Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Pack light. This isn't like packing for college. In AmeriCorps*NCCC, less is more especially because you'll find yourself on the move quite a bit. Members are expected to be able to pack their belongings and be on a plane that night if they are called to disaster relief. At the beginning, when you're living in the dorms, you may decorate your room and it may seem like college (especially with a roommate) but you will spend the majority of your year away from campus.
Step2
Know that most teams spend a lot of their year in the Gulf States. It is warm down there, so pack appropriately. It will take up less space in your AmeriCorps*NCCC-issued red bag, leaving you more room for other stuff.
Step3
Have confidence in the fact that you will acquire many free t-shirts during your tenure. Pack "normal" clothes so you can change out of your uniform every once in a while and have some sense of normalcy, but also know that your issued pants (BDUs) are so multipurpose that you will probably be surprised.
Step4
Pack light for toiletries and have some sort of kit to hold your them. This kit should either fit in your luggage or clip easily to it and be able to hold the necessities; toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, vitamins, deodorant, sunscreen, shampoo and conditioner. Remember that you'll be on the go a lot, so items like one-time use face wash cloths are fairly practical.
Step5
Pack the things that are important to you. For example: a favorite book, an MP3 player, DVDs, a journal and so on. You'll be much happier with the less stuff you have. And just know that there will be plenty of books floating around. An absolute must-have for everyone is a digital camera. You'll want to document these experiences. Team leaders, make sure to bring playing cards and games to break up the stress and the grind of the work you'll be doing. Your team will thank you for it later.
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