Things to Bring...

Recommended Things to Bring


For your stay at Holy Cross College (these things will be able to be kept in locked rooms while we are traveling.

Pillow
Blanket (if so desired)
Bed sheets for small single bed
Towels

For your travels to Ghana (everything must fit in one duffel bag or backpack + one very small carry-on piece of luggage)

Bring at least:

  • Underwear
  • One comfortable, but more dressy outfit (for more formal occasions)
  • One pair of blue-jeans or casual long pants
  • One pair of sweats or loose-fitting pants to be put on after dark to protect against mosquitoes (this can be the same pair as the casual pants above)
  • Comfortable shoes for walking long distances. Sandals are recommended.
  • One pair of shorts
  • Comfortable casual shirts (not t-shirts)
  • Something cool to sleep in. Rooms are not air-conditioned. You will be sharing rooms so make sure you sleep in enough clothes to not make your roommate feel awkward.
  • Some sort of travel money pouch to tuck into your pants or under your shirt. You will carry your airline tickets, passports, and money in these. Unfortunately, we will be easy high profile targets for pick-pockets.
  • Personal hygiene items (things that keep you clean, healthy and not too smelly)
  • The most important medical supplies recommended by Dr. Gongwer. (I will have a modest first-aid kit)
Optional:
  • A small portable backpack to carry cameras, food, water, etc. when we take day trips.

Don't Worry About:
  • Towels. You do not need to bring towels, sheets, and pillows to Ghana.
  • Toilet Paper. You do not need to bring toilet paper. Though many Ghanaians do not use it, it will be available where we are staying.
  • Laundry Detergent. Part of the Ghana experience is to use their detergent!

Clothing Concerns
Remember, you will be in a hot and humid climate for two weeks. On most days, shorts, sandals, and casual shirts will be the norm. Don't pack many t-shirts. Things are a bit more formal in Ghana so when in Rome, do as the Romans -- we don't want to dress down too much. Also, any t-shirt you do bring should not have more than a few words on it. Carefully evaluate the writing on every single piece of clothing. In general, the people of Ghana have a stronger sense of modesty and decency. There should be no clothing that promotes drug use or drunkeness, or makes any reference to sex or anything remotely vulgar. What seems harmless to you might be considered offensive over there. The best thing to do is to wear clothing without any writing at all. Also, under no circumstances should anyone bring anything that says, "Fighting Irish" or "Irish." The deep rooted tension between the Irish and the Brits is not something we want to involve ourselves in.

Food
I recommend that you bring a box of snack bars (I like PowerBars) for airports and those very rare occasions in Ghana when the food is less than appetizing. We can get these in South Bend before we leave. 

Money
Do not bring much money. You won't need it. There isn't much to buy and you won't have much room to carry anything home. The more money you carry, the more you will have to worry about it. You probably shouldn't bring more than $200.  You could probably get by on as little as $75. You will probably spend more money in the airports than two weeks in Ghana. Also, I don't recommend travelers checks. My experience has been that for what little money we carry, they are more trouble than they are worth. You get a better exchange rate in Ghana with U.S. cash too.

Cameras
Bring them if you wish. 35 mm film is available for purchase in Ghana. Video cameras may be a burden. I don't know whether the electrical outlets are compatible with United States hardware.