Navigating Nomad

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed last week’s introduction into the world of study abroad and applications!

As departure slowly inches closer and closer, you’re probably dying to hear some tricks to packing efficiently. Well, we have officially reached that time! I’m here to explain more of what you should be packing for study abroad, and how you should be packing to be as prepared as possible.

My suitcases and backpack during the packing stage…

For starters, I would suggest bringing a large suitcase (mine was about 28”), a regular-sized carry-on suitcase, and a backpack. In most cases, you’ll be able to check your largest bag and then you’ll just have your smaller, carry-on suitcase and backpack to lug through the airport. Although that may seem like a lot, you have to imagine that you’ll likely be needing enough to last you for at least three months. I ended up packing most of my necessities into one suitcase and trying my hardest to keep a lot of space open in the other. I’m going to be completely honest here, it’s TOUGH, but you’ll be thankful when you go to pack for home. I also mention bringing a backpack; this is important so that you not only have it for your classes (as I assume most of you will be taking courses of some sort while you’re abroad), but it’s also nice to have for weekend trips. A lot of smaller (“cheaper”) airlines have very strict guidelines regarding carry-on luggage, so a backpack is usually a safe bet to bring. Also, weekend trips are pretty short, so you don’t really need a lot for just those few days.

Now I believe it’s time to start getting into what should be inside each of these suitcases to be completely prepared for your adventure. Regarding clothes, I advise you only take the bare minimum. Now that doesn’t mean bring one or two of everything, but keep in mind how much you may or may not like to shop and let that help to influence your packing. For me, I absolutely love to shop, so I knew I had to be wise in packing less so I could save room for everything I planned on buying. Whether you’re an avid shopper or not, it’s important to remember that you can rewear outfits or even mix and match pieces. This goes to say, try and stick with more neutral or similar styles of clothes, this way it’s easier to rewear pieces without feeling like you’re wearing the same outfit all the time. Another important thing to note is, don’t feel like you need to bring fancy outfits. I was told I needed some dresses and business casual outfits, so I packed a couple, only to have them sit in my closet for majority of the trip. If you’re not exactly sure if you’ll need a specific piece of clothing for your trip (i.e. dress clothes, or even swimsuits), it’s best to avoid packing them. There are plenty of places overseas that sell inexpensive, but nice clothes and such (check out Primark for a stylish, inexpensive, and AMAZING European option).

One of the BEST shopping districts in London: Carnaby Street

Even before diving into your closet and tossing it all into your suitcases, do some research on the fashion style of the country you’re going to be living in. Check out what current trends are in that area and see if anything you already own falls with that style. It was important to me that I did not stand out as a tourist, so I made sure to pack according to what the current fashion sense was in my host city, London. Now I’m not saying go out and buy a whole new wardrobe just to match your country’s fashion sense, but be aware that you’re going to fit into their norm more if you dress relatively close to the locals. I will also add that if you’re studying abroad in Europe and interested in following the locals’ style, avoid athleisure-type outfits. As comfortable and cute as they may be, Europeans tend to follow the casual, chic fashion sense. This goes to say, though, don’t just buy clothes that’ll match your host country’s style if you’re not going to be comfortable or are never going to wear them when you’re back home.

This is not to say you need to change your style completely before studying abroad. If you’re happy with your fashion sense, go forth with your stylish ways! You’ll fit in with the culture as long as you remain confident in who you are!

Aside from clothes, shoes are another important aspect of packing. I know from my experience, I wanted to pack as many shoes as I could to make sure I had a pair to match every type of outfit and occasion. I must say you will not need that many shoes. After countless nights of going through all my shoes, I managed to narrow down my search to about three pairs: a casual pair of black Vans for everyday wear, sandals for warmer climates and nicer occasions, and lightweight hiking boots for colder, wet climates. For boots, I found that Blundstone’s were comfortable, cute, and waterproof, so they were perfect for snowy tours of Prague or everyday strolls down Carnaby Street. Don’t feel like you only need to bring three pairs of shoes, but also remember to limit yourself because shoes do ultimately take up a lot of weight and space in your suitcase. Remember that you’re going to need to get what you pack now and what you buy there all back into these suitcases at the end of your trip, so try and stay minimalistic.

Along with minimalistic packing, avoid packing full-size shampoos and other toiletries unless you absolutely need them or know that you wont find them in your study abroad country. I researched what drugstores and grocery stores were nearby in London and went through their websites to see if they sold the types of products I use (or, at least, some similar), so I was able to just bring a few small travel-sized bottles to get me over there for a couple days. This ended up saving lots of space as well, because I didn’t have to worry about packing a semester’s worth of toiletries.

