5 Packing Tips for Studying Abroad
In case you missed it, I’m in the middle of the woods this week at a church camp being a counselor. I’ll be back tomorrow, but I’m SUPER excited because my littlest sister is taking over Life with Rosie today and sharing a little bit about her recent study abroad trip to England! Not only did she get to see Stonehenge, Jane Austen’s House and a broadway play, she learned a ton about traveling in different countries. Katie doesn’t have a blog (although I think she should after writing this post for me) but you can follow all of her adventures (and catch the occasional picture of Rosie, too) on her Instagram.
Hey! My name is Katie, and I am Chelsie’s youngest sister. I am now sophomore at BYU-Idaho, and I am majoring in Music Education. I feel so lucky to be a guest writer on her blog, because she is such a strong and incredible woman, and I strive to gain her qualities all the time. aw, shucks, Katie!
Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to travel abroad to England, Ireland, and Scotland for 3 weeks! BYU-Idaho has amazing programs that allow students to travel with a group from the school, while also taking a few class credits. And let me tell you, it was an adventure of a lifetime.
In a nutshell, we were able to see huge cathedrals, quant little towns, amazing landscapes and gardens, the Queen herself, some bar hopping, and lots of afternoon tea! But the one thing that I wish I were more prepared for was living out of a carry-on suitcase.
I asked people that have traveled before how they packed, and got some great tips on what to do. All together, I have a list of my top 5 packing tips for studying abroad
1.) Bring a raincoat
The weather is very unpredictable over in the United Kingdom, and we were caught in many rainstorms. Even on the sunniest of days, 60% of the time the afternoon brought some type of rain. So definitely pack something that will not only keep you dry, but will also keep you warm and shielded from the weather.
2.) Pack boots
I thought about bringing rain boots, but that would have taken up WAY too much valuable space in my little suitcase. So I brought my pair of black army boots. They kept my feet dry on rainy days, helped me on our long walks/hikes, and everything else in between.
3.) Febreeze or Footspray
I never really thought that I had smelly feet! I always had clean socks and tried to air out my shoes after long days of walking. But in a room of 10 girls, certain smells started to build and eventually took over our room. Hence the febreeze or footspray! You can’t travel with it on planes, so the easiest way to get some would be from a pound store, or convenient stores (they are everywhere). Trust me, you don’t want that smell lingering in your room.
4.) Converter
If you don’t bring a converter, you won’t be able to charge anything! Also, if you want your hair to look nice, bring a surge protector for your straighteners, blow dryers, etc. Without the protector, they will potentiallyexplode or melt because of the amount of heat and energy they produce because of the different outlets.
5.) Items you are willing to leave behind
I didn’t think that I was going to buy the amount of clothes that I did, but I couldn’t resist! So I packed things that I was okay with leaving behind. I brought cheap $4.00 shirts from Walmart, and other things that I would have donated when I got home. I left behind some shirts, a pair of pants, and my boots that were falling apart in my last hostel. It was hard to leave things behind, but bringing home souvenirs and new clothes seemed more important!
I loved every second of this trip, and I definitely learned some very valuable and useful things that I will use for the rest of my life. Adventure sure is out there, and I hope all of you find it!
Have you traveled abroad? What are your must haves or packing tips for studying abroad ?
