Something is growing in my dining room.

Good thing we never got around to buying a dining room table, because our dining room is now home to growing-larger-every-day pile of "stuff" that we plan to take with us to Lagos. It started with a unassuming box of dishes from Target and now has grown two to three boxes deep and has sent tentacles along three of the four walls in that room. Oh, the horror! Seriously, the shopping has been fun, especially the kids' bedding (so cute!), but I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. Surely this can't be right. I'm not really supposed to bring birthday gifts for children we haven't even met yet, am I? And plan my children's birthday parties five months in advance? Organize a pantry I've never seen? Buy uniforms for a school we haven't been accepted to? Stock up a six-months' supply of deodorant? Buy formal wear for parties we haven't been invited to? (Pardon the dangling participles, and yes, I said formal wear. Those crazy Scots and Brits just love to get all natty ... not that I'm complaining! An evening gown was one of the first things I bought, and I can't wait to see hubby in a tux again.)

Following is a list published by the American Women's Club of Lagos:

Things to consider bringing:

• Baby items. Rash creams, safety equipment and baby gates. Baby formula, bottle liners and nipples (teats) if you chose not to breast-feed. Diapers (nappies) are available but very expensive.
• Children's items. Supply of children's medicines. Videos and books. Large toys (floor easel, slides, bikes, houses, etc.) can all be purchased locally but are very expensive, as are children's birthday gifts. Educational toys are scarce.
• Bring or buy transformers for all 110-volt appliances. All appliances purchased here will be 220 volts. Step-down/step-up converters and stabilizers are available at local stores. A 110-volt power strip and 3-to-2 prong adaptor work well with a step-down unit.
• Good quality mattresses, good quality sheets and towels (although sheeting fabric is available), lightweight duvets.
• Selection of baking trays and pans and specialty cookware such as a wok, bundt pan, etc.
• Ziploc bags (all sizes) and heavy duty foil.
• Holiday and seasonal items (Christmas, Halloween, Chinese New Year, etc.)
• There is a serious problem with counterfeit medicines. Also, imported medical products, if genuine, are very expensive. Bring all over-the-counter and prescription drugs that you might need including malarial prophylactics, cold medicines, and allergy relief.
• Pharmacy items: bug spray and sunscreen, anti-bacterial wipes, contact lens solution, favorite cosmetics and hair color (only black is largely available).
• Chemical spot cleaner such as "Dab It Off".
• Prescription for glasses.
• Good quality stationery and art supplies.
• Plenty of passport photos.
• Reference books, such as dictionary and thesaurus.
• If you are an avid reader you might want to bring a supply of books. If you read anything other than English, this is particularly true. Libraries are available.
• Even though there are several good vets here there is not always a supply of medicines and vaccinations.
• Sports clothes, shoes and equipment: Bring all that you will need, although tailors can copy your favorite clothes. If you are a tennis player, be sure to bring whites, as they are required in some clubs. If you are a golfer you will need polo type shirts with sleeves and long, tailored shorts.
• For any special hobbies that you have, bring everything needed. If beading is your hobby, beads are everywhere but the findings are not, so bring loads of string, clasps, etc.
• Most of the walls in houses and apartments (flats) are constructed of concrete. This makes hanging pictures almost impossible with nails or conventional hooks. There are, however, hooks made especially for concrete walls and they work very well. They are not available in Lagos.

What not to bother bringing:

• Furnishings (including curtains) are most easily made-to-order locally.
• Most routine electrical appliances are available, although expensive compared to U.S. prices.
• Furniture. Quality, ready-made furniture is very limited. However, there are many shops specializing in custom-made furniture of wood, wrought iron, rattan and cane. Wood furniture is very expensive and not always properly seasoned, wrought iron less expensive and rattan and cane is cheap and can be used throughout the house.
• Plastic containers are manufactured in Nigeria in many sizes and varieties. Most are adequate. Same applies to picnic-ware.
• Expensive jewelry.

Happily, I am not alone in this monumental organizational effort. A shout-out to my sister K who in her systems-engineer-sort-of-way has helped me build a spreadsheet with columns for "buy there" and another for "ship from home", which is further subdivided into "buy" and "borrow", as in raid from the house here, or buy anew. There's a little bit of both categories in our dining room ... and it's growing.