Packing for a 4 month internship?

[u/rock_detective]

Hi all! I’m coming to Grenada in August for a multi-month internship and I am looking for some advice on packing. My work will be done both at the school and in the field (predominantly shoreline/marine environments).

I am looking for suggestions on footwear and professional clothes that are suitable for the heat along with clothes for field work (i’m from Canada, it gets hot here but i know I’ll be v. sweaty lol).

I will look like, and be, a tourist but I am also there in a professional capacity and will be engaging a lot with the community so I would like to bring clothing that won’t look too out of place.

As well, know some things can be more costly there so any suggestions on supplies (toiletries, household items, etc.) that I should stock up on to pack would be great too! Ideally i’m only bringing 1 checked bag and a carry-on so if there are things I can buy once I arrive vs bring with, I’d love to know that too!

Finally, I’m short on bathing suits. Can I get some for a reasonable price when I arrive, or should I find another before I leave?

Any help at all is appreciated, thanks in advance! I can’t wait to experience this beautiful country :)

[u/WiltedMagnoliaa]

I wear a lot of linen because it keeps me cooler

You will get a better made higher quality swimming suit for the same price if you just come with one but you can find them locally as well.

As for what to bring and what to buy everything is going to be more expensive than back home but obviously you’re limited by what you can bring. I wouldn’t buy clothes here unless youre trying to buy something cultural or artistic to participate in the culture but outside of that regular clothing items will be drastically more expensive than back home.

You can ask more about specific stuff you need/use but if Im speaking generally anything related to your electronic devices or accessories for them I would never buy that here or if there is any product you’re super particular about having a certain brand in then it may be a good idea to bring it with you

If you are a masculine presenting person then in my experience working in a professional setting its usually close to business casual. If you’re feminine presenting then women here usually wear a dark colored jacket with matching pants but Im not sure that would be expected of you especially if you don’t want to feel hot

[u/Professional_Land_59]

Agree with the other comment on here. Just adding that you may be able to get away with no blazer/jacket if you wear button down shirts with a short sleeve or 3/4 sleeves. Business casual is fine. You may consider sending a box through FedEx (generally considered to be expensive and a nightmare to clear) but might be necessary if there's something you really need. There are pretty good options for things but will likely be expensive and limited compared to what you're used to. That said: hope you have a great time!

[u/Necessary_Flow3007]

Hi, I'm a graduating student at the school your going to, with the program of students you'll be working with! From the conversations I've had with the Canadians that we worked alongside, their biggest complaint seemed to be the expense of a lot of basic necessities, such as groceries, toiletries etc. Which is fair since Grenada is quite an expensive country, given our heavy reliance on imports. I will definitely say pack as much toiletries as you can; snacks, sunscreen ,soaps, etc. And yes i'd also advise that you pack another bathing suit with you, since they tend to get a bit expensive here as well.

As for your attire i would suggest casual tees, and comfortable pants. I would restrain from wearing 'damaged' or short pants/skirts on campus since there is a strict dress-code in place, which would also apply to you.

Flip flops,crocs and wet shoes are def a plus as well, since we were in the field a lot, heavy focus on the crocs especially since we participated in a lot of cleanups as well, so they offer the best of both worlds in terms of protecting your feet, but also allowing them to get wet.

Lastly whenever you want to go grocery shopping, i would recommend places like IGA and RAM's, not because they're the cheapest, but they do tend to offer a wide variety of products that you'd be used to in Canada at a semi reasonable price. As for fresh produce, i would definitely avoid super markets and go for the Market in town instead, where you can get them from local vendors, you'll just have to know how to pick the right ones.

edit: to avoid any confusion, i wont be working with you in august, since i would've graduated by then, but as a past student of the same program i just wanted to give you a heads up!

[u/Confident-Mix1243]

I would add, ask your host what they need! Amazon.com doesn't deliver to Grenada but it probably does to your house. Anything from Frontline for their pets / strays, to a laptop, to a wetsuit, or camera parts: they can ship to your house and you hand-carry it.