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PACKING CHECKLIST FOR DAKAR

Congratulations on your assignment to Dakar, Senegal! Please use the following checklist as a guideline for your packing and shopping preparations as you embark on your adventure. Dakar has grown in size and diversity over the past several years and provides most everything you may need. New hotels, shops, and restaurants are constantly on the increase – your choices in Dakar for goods and services are also on the rise!

Please feel free to contact the Dakar CLO Office should you have any questions whatsoever – We are looking forward to meeting you!

Air Freight:

Pack an adequate supply of non-breakable cooking utensils, small kitchen appliances, tableware, basic linens, pillows, hangers, an iron (220v if possible), and a battery- operated or wind-up clock. Families with children should bring toys and books. While hospitality kits can sometimes be kept after airfreight arrives, be sure to pack everything that you will need for the first 2 - 3 months.

Clothing – Women:

Lightweight, durable cotton clothing is best for the hot season, from June through November. Bring cotton or linen dresses, skirts, short sleeved or sleeveless blouses, T - shirts, lightweight slacks, jeans, shorts (for home, pool, sports), lots of underwear (100% cotton recommended), bathing suits, hats, visors, sportswear, comfortable low-heeled shoes, sandals, and athletic shoes.

For the cool season (and air - conditioned offices), you'll need long sleeved blouses and dresses, lightweight sweaters, sweatshirts or jackets, and a small selection of heavy clothing for travel to the U.S. or Europe in winter. Pantyhose are rarely worn here and are not available locally, so bring a supply if you can’t do without them! The cool season is the only time you'll be comfortable in synthetic fabrics or lightweight wools. Bring a formal or cocktail dress for the Marine Ball, held in early to mid- November.

Clothing – Men:

Lightweight, durable, cotton clothing is best for the hot season (June - November). If you normally wear suits or sports jackets to work, look for lightweight materials. For casual wear bring slacks, jeans, shorts, short sleeved shirts and T-shirts, lots of 100% cotton underwear, lightweight sweaters, sweatshirts or jackets, sportswear (including hats), bathing suits, sandals, tennis shoes, softball shoes (if you have them, bring them; we have an active softball league), and a small selection of heavy clothing for winter travel to the U.S. or Europe.

What to bring????? What to buy???

Here’s what you should consider (subject to your tastes and needs):

Food/Grocery Items:

❑ Salsa: can’t get good jar salsa here. If you like to make it homemade you can get those items here

❑ Refried beans (though you can make your own too!)

❑ Green chilies and jalapenos in a can

❑ Taco and burrito shells – sometimes in stores here, but inconsistent

❑ Vienna sausages

❑ Dill pickles slices, chips

❑ Favorite vegetables in cans basics are available

❑ Soups (especially cream of mushroom/celery/chicken for cooking)

❑ Canned tuna (avail here at $1/can)

❑ Macaroni and cheese mix

❑ Velveeta cheese block

❑ Popcorn – microwave and regular (depending on your taste)

❑ Ketchup – available here but not the same taste or quality

❑ Mustard, yellow – available here but not the same taste

❑ Horseradish

❑ Hoisin sauce and other Asian spices (though there are several Asian markets here)

❑ Cocktail sauce

❑ Cranberry sauce

❑ Coffee (it’s expensive and quality is different)

❑ Packaged sauce mixes (like alfredo, gravy, teriyaki)

❑ Spaghetti sauce

❑ Baking items – pecans, walnuts, mix for piecrust, pie filling,

spices, corn syrup, cake mix, bread mix, muffin mix, food color, chocolate chips

❑ Vanilla, almond and other extracts

❑ Bread flour

❑ Canned pumpkin

❑ Brown sugar

❑ Raisins and any dried fruit

❑ Meat tenderizer – very important for the beef here

❑ Nonstick cooking spray

❑ Salad dressing – unless you make homemade

❑ Chocolate syrup for milk, ice cream and Ovaltine

❑ Maraschino cherries

❑ Marshmallows and marshmallow cream

❑ Graham crackers, ‘nilla wafers, Oreos, etc.

