Looks like the weather is going to be pretty nice in Lima for my three months of training. After that, the weather will depend on where I am posted. If I'm in the Andes in central Peru, then the days are warm (the sun is really strong), but the afternoons are really rainy and cold. If I'm in northern Peru, near Ecuador, then it will be mostly warm. My contacts tell me you can buy anything you need in Lima. Lima has a mall just like the states called Jockey Plaza, with prices that are a bit higher. That certainly reassures me on the pressures of packing.

In my search for information of travelling to Peru, it looks like I'll need a hiker's backpack and rolling duffle bag for packing. Most of the advice I've received says that I should be able to carry all I bring. How in the world do you pack for 2 years and be able to carry it on your back?

My contact in Peru says that she is about 35 minutes from the city of Huaraz where she has access to email and phones. I guess that's better than NO access, right?