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Krishang Nair, ‘25, is a Behavioral Economics major studying at UNSW Sydney this Fall 2023.
Woooo! You finally got accepted to your first choice study abroad destination! After learning this exciting news, it’s only natural to spend the next few days lost in a corner of your mind, imagining what your life abroad will be like in mere months. But as soon as that initial excitement comes to a close, it’ll be time for action. Visa deadlines, scholarship applications, and worst of all, packing. Now packing may not seem like the worst one of the three initially, but when it comes down to choosing between your favorite red sweater and your iPhone charger, you’ll have to make some tough decisions. As someone who has gone through this process and mourned the stuff that didn’t make the cut (the chargers), here are five things to pack and five things to leave behind when traveling to your study abroad destination.
Pack:
- Number one on my list of things you *must* bring is a couple of sweaters or a light jacket. Even if your destination is known the world over for its hot climate, trust me, you are making a smart decision by packing these. I have lived in Sydney for nearly three months now, and Sydney is known for its beach weather, especially in the later part of the year. However, when the sun sets and the sea breeze strengthens, you are going to wish you could add a layer or two. This is especially true for those of you who like to go out after dark, because no matter where you are, it’s probably going to get a little chilly.
- Whenever you travel to a foreign country, it is crucial that prior to your departure, you check what the voltage strength is at your destination. American outlets and all electronic devices purchased in the US run on 120V. The same is true with Mexico and Canada as they have the same outlets. However when traveling to Europe, the devices run on 220V, and in Australia, devices run on 240V. To prevent blowing a fuse by using the wrong charging brick, purchase a universal travel adapter. These adapters seamlessly convert the voltage of your current charger to the same voltage as the outlet it is plugged into. Outlet shapes will be different from country to country as well, and these allow you to extend the correct plug shape to fit the outlet you want. A must-pack!
- For those of you who plan to travel after reaching your destination, bring a smaller travel bag with you. This makes short trips incredibly easy as you are not bound by a huge suitcase or a tiny school bag.
- When ultimately deciding which items would and would not make the cut, I decided to pack a few button-down shirts. Having a few formal pieces of clothing ready is always a good idea as you never know when an event will come up requiring just that.
- This last one will sound very grown-up, but carry a folder with all your important documents. It should have your passport, visa, insurance details, and potentially, boarding passes. Once you arrive and set up a bank account and local phone number, those papers should all go directly into the folder until you need to refer to them again. During emergencies, you’ll be thanking yourself for staying organized with all your important documents.
Leave Behind:
- While it is important to have a few basic toiletries at your disposal as soon as you land, like a toothbrush, toothpaste, perhaps a travel-size soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, all of this can be purchased, full size, at your destination after you arrive. You don’t need to add extra weight to your bags when flying by carrying full sizes of all of these. However, for those who have the extra weight and room available in their bags, make sure to pack it in your checked bags as there is a 100ml restriction for liquids in carry-ons that is pretty strictly enforced at security.
- For all you music lovers out there, this advice is one of the toughest packing decisions you’ll have to make but leave your instrument behind. I know, I know, it’s not going to be easy, but unless you are willing to pay the extra 100 dollars for another bag, leave it behind, but say your goodbyes, for you will return.
- Now, earlier I said to pack a few sweaters to protect yourself from the occasional nip in the air, however, this does not mean to pack ALL your sweaters. Obviously, take into account the relative climate at your destination during the time of year that you are traveling, and that might mean packing more than a few sweaters if your destination is a cold one. Despite that, sweaters are heavy, and the big ones remain bulky even after you’ve folded them in the most space-saving way possible. So use your best judgment and pack only as many as you need to stay warm during the week. You may have a few repeats in the same week, but you’ll survive. Take into account the number of clothes you plan to buy at your destination and pack accordingly.
- In the same vein, don’t pack all your bulky shoes and boots. Again, depending on your destination, you might need a few, but be smart about it. Maybe wear your bulky boots on the flight and then it won’t count towards your overall baggage weight.
- The last one is a bit heartbreaking, but you will likely have to leave your pets behind. For those of you tearing up right now, I felt that way too. Though I don’t have the companionship of a dog, or a cat, I do have 3 little fish at home, and the first thing I am going to do when I get back is give them just the biggest hugs. I couldn’t bring them, I mean getting that tank through security would have been a nightmare, so they had to stay behind. For so many people their pets are a huge part of their life, and it will be tough to say goodbye, but just know that it’s not forever.
I hope you all have a better understanding of what to bring and leave behind when packing for your study abroad experience. For all my fellow over-packers out there, pack the things you NEED, but also leave a little room for a few things you’ll want to bring back.
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