
• 4 Pairs of shorts
• I only wear gym shorts here. I find it too hot for anything else, though jorts (jean shorts) are the most common Fijian village wear for boys and men.
• 2 Tank tops
• Fiji is hot.
• 5 T-shirts
• These will wear out fast, so I recommend shirt-swapping once you are in country.
• 1 Razor
• Don’t bring a lot of blades. Razors are cheaper here than in the U.S.
• I bought a safety razor in Fiji for $2 from Bargain Box, a discount store found in every major town.
• Bathing suit/Board shorts
• Women
• 4 Long dresses
• 2 Long skirts
• 1 Sweater
• Just to cover shoulders. Make it light weight.
• 1 Bikini
• For the times you play a tourist at a resort or kaivulagi beach.
• 1 Leggings
• The ones women wear to work out in. These are good for swimming when you don’t want to wear a sulu.
• 5 T-shirts
• Sports bras and regular bras
• Miscellaneous
• Rain Coat/Parka/Umbrella
• I didn’t bring any of these but I wish I had. Only one is necessary.
• Jacket/Hoodie
• Once you have been here a while and gotten used to the heat, seventy degree days will have you reaching for your jacket. This is not a joke.
• Quick Dry Towel
• Things take forever to dry in the tropics, and they often become mildewy.
• Flip-flops
• Don’t listen to everyone who tells you to buy expensive Chaco’s. They suck. In Fiji you will constantly be taking your shoes on and off and these ugly and bulky sandals are not designed for this.
• If I could go back I would only bring one pair of $5 flip-flops and my Vibram FiveFingers or other water shoes.
• No sneakers and no sandals.
• Crappy flip-flops are the only thing I wear when I wear shoes, which is almost never. They are also acceptable to pair with formal wear in Fiji, for village events as well as PST.
• Day Pack
• For short-term travel in-country.
• Large Backpack
• For hauling your things to Fiji and packing for long stays in-country.
• Toiletries
• Everything can be purchased in Fiji.
• Bring 1 tube of toothpaste, 1 toothbrush, and deodorant (a bunch if you like a specific kind, though I only wear it when I go to town).
• Gorilla Tape
• Even stronger than duct tape.
• Wrap it around your water bottle to save space.
• Drip coffee maker/French press/Tea strainer
• If you love coffee and/or tea, these are a must.
• Coffee is expensive here but it is well worth it to have that little bit of America every morning.
• I use the drip coffee maker and brought 100 filters, though I would suggest packing more. Best thing I brought to Fiji.
• Ziploc Bags
• Second best thing I brought to Fiji.
• Bring both gallon and quart bags.
• Can Opener
• In Fiji, cans are opened with knives. Bring a can opener.
• Nalgene Bottle
• It’s easy to spot a Peace Corps Volunteer by their Nalgene covered in stickers from foreign countries.
• Optional
• Snorkel Gear
• The coral and fish here are amazing.
• GoPro
• Only if you want some sweet pictures without taking up a lot of space in your bag.
• I would also recommend the Selfie Stick for holding it underwater, getting good shots over crowds, and, of course, taking selfies when you climb mountains and such.
• Kindle
• You will get bored. The kindle allows you to read hundreds of books, even after the electricity is turned off and it's pitch black.
• Laptop
• Very nice to have for filling out your Volunteer Report Form and watching movies.
• External Hard Drive
• For said movies.
• Notebooks
• If you like to write/journal.
• Kitchen Knife
• Everyone will tell you Fiji knives suck, which is kind of true but mostly because they use them to open tin cans and things of that nature.
• I brought a knife and I’m glad I did, but it is not necessary.
• Playing cards
• If you like card games.
• Maps
• Kids love looking at America and the World.
• Photos from home
• Especially photos of snow and your home to show locals.

Like I said, I brought the least stuff of anyone in my group, and I still have a bag hanging in my house I call "The Bag of Things I Will Never Use". Don’t be me. Bring only the essentials. People here are also human beings and need the same things you do. Thus, things human beings need are sold in Fiji.