{"id":6687,"date":"2020-01-16T10:59:54","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T18:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.accentblogs.com\/?p=6687"},"modified":"2021-03-08T15:26:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T22:26:53","slug":"what-not-to-pack-if-youre-studying-abroad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accentglobal.com\/what-not-to-pack-if-youre-studying-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"What Not to Pack if You’re Studying Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/em>Today, we hear from Lisa Harvey, the newest member of the Accent Florence team. A prolific writer and enthusiastic traveler, Lisa joined Accent last month as a Programs Coordinator, where she organizes activities and assists students with day-to-day life abroad. This week, Lisa gives advice on what not<\/strong> to pack when preparing for study abroad.<\/h4>\n

When I was in the third grade, we were told to invent a machine that would help with daily life; some of my friends drew machines that would do their homework, others invented room-cleaners, and me? I invented a packing machine. I hated packing so much in\u00a0third\u00a0<\/em>grade<\/em> that I invented a machine to do it for me.<\/p>\n

You\u2019d think after becoming a wandering vagabond and living abroad, I\u2019d have gotten used to this horrible process. Unfortunately, I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever get there. However, I have mastered it in a sense \u2013 so I\u2019m here to help you not have stress when you heave that forty-nine-point-nine-pound suitcase onto the scale at the airport. There are plenty of articles on what to pack when studying abroad, but these lists cause over-packing. Instead, we\u2019re going to focus on what you should\u00a0leave out<\/strong>\u00a0of that suitcase.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Pack Your Entire Wardrobe:<\/strong>
\nInstead, only pack the basics. If you\u2019re anything like me, I used to pack thinking of individual events that would need specific outfits; beachwear for days on the sand, evening attire for when I get invited to fancy parties, and even sports clothes so I can go on all of those runs I\u2019m planning to do.<\/p>\n

Though this is an OK technique, it does set you up for an overweight bag. Instead, skip all of the extras \u2013 instead of three bathing suits, bring one if you won\u2019t be at the beach every day. If you don\u2019t know of any fancy nights out, don\u2019t bring that suit \u2013 it\u2019ll just collect dust in your closet. Instead, bring t-shirts, shorts, only a few pairs of dark pants that can be worn multiple times, and layers for changes in weather!<\/p>\n

Leave the Stilettos at Home:<\/strong>
\nI don\u2019t care if they\u2019re a size five \u2013 stilettos have some weight to them, and you don\u2019t need them. And don\u2019t whine that they\u2019re your favorite pair. You\u2019re going to have a new favorite pair when you see all of the new styles that your destination has in store for you. Going somewhere with cobblestones or dirt roads? Those shoes you laboriously transported across the ocean will be thrown to the wayside and if you do succeed at walking in them, you\u2019ll probably throw them out by the end of the semester. Save yourself the grief. This way, you\u2019ll have less weight in the bag, and a new gift to yourself that you can brag about when you get home.<\/p>\n

Athletic Equipment:<\/strong>
\nSo you want to ski\/board in the\u00a0Alps\u00a0or\u00a0New Zealand, or\u00a0Chile, or\u00a0Japan\u00a0and absolutely\u00a0need\u00a0<\/em>to have your equipment with you? Or you think that if you bring that football with you, you\u2019ll make friends more easily \u2013 hey, it worked freshman year, right? These things are baggage you don\u2019t need and probably won\u2019t use (like my rugby ball, mouth guard, or lacrosse stick). Though it seems like a good idea and will allow you to have a comfortable reminder of home, these items are bulky and may not even be useful in your destination. If you really want to keep one with you, keep that item to the side in an only-if-it-fits pile that you can add in if you have room at the end of packing. Really, make one of these piles. It\u2019ll help you not to overpack!<\/p>\n

Blow Dryers & Straighteners:<\/strong>
\nI know (actually I don\u2019t; my hair is stick straight and doesn\u2019t hold a curl), you can\u2019t live without your straightener or blow dryer or whatever you guys use these days, but, seriously, I\u2019m saving you tears. Being abroad means different power sources, voltages, and plugs. If you bring your ceramic top-of-the-line beautifier, it or your hair will die a crispy death, complete with a horrible smell. I\u2019ve seen more hair tools than I can count defeated by bad converters and simple incompatibility. Once you\u2019re where you\u2019re going, buy it there. And if you\u2019re heading somewhere where you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll have access to buy one? That means that the locals probably don\u2019t either and no one is going to care if your hair is frizzy.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Too Many Products:<\/strong>
\nNow, I am one to talk because I stock up on my deodorant like the apocalypse is coming. However, deodorant is a tricky thing and if you do have a favorite, definitely bring a few sticks\/cans to last you your entire trip. But that is the exception \u2014 don\u2019t bring products like shampoo and conditioner. They have those things wherever you\u2019re going (and again if they don\u2019t, you are roughing it and it means the locals are smelly too. Embrace it.) Mainstream items like shampoo, toothpaste, etc., will be similar, if not the same, as at home. Loading your bag with them will only add extra poundage that you will hate when dragging it through airports (and honestly, if you\u2019re living with roommates, collectively buy shampoo if you\u2019re all OK with it \u2013 it saves money and foot\/shelf room in the shower!)<\/p>\n

Your BFF:<\/strong>
\nListen, I know that it sounds like the most amazing thing to party around Europe with your bros or sorority sisters, but this is a recipe for failure. I have seen too many friendships and relationships fall apart while traveling. Though you may have some good times, you\u2019ll also be tied down to the group. If you\u2019re alone?\u00a0You\u2019ll meet new friends that like what you like and you get to do whatever you want because you\u2019re only worrying about you.<\/p>\n

Your Insecurities:<\/strong>
\nNot that these would go in the suitcase next to your underwear, but hear me out: studying abroad is tough, regardless of whether you\u2019re amped for it or nervous about getting on the plane. And truthfully, the underlying reason why most of us overpack is that we believe that all those items in our suitcase define who we are and where we\u2019re from. We want that shirt because it has been our favorite for years and reminds us of home. What you need to learn is that the fifty pounds of stuff that you\u2019re lugging behind you is not you (or it was up until this moment) and what you\u2019re doing is heading off to a destination that will change the contents of that suitcase.<\/p>\n

When you have that return ticket in your hand, the clothes in your bag will be different. You may not like that old straightener when you get home. Your mind will be different and so will your heart, because studying abroad changes you in ways you wouldn\u2019t expect. So leave those insecurities and that \u201cjust in case\u201d stuff behind \u2013 open your eyes to new and exciting adventures and keep a few empty pounds in your suitcase to fill with the new parts of you that you\u2019ll collect over the months you\u2019re adventuring.<\/p>\n

~Lisa Harvey, Accent Florence<\/em><\/p>\n

Every Accent Center is staffed by a team of friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced professionals who are there to assist you with life abroad. No matter what anxieties or concerns you have, we are here to help. So if you’re ready to take the plunge and study abroad, visit our program finder<\/span><\/a> to discover the best experience for you.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today, we hear from Lisa Harvey, the newest member of the Accent Florence team. A prolific writer and enthusiastic traveler, Lisa joined Accent last month as a Programs Coordinator, where she organizes activities and assists students with day-to-day life abroad. This week, Lisa gives advice on what not to pack when preparing for study abroad. 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