Studying abroad offers a student the opportunity to travel and experience new cultures while still working toward their degree. During this time in your life it may be hard to find the time to travel someplace new without sacrificing money or time. Through exchange programs that have partnered up with university you don’t have to sacrifice so much money or time and might be able to quench your insatiable wanderlust for a few months.
Now for the hard part: packing your entire –wait – not your entire wardrobe. The key is to pack light; you do not want to lug a fifty-pound suitcase and an equally stuffed carry-on halfway across the airport, much less the world. If you’re not a big spender you’re going to want to bring as much as you possibly can with you. But isn’t that contradictory to packing light? Here is my honest packing list for studying and traveling abroad.
The Carry-on
Documents
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● Copy of birth certificate
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● Copy of Social Security card
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● Health insurance card
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● Credit, Debit, and Travel cards
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● Passport and Student Visa
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● Emergency contact list (Preferably hand-written; you may not have access to your phone upon arrival due to a low battery, no access to Wi-Fi, or not having the right SIM card or connection)
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● School or State ID
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● Travel ticket(s)
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● Travel Itinerary
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Miscellaneous
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● American mobile phone + charger
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● $200 worth of cash (Bring the currency of your host location or know where you can exchange money when you arrive, usually an ATM works best)
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● E-reader or book
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● Prescription medication(s)
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● Wallet
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The Suitcase
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Toiletries
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● Makeup (Keep it simple! Just bring foundation, powder, and mascara)
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● Lotion
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● Shampoo and Conditioner (Mini-sizes! You can buy inexpensive ones when you get settled in your new host country)
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● Body wash
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● Toothbrush and toothpaste
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● Hair clips
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● Brush or comb
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● Contacts, solution, and case
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● Glasses and wipes
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● Hair ties
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● Tweezers
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● Nail clipper
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● Razors
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● Tampons and pads
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● Adhesive bandages
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● Cold and over-the-counter pain medicines
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● Vitamins
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Electronics
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● Outlet adapters (2)
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● Laptop and charger
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● iPod
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● USB cable
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● Watch
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Clothing
#1 Rule: Only pack neutral colored items. Make sure everything can be worn with everything!
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● Athletic sneakers (1)
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● Boots (1 universal pair – I brought my brown docs)
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● Everyday shoes (2)
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● Flip-flops (1 – if you’re in the dorms these come in handy when showering)
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● Bras (2 sport, 3 regular, 1 strapless/convertible)
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● Underwear (14)
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● Socks (14)
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● Mittens (1)
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● Hat (2)
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● Scarves (2)
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● Heavier coat (1)
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● Jacket (1 – make sure its water proof!)
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● Pants (5 nice pairs – darker colors work best)
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● Leggings (2)
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● Long-sleeved shirts (3)
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● Pajamas (2)
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● Sweaters/tunics (4)
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● T-shirts (3)
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● Tank tops (1)
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● Workout clothes (2 outfits)
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Miscellaneous
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● Backpack (make this your carry-on)
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● Purse (put this in your carry-on or suitcase)
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● Umbrella