❑ Peanut Butter

❑ Hot sauce – Tabasco

❑ Fruit preserves are available but not jelly, nor the quality

❑ Mayonnaise

❑ Chili Powder

❑ All Spices you like to use (Cream of Tarter)

❑ Oil for cooking – vegetable oil is available but not the same quality; olive oil is very expensive!

❑ Pancake mix and especially syrup

❑ Pizza crust mix

❑ Whole wheat flour

❑ Yeast

❑ Drink mix – Crystal light, Gatorade, Hot Chocolate mix, Decaf tea (regular is available)

❑ Juice – Cranberry is not available. We have pretty good quality apple, orange, grapefruit, and pineapple; also good locally made juices

❑ Root Beer / Dr. Pepper /Mt. Dew

❑ Artificial Sweetener – Sweet & Low, Equal, or Splenda

❑ Coffeemate creamer

❑ Powdered cocoa

❑ Special decaffeinated teas (though some available here)

❑ Tortilla Chips – a good way to keep from breaking is to put a pin hole in the bag, push the air out, cover the hole with tape, and wrap in bubble wrap. They arrive in good condition and will not go stale.

❑ Chips, ChexMix, Cheetos, small lunch packs - any snack item -they are extremely expensive here and do not have same quality

❑ Dietetic items, health food items

❑ Liquor – most are available here but more expensive. If you have a favorite then send it. Also, strawberry daiquiri mix, margarita mix. (can’t find Sherry or Kirsch)

❑ Breakfast cereals (they have some here but poor quality)

❑ Pet Supplies:

o Pet food and supplies can be ordered from on-line grocery sites, but it’s best to ship large quantities in your HHE

o Flea and tick shampoos

o Heart Guard Heartworm medication and Frontline which helps to prevent the dogs from getting Mango worms

o Shots are available from the vets here but if your dog is of a British Breed they cannot take the shots. (Silkie Terriers & Yorkies)

o Kitty litter

o Toys

o Liquid pet stain remover

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:

Most items are available locally, though brands and quality may be unfamiliar. It is best to bring as many bulk paper items as possible in your HHE. Bring kitchen appliances and utensils you normally use. The Embassy only supplies 3-4 transformers (at most) per household. Bring enough of your own to operate your 110v appliances. You can buy 220-volt appliances often cheaper in the states than here.

Plastic containers (various sizes) with tight-fitting lids

Plastic pitchers

A large heavy duty metal pot with cover for boiling water

Glasses

Dishes (service for 8 - 12 or more if you plan to entertain formally) including serving pieces for regular and buffet meals

Ice cube trays and ice bucket

Dish towels, dish cloths

Potholders

Kitchen trash can with appropriate sized trash bags

An oven thermometer

Table linens

❑ Not essential but nice to have:

o An ice cream maker/bread maker

o Drawer organizers

o Shelf paper for cupboards

❑ Paper towels

❑ Toilet paper

❑ Paper plates

❑ Plastic cups

❑ Plastic forks – all available but very expensive

❑ Scrubbing sponges and steel wool pads

❑ Spray starch

❑ Dust mops and sponge mops (with lots of extra sponges)

❑ 2 or 3 heavy - duty brooms

❑ Buckets

❑ Laundry basket

❑ Wastebaskets for bedrooms and bathrooms

❑ Furniture polish

❑ Windex

❑ Silver cleaner

❑ Auto polish and wash

❑ Cleaning cloths

❑ Feather duster

❑ Drain opener

❑ Plastic countertop dish dryer

❑ Extra cookie sheets and serving platters

❑ Pressure cooker (comes in handy for those tough meats)

