Deciding what to pack for a semester abroad can be extremely overwhelming. You don鈥檛 want to under-pack but you also don鈥檛 want to take too much. Our two Student Travel Consultants, Garhett and Courtney recently spent semesters abroad. In this blog, they will share what they packed and some overall advice on what to bring with you!
After being accepted to a study abroad program and purchasing a plane ticket, the next major thing to do is to decide what you are going to bring and pack. What you bring depends on a lot of things such as: where you are going, how long you are spending in that location, and what you plan to purchase or bring back with you.
Garhett ():
- Research Climate/ Temperatures: Before you start anything I would research the average temperatures for the months you will be there. This will give you an idea of what type of clothes you need to bring. For me, the temperature was shifting from winter into spring. However, the Greek winters are not as intense as a typical Iowa winter this is why researching the temps is so important. Once you know the temperature you can start planning what you need to bring.
Plan Ahead: Personally, I like packing at least a week prior to leaving. This allows me to remember any last-minute things I would like to bring before it鈥檚 too late. When packing for Greece I took three bags; a checked bag (a single suitcase), an overhead bag (a single duffle bag), and a personal item (a backpack). I packed a majority of my clothes in my suitcase, which included jeans, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. I left my duffle bag mostly empty in case I bought anything while abroad that I would like to bring home. One thing to keep in mind is the number of clothes you bring. In Greece, we had laundry machines in the dorm so I was able to wash my clothes at least once a week. That being said, I was able to get by with slightly more than a week鈥檚 worth of clothes.- Laundry Service: Most dorms and apartments have laundry facilities on site. If there is no laundry system where you are staying, I might recommend bringing some extra pairs of clothes (2 weeks鈥� worth) just in case you cannot get to the laundry machines regularly. I would also do some research as there may be a laundromat nearby. In Greece, there was a laundromat in downtown Thessaloniki. These were convenient if all the machines in the dorm were taken. The times I did this, I threw all my dirty clothes into my duffle bag or backpack and took a taxi downtown. Then it only cost a couple of euros to use the machines and dry my clothes. One thing to consider is it may take an hour or so to clean your clothes so give yourself time to do so.
- Luggage Considerations: Checked bags must weigh under a certain amount depending on the airline you are flying. Make sure to weigh your bag before arriving at the airport. You can review luggage restrictions and guidelines on the flight provider鈥檚 website. On most airlines, every passenger is allowed a carry-on item and the only stipulation is it must fit under your seat. For me, this was a backpack. I would highly recommend bringing a backpack as it is a great way to carry your clothes for weekend trips to other countries.
- Electronics: It is important to research what type of outlets the country you are visiting uses. The United States charging blocks are very different from most countries and will not work if they are different. Personally, I took a set of three different charging blocks in case I went to other places. You can usually find these on Amazon or other online shopping sites. In addition to dealing with different outlets, do not bring electric razors, blow dryers, or electric toothbrushes with you (battery ones are fine). The electric converter is different in these items and can cause them to catch on fire when being charged. Play it on the safe side and don鈥檛 bring these items. If you truly feel they are a necessity, plan on purchasing them when you arrive in the other country.
Courtney ():
Luggage Considerations: For luggage on the way there, I checked one fifty-pound suitcase, brought a wheelie carry-on, as well as had my backpack as a personal item.- Planning Ahead: I took into consideration the mild temperatures in Ireland, looked into places I wanted to travel to, and researched fashion trends.
- Packing Breakdown: I went through four rounds of choosing and eliminating clothes before I settled on the items I wanted. I started with my whole wardrobe and picked items that met the criteria for the notes I took in my research. I made different outfits and found 鈥渂asics鈥� that would go with many different looks. I took a notebook and wrote down all of the items I wanted to pack. This included dresses, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, blouses, sweatshirts, jackets, as well as undergarments. I also packed short rain boots, tennis shoes, sandals, vans, and a pair of nicer shoes! This probably accumulated to 3 weeks鈥� worth of clothes. I found making a list very helpful as I could cross them off as I packed. The day before I left, I did a final look through my items and added/eliminated items as needed. I brought most of my jewelry and makeup as well!
- Adjustments for Traveling Home: While abroad, I did A LOT of shopping. One suitcase was not going to fit all of my items. I decided to purchase another large checked bag to bring home with me, where I was able to fit everything I brought originally and purchased abroad! I found the shopping in Europe to be one of my favorite parts! So definitely keep that in consideration when packing for the trip.
- Electronics: In Ireland, the adapter needed is the Type G plug adapter (different from the Type J in mainland Europe)! I learned quickly that some beauty items that we use in the U.S. cannot withstand the voltage of European outlets (it will fry your curling Irons, straighteners, etc.). In response, I purchased both a straightener and a hair dryer from beauty stores in Ireland. These products were about $20 each. I brought them back home with me and have been able to use them when traveling to other countries since! Another product I found extremely useful, especially when making short trips to other countries is a portable charger! It was so useful on flights, trains, buses, or just walking around the cities!
Packing can be stressful, especially when you are spending months in a foreign country. The key is to give yourself some time to pack and don鈥檛 make it last minute!
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