Top 25 Must Have Items if you’re a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi ...

... aka the top 25 things I would most like to receive in packages ;)
1. Lollipops, they’re a real treat for me and for the iwe
2. Skittles, now vegan friendly!
3. Dark chocolate anything
4. Good headphones, I mean durable, good sound, something to drown out rain on a tin roof.
5. Toothbrushes, they’re just no good here
6. Head lamp, believe me this is an absolute must
7. A good knife, to dice, chop, what have you.
8. Taco Bell sauce packets, oh how I wish I had any sort of Mexican food!
9. Ziploc bags or any and all shapes and sizes
10. iHome speakers, something to plug into the iPod and listen to music.
11. Black socks, turns out the red-colored dust permanently died my white socks
12. Nail files, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one here
13. Hand sanitizer
14. Pecans, almonds, cashews, mixed nuts (just not peanuts)
15. Cotton balls
16. Good pens, they’re crap here
17. Good chapstick
18. Good deodorant, this needs no explanation
19. Crystal Light packets and other flavored drink sachets
20. Magazines, (The Economist, New Yorker, Harper’s, Vanity Fair are my faves)
21. Razors, I may be in the bush but I don’t need a bush (on the legs or the pits) I use a Venus Divine
22. Bobby pins and headbands
23. Vitamins and Emergen-C, Guarana supplements, definitely can’t find these is at the village tuck shop
24. Nail polish, sometimes painting your toenails is just what you need
25. Yoga pose book, now I’m getting a little greedy, but hey it would be nice
Now please feel free to ship any combination of the above to make my stay in the village that much more enjoyable.

Please ship to:
Chelsea Mertz, PCV
c/o Mhalaunda Health Center
Box 7
Embangweni, Mzimba
Malawi
Southeast Africa