I’m starting to wind down on my study abroad posts, as I only have a few more trips left to blog about! But, since the semester is about to start and many people are preparing for their fall semester abroad, I wanted to give a few tips now that I’m an ‘expert’ (ha, hahahaha).
Packing to go abroad was about as stressful as packing for freshman year, except instead of loading up my car, I was stuck with two giant suitcases and a looong plane ride ahead of me. I had no idea what to do. How much is too much? Will I need this? Will I really use that? I spent months scouring the Internet for tips on preparing for study abroad, particularly tips on packing. So, here are all the tips I wish I had a few months ago!
- Check the weather. I knew Amsterdam was going to be chilly, but for the majority of the semester the weather hung in the 50s and 60s. It also was not as rainy as I expected, so I was probably a little silly in packing two pairs of rain boots (don’t worry, everyone made fun of me). Going to school in New York, I expected the worst, and even though I spent the 6 months before I left checking the weather in Amsterdam, I really didn’t know what to expect. I waaaayyyy overpacked on sweaters and bulky winter items, and skimped on regular shirts and blouses that I could wear throughout the semester and change with the seasons. If you are studying in southern Europe (Spain, Italy, etc.) you probably can get away with one or two sweaters.
- You can buy when you arrive. The BIGGEST piece of advice I could give is: you are traveling to a civilized continent (if not more civilized than America), and whatever you need, you can buy. If you think you don’t have enough clothes, remember that you will probably change your mind about half the things you brought once you arrive (and have hauled them up to your dorm or apartment). Don’t bring too much, since you will want to adapt to your country’s style once you arrive. Which brings me to….
- Don’t look ‘too’ American. At the same time, wear whatever the heck you want! I definitely walked around Ireland wearing my Zeta windbreaker, since it was lined (aka warm and cozy) as well as waterproof. Did I stand out? Yes. Did anyone really care? Not at all. People are going to know you are American by your accent, so just because you may not be wearing the latest European fashions doesn’t mean people will hate you. I found that Dutch people were always super excited to talk to Americans (or any travelers, for that matter). I could have walked around in as many ‘American’ clothes as I liked, and they would have loved to chat anyway.
- Come prepared. This may seem to contradict everything else I have said, but be at least a little prepared. I didn’t bring any shorts, sandals, or any kind of warm-weather gear. When I booked my warm-weather trips, I asked my mom to send me a few things. Could I have bought these things? Yes, but she was already planning to send me a package and it didn’t hurt to add a few items.
- You are not leaving forever. Most study abroad programs are only a semester, so you really only need enough clothes for 4 months or so. If you are doing a summer program (which usually lasts 6 weeks), you should aim for one large suitcase and a duffle that you can bring on weekend trips. Yes, if you are going for an entire academic year, you need more. But since I did a semester, that is where my advice comes from!
I’ve got a whole bunch of study-abroad related tips scheduled, but if there is anything specific that anyone would like to know or see on the blog, let me know! I definitely wish I had had someone to tell me what to expect before I left!