❑ Electric frying pan or fryer

❑ All your bath needs:

o Shampoo

o Soap

o Hair items

o Razors

o Perfume

o Deodorant

o Lotion/ cold cream

o Dental floss, toothpaste, toothbrush

❑ Feminine Hygiene Products – very expensive here and limited

❑ Make up, nail polish, nail polish remover

❑ If you wear contact lenses, ship a supply of rinsing/storing solution as it is not available here and is difficult to ship in the pouch

❑ Antibacterial hand sanitizer – bring some that will fit in your purse. You’ll need a lot of this

❑ Aluminum foil

❑ Ziploc bags

❑ Oven bags

❑ Plastic wrap

❑ Wax paper

❑ Large plastic containers to keep bugs out of your food in cabinets

❑ Laundry detergent - the local stuff is VERY expensive and poor quality

❑ Fabric softener – sheets and liquid

❑ Stain remover for laundry

❑ Laundry washing bag for delicate clothes

❑ Shower curtains and hooks – for the number of bathrooms plus extras that are extra long

❑ Clothes hangers

❑ Bathroom scale

❑ Towels, washcloths, bath mats, tub mats, beach towels

❑ Bed linens (queen and twin sheets)

❑ Lightweight blankets

❑ Bedspreads

❑ Bed pillows

❑ Cedar blocks for storing winter clothes

❑ Small sewing kit

❑ Sanitizing wipes

MEDICAL ITEMS:

❑ Cold medicine

❑ Flu meds

❑ Headache meds

❑ Fever meds

❑ Diarrhea meds

❑ Pepto Bismol

❑ Toothache meds

❑ Rubbing alcohol

❑ Peroxide

❑ Eye care for contacts

❑ Vitamins

❑ Bug bite meds

❑ Allergy meds

❑ Sun block – you will use this daily so bring lots

❑ Mosquito spray, cream – daily use

❑ Put together a small med kit for the car and for the house

❑ Thermometer – aural and oral

❑ Band-Aids

❑ Antibiotic ointment and other medicated creams

❑ Q-tips

❑ Any kids’ medicine

FOR THE CAR and YARD:

❑ Inexpensive patio furniture if you have the weight allowance to include it. You can get the plastic stuff here but it is imported and expensive.

❑ Lawn umbrella or garden sunshade

❑ Grill and accessories

❑ Citronella candles – the type in buckets are very good. Mosquito coils.

❑ Folding chairs – the type that fold and fit into a bag are perfect. You’ll keep one in the car and use them at the beach and in your yard.

❑ Gardening tools – the Embassy provides a rake, ladder, and wheelbarrow only.

❑ Bring small tools and seeds. You will want to consider growing some of your own veggies/fruits due to drought and we don’t always have things available at the market

❑ Fertilizers

❑ Insecticides

❑ Seed starting trays

❑ Small clippers

❑ Watering can

❑ Look into bringing a supply of auto parts, such as oil and air filters, belts, shocks – they are very expensive and could save you a bundle

❑ Sunshade for car

❑ Good jumper cables for car

❑ Any camping gear (tents, lanterns, etc)

OFFICE ITEMS:

❑ Envelopes – letter, legal, brown for mailing photos and videos home

❑ Stamps – not available here, get some larger denominations $5, $1, as well as your regular postage

❑ Stationery

o Notepaper

o Envelopes

o Birthday and other candles

o Gift wrap, and ribbon

o School supplies (get list ahead of time on school website)

o Pencil sharpener

o Scissors

o Magic markers

o Refills for pens

o Glue, construction paper

❑ Cards, anything you’ll want to mail home for special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, etc.

❑ Family pictures and albums

❑ Tape (packing and scotch)

❑ Special printer paper and labels

❑ Printer ink cartridges

❑ Camera, video and regular. Bring film and batteries for them.

