Study Abroad Packing: How to Fit Your Entire Life into a Suitcase
By Olivia Pfeiffer
If you are studying abroad in college, no doubt you are filled with excitement about living in a new city or dream of jet setting to various countries around the globe. However, there is also a lot of nervousness associated with leaving home, budgeting and cooking for yourself, and living in a new place with new people. One of the things you shouldn’t be overly stressed about, however, is packing (I say this, of course, spending my last two days before leaving for the UK in tears about fitting all my clothes into a suitcase and stressing about outfits). Below I’ve listed 9 Do’s and Don’t of Studying Abroad Packing.
DO refresh your basics before you go. Given that you will be limited in your outfits, you will be doing a lot more mix and match pieces, layering different costs and pants over plain white and black shirts. Having a good set of basics makes all your outfits feel that much more polished and cleaned, and removes the need to bring as many t-shirts. For example, I have a plain white tee shirt that I wear under EVERYTHING, but after a few seasons it looked fairly rumpled. Going to H&M or Target and making sure that you have all the good basics that you need (black and white long and short sleeved shirts, for example), saves you from overpacking base layers.
DON’T pack all your Villanova gear. It is much more typical in the US to wear your college gear around campus than anywhere else in the world. At Cambridge in the UK, it’s automatically assumed that if you are wearing Cambridge gear you don’t go to college there and are simply a tourist. As much as we all love the Wildcats, there’s no need to pack all your Villanova gear for your trek in South America. Pick your favorite Villanova item, be that hat or crew neck sweatshirt, and pack just that to rep on special occasions.
DO remember there are stores all over the world. The United States is not the only place that has cheap clothing options, and is it really necessary to bring a pair of heels for the off chance you’ll be invited somewhere you wear heels? It is better to hold off and purchase things there as you need it, and can do so on a budget by looking for second hand stores, or even borrowing from a friend who lives locally or is with you in the program. That being said…
DO Bring speciality hair care/skin care products. While you can find shampoo and conditioner anywhere, if you have a half empty bottle of a very specific shampoo that make your hair look good (and don’t have any other product) then bring it. If you have skin or hair that works well with any product, then you can definitely just buy there, but if you have a 27-step nighttime skincare routine, then 1) please pair down your routine for abroad and 2) bring your own products.
DO Research any cultural specific attire that you will need. While this does not apply to every study abroad location, there are certain cultures and areas of the world with different expectations of dress. Planning ahead and understanding what is appropriate attire for your host country will save you from looking for costly last minute attire, or packing an entire set of tank tops and crop tops to go to a country that is very modest.
DON’T OVERPACK SHOES. I cannot stress this enough, shoes take up the most amount of space in your luggage and are the things that end up sitting in your closet the entire semester. I ended up bringing six pairs of shoes, everyday boots, everyday sneakers, workout sneakers, heeled booties for nicer events, rain boots (might not be necessary for everyone!) and a pair of Birkenstocks to throw on and wear around the house. This ends up being a big challenge for some people, so take some time pairing down the number of shoes you bring!
DO Bring a Swimsuit. Trust me, you’ll need a swimsuit. Even if you’re in Siberian Russia, you’ll need a swimsuit. Though you might not be going somewhere warm, you may be traveling somewhere sunny, or at least be going to thermal baths or hot springs. Trust me. You’ll think you don’t need a swimsuit. You need a swimsuit.
DO Bring Workout Attire. This one is a bit more controversial, as I have had friends who got a gym membership and worked out all the time during study abroad, and others who didn’t. However, if you are someone who likes to work out, you will want to work out when you’re abroad. Even if you won’t be going to the gym regularly, you may be going on hikes or runs or bike rides, and will be grateful for the pair of leggings and sports bra you have in your suitcase.
DO Make Sure you have a good suitcase. Nothing makes arriving in a new country and airport more frustrating than having luggage with a broken wheel. Make sure you have the right luggage when you go and it will ease some of your worries. Stores like Marshall and TJ Maxx have good quality suitcases for relatively cheap prices, and it is for sure a worthwhile investment.
