Being organized when you are packing will save you a lot of time and hassle in your new country. It is also good to know what you need to bring from home, or what you can buy in your new town. Before you even drag out the suitcase, let’s review this Study Abroad Packing Guide. Here we have presented a study abroad packing guide for students to help them get ready without any trouble.
Before you leave
- Load copies of documents, photos, and some music to cloud storage
- Save all-important contact details and information in a Google document
- Check your flight’s weight restrictions, entertainment, and food facilities
- Pre-arrange for your airport pick-ups and drops in home and host country both
- Download a messenger or online calling app so you can contact your family and friends using available Wi-Fi
- Add something to make your luggage identifiable
Once you are done with your preliminary checks, let’s get packing. We start with your carry bag first
- Keep your passport, visa, and enrollment letter handy
- Once you get your boarding pass, keep that safe in your carry bag
- Keep some currency of the host country
- It’s a good idea to have a journal and pen ready for documenting experiences
- Keep your prescription medicines, if any
- Ensure that your phone, charger, and other gadgets like cameras and batteries are in the handbag
- One or two change of clothes, in case your luggage is delayed
- A book or e-reader for the journey. Also, your headphones
- Face wipes, gum, hand sanitizer, travel pillow, and itinerary
- Keep your reading glasses and sunglasses
- Mittens and cap if you are going to a colder country
Now, let’s move on to the checked luggage:
- A copy of all your important documents
- Toiletries including contact lenses, solutions, feminine products
- Appropriate clothes according to the weather in the host country
- A handy first- aid
- Souvenirs for the host family, if you are staying with one
- Umbrella
- Shoes- running, flip flops, and college wear
- Extra money for emergencies
- A language dictionary
- Any books that you might require for your studies
Remember, some things are best left at home, so to avoid wasting your money or issues with customs, make sure you don’t pack any of the following
- Spices or plant products
- Stationery, you can buy that locally
- A lot of cash. Bring only what you might need, and some emergency cash
- Pirated goods or movies
- Anything that might be considered as a weapon
It’s a good idea to always check for the list of banned and restricted items on the official website of your airlines in order to avoid any form of conflict at the airport.
