Okay, so I officially leave for my semester abroad in less than a month. Where am I going? Edinburgh, Scotland. Am I overpacking? Probably. Do I need 17 sweaters? Questionable.
But honestly, the idea of spending a whole semester in the land of kilts, castles and endless pubs has me both excited and slightly panicked. So, here’s a little peek into what I’m throwing into my suitcase.
First things first: my passport. Obviously.
Next, I’m bringing a school bag. Not a backpack, but a sturdy handbag that will fit my laptop, books, pens and anything else I need for “uni.”
Next are clothes. My favorite! Scotland’s weather is basically cloudy, rainy, gloomy, you get the picture, so layering is a must.
Sweaters are the first items on my list—lots of cozy sweaters. If I’m going to be studying in the UK, I can’t wear baggy sweatpants and hoodies to class every day as I do here at Penn State.
Next up, jeans and leggings. Comfort is key when you’re walking the streets of Edinburgh or on the way to class, but I also gotta keep some style.
And for my nights out, I’ll be packing some going-out tops, skirts and some cute dress pants to keep the class. I’ll also be bringing some fleece-lined tights to wear on these nights out to keep me warm but fashionable.
A raincoat and rainboots are most definitely essential for Scotland, given how wet it’s going to be over there. So when I want to go hiking and exploring, I’ll need some waterproof attire.
Scarves, hats and gloves will also be making it into the suitcase. Cute ones, of course, and maybe some that even match my sweaters.
As for the shoes, I’ll be packing some comfortable sneakers, rain boots, black boots for going out, comfortable slippers and some cute flats.
Apart from the clothes, I will obviously need my laptop and chargers, especially portable ones for the busy days, headphones and adapters to allow my chargers and hair tools to plug into the UK outlets.
Now for the miscellaneous stuff, I’ll be taking my makeup, skincare, hair products, hygiene products, travel-size hand sanitizer, a towel, belts, PJs and a small camera to take more pictures than necessary to keep the memories.
Now comes the things I have to leave behind. I’ve had to make some hard choices. My big heels? Nope. My winter coat? Won’t fit.
I am not taking any of my bedding because they told us to order it from one of their websites to be delivered to our flats. And honestly, I wouldn’t even have any space for it in my suitcase anyway…
Leaving things behind is part of the adventure. It forces you to embrace the minimalist vibe and work with what you’ve got. It helps us really embrace the culture and adapt to where we’re living for the next four and a half months. Plus, it gives me an excuse to buy some cute Scottish clothes when I get there.
Well, I hope this unofficial official packing list helped some of you if you’re wondering what to bring on your semester abroad, or even just a trip to the UK.