❑ Digital photo paper

❑ USB drives or other portable data storage device

❑ CD-Rom blank diskettes

❑ Blank videocassettes (for video camera)

❑ Batteries for digital items (like watch batteries)

❑ Surge suppressors

❑ Power strips

❑ Check school websites for school supply list and bring those items

PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT:

❑ Tapes, DVD’s, cassettes, CD's, blank video and audio tapes

❑ VCR/DVD – A must – not much on regular TV and it is expensive. But multi-system so you can watch PAL and SECAM tapes

❑ Computer microphone (for use with voice-over-internet systems like Skype)

❑ Musical instruments (we do have a piano tuner in Dakar)

❑ Music books, paperback books, magazines (keep subscriptions current)

❑ Home computer or laptop

❑ Stereo (must be 50/60 cycle)

❑ Battery operated boom box radio/CD/Tape player

❑ Extension cords

❑ Extra fuses for appliances that use them

❑ Voltage regulators for sensitive electronic equipment (dual voltage models for 90 - 150v and 210 - 270v are best)

❑ Power strips (UPS) we get lots of power surges and you will want to protect your computer, stereo, television, etc.

❑ UPS for computer

❑ Radio and/or short wave radio (It is possible to pick up the BBC World Service as well as a wide range of stations if you have a short-wave radio

❑ Note: The RTS (RadioDiffusion Television du Senegal is the national radio and TV network. Radio broadcasts take place in Wolof, Diola and Pular but French is the official and the most-used language. Satellite TV is available in English from DSTV South Africa. Also, there is French Canal Horizon and TV5.

OTHER THINGS:

❑ Holiday decorations – Christmas tree is recommended

❑ Wrapping paper

❑ Small hostess gifts – boxed cards, candles, smelly stuff

❑ Board games, cards (for adults!)

❑ Books

❑ Musical instruments

❑ Music books and musical instrument accessories (strings)

❑ All your sports equipment for softball, running, fishing, swimming, croquet, badminton, horseback riding, basketball, bicycling, scuba diving, golf, basketball, yoga, pool, beach, scuba, and tennis

❑ Sewing equipment: The markets are full of beautiful material

o Extra bobbins

o Sewing machine needles

o Machine oil and a spare belt for your sewing machine

o A variety of thread, trims, buttons, seam binding, elastic, zippers, etc. Sewing notions are available but expensive

❑ Cooler – small and large

❑ Blue ice for cooler

❑ Camel back or insulated water bottles

❑ If you think you’ll bring your lunch to work – insulated lunch box

❑ BBQ Grill – if you have a gas grill you can use it here. You’ll have to have an adapter made for the tanks here, but that is easy. They don’t sell charcoal here but sell coal. Also good is a George Foreman style indoor/outdoor grill.

❑ Battery operated alarm clocks

❑ Vacuum cleaner – 220 Volt is best if you can find it. Bring bags and belts.

❑ Swifter sweeper and replacement sheets

❑ Lamps – you can use them with an adapter, which you can buy here. You are provided a few here but usually needed extras

❑ Adhesive cord clamps – used to keep your lamp cords against the wall

❑ Bottle openers – most soda and beer do not have twist tops

❑ Batteries for everything – watches, camera.

❑ Iron – must have 220 volt

❑ Ironing board with cover

❑ Blow dryer/curling iron – get dual voltage ones and bring a second blow dryer. Some people recommend bringing two hairdryers in case one breaks since it costs so much to replace them locally. If possible purchase a 220 hairdryer & or curling iron before arrival

❑ Stepladder for inside the house. Two-step is good.

❑ Area rugs

❑ Couch covers – some of the fabrics on the issued furniture may not be to your liking and may not match each other. So, you may want to consider this. They can also be ordered online once you arrive.

❑ Candles – very expensive here.

❑ Flashlights

❑ Cordless phone – you are issued two regular phones by the Embassy, but a cordless is very handy.

