What to Pack

Whether you go abroad for a week or a year, proper packing is essential. Students often pack too much, so before you start ask these questions:

• Will your host family do your laundry, or are you responsible for it?

• How many bags do you want to bring?

• Will you buy clothes while you are abroad?

Here are a few practical suggestions for packing:

• Luggage

• Clothes

• Cultural Products

• Electronics

• Hygiene/Medical

Luggage

Luggage restrictions vary by airline, so be sure to check with yours before you start packing. Remember,

• Airlines generally allow two checked pieces of luggage. For carry-on, you are usually allowed one bag and one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop computer.

• Checked luggage cannot exceed the weight and dimension limitations stated by the airline.

• Attach an identification tag with your contact information on each piece of luggage.

• Bring a backpack or other small bag to use on short excursions.

• Keep any valuable and important items in your carry-on luggage (passport, visa, money, credit cards, tickets, laptop, jewelry, medication, etc.).

• Keep a change of clothes in your carry-on, in cased your checked baggage gets lost.

• Take copies of important documents in your carry-on luggage, but keep them separate from the originals.

In addition, proper packing is more important than ever due to heightened security measures. Check the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm for the most up-to-date information on regulations and screening processes.

Clothes

There is no perfect formula for deciding what clothes to pack. You are unique, and what you will pack will be different from other students. To help evaluate how much and what kinds of clothing you will need, think about:

• Where and when am I going?

• What is the weather like there?

• How often will I (or my host family) do laundry?

• What kinds of activities will I be doing (hiking, visiting museums, interacting with the locals, etc.)?

• What are the social and cultural norms for clothing in this city?

• Do I want to blend in with the locals?

• Am I planning to buy clothing when I arrive?

Your answers to these questions will help you decide what kind of clothing will be appropriate for your trip. Use the list below as a starting point for what clothes you will take:

• Tops

  • Shirts (polo, dress shirts, t-shirts)

• Bottoms

  • Jeans

  • Pants (slacks, khakis)

  • Skirt/dress

  • Shorts

• Underwear

  • Undergarments

  • Long underwear

• Footwear

  • Cotton socks, wool socks

  • Shoes, sandals

  • Flip flops (for the shower)

• Cold weather clothes

  • Lightweight jacket (with zip-out lining for cold weather)

  • A heavy sweatshirt

  • Sweater

  • Warm hat, beanie, scarf

• Raingear

  • Waterproof jacket

  • Umbrella

• Pajamas

• Recreational clothes

  • Work-out clothes

  • Bathing suit

Cultural Products

Some products you use at home may not be available abroad. This is particularly true for products specific to your culture. If you think you may have a hard time finding certain products abroad, be sure to pack what you’ll need for the duration of your trip.

• Hair products

• Facial products

• Religious products

• Cultural toiletries

Electronics

In general, it is not a good idea to bring expensive electronic equipment abroad. If you decide to bring electronic products, you may need a converter because the voltage used in other countries differs from the U.S. (Some electronics are designed to work with different voltages without a separate converter.) In addition, plug shapes differ abroad, so you will probably need an adapter to use U.S. plugs in foreign sockets.

Unfortunately, even with a converter, your electronics still may not work properly. For many appliances, it’s more convenient and safer to purchase them once you arrive in you host country.

Some students take their laptop abroad, but others get by with computer labs and internet cafes. In either case, a USB flash drive is a convenient and portable way to store or back up your documents.

One electronic device that you may want to take is a digital camera. Taking pictures is a great way to remember your trip and to share it with your friends and family back home. Be sure to take extra batteries and/or a battery charger.

It may be hard to imagine living without the electronics you use everyday, but remember, don’t bring anything you can’t afford to lose.

Hygiene/Medical

Many countries will have similar hygiene or medical products that you can buy once you arrive, but depending on where you study, everyday products you take for granted may not be readily available. Here are some suggestions for hygiene and medical products to bring:

• Any medical prescription and refill instructions (keep your prescription medicine in a labeled container.)

• Toiletries

• Contact lenses and solution

• Any specialized hygiene or medical products that may be difficult to find abroad

  • Feminine hygiene products

  • Contraceptives

• First aid items

  • Bandages

  • Pain reliever

  • Antibacterial ointment

  • Anti-diarrhea medication

• Hand sanitizer

• Water purification tablets

• Insect repellant

• Sunscreen

Tips for packing

• Pack light. You’ll have an easier time getting around.

• Leave space in your luggage so you can bring home souvenirs.

• If necessary, you can ship items home or have them shipped to you. However, this can be expensive, so only do this if you feel it is worth it.

• Resealable plastic bags can help keep your luggage orderly and provide protection against spills. Plastic bags can also be handy for storing things like a wet swimsuit.

• If you feel that you have unnecessary stuff when you’re packing to return home, consider donating the things you no longer want.

• Take a journal so you can keep track of your activities and to reflect on your experiences abroad.

Must Ask Questions

• What will the weather be like?

• What are the current restrictions of my airline and the TSA?

• What will I be able to purchase abroad?

• Will towels and bedding be provided?

• Are there any occasions where I will need dressier clothing?

• Do I need an adapter and a converter for my electronics?

• Do I need to carry a phrase book, or am I comfortable with the local language?

• Will I have to pack my textbooks with me or will I get them at the program destination? Are school supplies (paper, pens, etc.) provided, or do I need to bring my own?