❑ Electric drill, power tools, any hardware (tools, nails, hooks)

CHILDREN:

❑ While some baby clothes and supplies are available locally (at high prices) it is best to pack adequate supplies of everything that you will need!

o 5-6 dozen cloth diapers if you plan to use them

o Any special washing aids

o Diaper pins

o If you plan to use disposable diapers, be aware that they are very expensive locally

o Diaper wipes

o Plastic pants (various sizes)

o Training pants

o Outer clothing for summer and early fall

o Pajamas for air-conditioned bedrooms or cool nights

o Crib and crib linens

o Waterproof pads

o Mosquito nets for crib and playpen. (Mosquito nets can be ordered locally from multiple shops including Ameublement Ghandour, 59, Avenue General Pompidou, telephone number 822-1438)

o Sturdy stroller

o Collapsible but not flimsy since sidewalks are very uneven

o Car seat

o Playpen

o Highchair

o Backpack (not essential but nice to have)

o Toilet seat or potty

o Formula (if you want to use American brand; French brands are available and quite inexpensive)

o Plastic bottles, nipples, bottle sterilizers

o Prepared baby food (also available locally, but expensive)

o Diaper cream

o Baby thermometer

o Baby food – runs about $1.50 a small jar

❑ A small inflatable pool for the yard

❑ Kids’ party supplies and decorations, goody bag items

❑ Craft supplies

❑ Crayons, non-toxic paints, other arts and crafts supplies

❑ Kids’ Clothing needs:

o Sneakers, play shoes, sandals, cotton socks, flip flops, pool shoes, slippers

o Lots of underwear

o Shorts, jeans, T-shirts

o Lightweight sweaters or jackets, windbreaker

o Sweatshirts

o Some dressier clothes

o At least 2-3 bathing suits

o Hats

o Pajamas suitable for air - conditioned bedrooms or cool nights,

o Small selection of heavy clothing for winter travel to the U.S. or Europe.

❑ Halloween costumes

❑ Games, toys and other amusements

❑ Books (reading and coloring)

❑ Inexpensive gifts to give friends at Christmas and birthdays (at least 10 or 15 for small children parties are very popular)

❑ A lunchbox and non - breakable thermos

❑ Consider bringing:

o A tricycle or bike

o Scout uniform and equipment

o Sleeping bag

o Beach toys and sports equipment

o Musical instrument and music books

o An air mattress

o Float, swim rings for the pool

o Children's cassettes and CDs of songs and stories

o Inexpensive children's tape player

o Videos of favorite programs

o Big play equipment like swing sets, slides, playhouses, sandboxes or inflatable swimming pools - the things you can't mail order.

Remember: You can buy items here, but the cost is much higher – Plan ahead. Bring anything you use that is a liquid and is allowed to be shipped. Most shippers will let you bring what you want. Only 16 ounces of liquid items can be shipped through the pouch at one time (no glass).

Once You Arrive In Dakar:

A helpful hint – go to , , , or other internet grocery shopping site on the internet and browse through what is available, especially seasonal items. This will give you a good idea of what you can order. Remember, liquids are limited. You may want to just order online when you get here instead of shipping the food items. Consider the cost and shipping. This also depends on your weight allowance for your household goods. When shopping, don’t forget to check expiration dates.

ETC:

Due to the amount of time it takes to receive your shipment, you will want to consider mailing a few boxes of dry and canned food items and any other special items which will make your first days more comfortable. It really helps when making the transition. Definitely bring or mail any items you will need for kids, especially if they will be celebrating a birthday soon after arriving at post. Your shipment can take up to two months to arrive and you will want to be prepared.

Save Money! In general, nearly everything can be found in Dakar but usually at a price. Therefore, if you're below your weight allowance, you'll save money by sending anything (food, liquid or glass items are not allowed through the pouch) that you use in large quantities or any specialty foods and liquid cleaners you like and use often. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised by the fact that certain services are quite inexpensive when compared to prices in the United States. For example, labor, framing, tailors and jewelry amongst others. Shop around – you may be surprised by what you find here in Dakar!! Happy packing!?

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