Now as we reach the end of this packing for study abroad discussion, it’s important to switch to an international phone plan as well. Understandably, the pre-trip focus is typically geared towards what and how to pack, but having the right phone plan is something equally as important to prepare for before departure. T-Mobile was suggested to our group as one of the better international phone plans. I will admit, it was pretty convenient having unlimited calls and texts overseas through T-Mobile, but it goes without saying, research what international plans your current phone carrier has and compare them to other carriers. I made the switch from AT&T to T-Mobile before going abroad, and it ultimately saved me money in the end. But also, if you’re looking for a completely free way to keep in touch with friends and family back home, WhatsApp is a great app for international communication. I was able to text, call, and video chat with my family back home all through WhatsApp*.

Needless to say, a lot of unexpected research goes into the packing and pre-trip process of studying abroad. I hope my mentions of different ideas and routes to packing put you at better ease for this experience. I will say that for all that goes into preparing, it is worth it in the end!

Me…finished packing and headed to London!

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by any of the stores, brands, apps, or providers mentioned. These are strictly things I found useful from my time studying abroad.

Imagine constantly boarding planes to new cities with your friends by your side; or exploring cultures unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Studying abroad is an opportunity that most of us dream of, but many of us don’t know what to expect, or worse, don’t properly prepare and end up dreading the experience. I always knew from such a young age that studying abroad was a key element that I wanted to experience in college. Awkwardly enough, I’d say that was the motivating factor for me to actually want to go to college. The idea that I could live in a foreign country all while traveling and exploring a world that only one could ever dream of was astonishing. Actually, this time last year I was studying abroad in London. Words cannot explain how amazing and inspiring that journey was for me, but the journey may not have been like that if I didn’t do all that I needed to prepare.

Now the real question is, how do you get accepted to your school’s study abroad program? Well, a lot goes into the application process. For starters, you will need to get your application in early if you want to definitely be considered for the program you want. I applied in the Fall of 2017 which was almost a year prior to the actual date of departure. Even then, I wasn’t accepted into my first choice of programs. But aside from applying early, you can expect to have GPA requirements and faculty recommendations. Recommendations are huge when it comes to applying for study abroad because even if you don’t necessarily have the most impressive GPA, if teachers and other close relations can explain how fantastic you are and how right for this program you may be, that will help your application tremendously. Along with the application process, it’s important to look into the cost of the trip up front and see if any current scholarships could go towards the program. I was thankful that Lipscomb allowed most of our scholarships to roll over towards the program, but some schools don’t necessarily process study abroad fees that way. It all depends on the university, so see what your school offers.

With my experience, I had just been accepted into the Lipscomb in London program. I was ecstatic! I had so much planned. My dream was finally coming true. There was so much planning and anticipation rolling through my head, I knew I had to take a step back and do some pre-trip assessing. What was I going to bring? Who was going to be on the trip with me? How was I going to pack three months worth of clothes and shoes and accessories into two suitcases? Could I even bring two suitcases? Where would all my souvenirs fit? Where was I going to school? Oxford? Cambridge? I had so many thoughts and questions rolling through my head, I definitely had several headaches over the few months prior to departure. ***DISCLAIMER*** Those headaches were so worth the opportunity and experience I had in the end!

So, are you ready for the good stuff? The nitty-gritty stories? The crazy and wild adventures? Well…I hate to burst your bubble, but I want to acknowledge some of the necessary components that need to be established before studying abroad. Obviously the most important factor is where are you going to study? My university only offered four study abroad locations: Santiago, Chile; Vienna, Austria; Florence, Italy; and London, England. My advice would be to explore the different opportunities your school offers. Check out the different countries offered, determine when they’re offered and how that fits in with your major, and definitely explore what your school’s study abroad program is like. I was thankful to attend a university that does a group study abroad program, so we went with about 20+ other students, along with Site Directors and faculty, which made the experience feel much more safe and comfortable. But I’ve also had friends from other universities study abroad independently, where their school connects them with a host family and sends them to the foreign country on their own. Frankly, I’m not sure if I, personally, could manage that experience, but everyone I know who has been through a study abroad program like that has loved it as well.

It’s worth researching and talking with your school’s Global Learning program to see if their study abroad program is a good fit for you. And don’t forget to talk with other students who have studied abroad and examine the pros and cons of each location to get the full effect before coming to a decision. You will be living in that city for several months, so make sure it’s one you’re going to be happy in and that there’s enough for you to do when you’re not visiting other places on the weekends!

So you’re probably waiting for me to tell you what you need to bring in order to have a great study abroad experience. To be honest, it took me countless hours of research trying to figure out just what I needed to bring to make sure everything was perfect, when in reality, you need to determine a few more specifics before starting to pack. For instance, that question earlier of who’s going on the trip with you? If you’re an introverted person, like myself, I say it’s better to gather some friends and convince them to join you on this adventure of a lifetime! I lucked out because not only did my roommate want to study abroad with me, but we found some girls in our sorority who wanted to join and share an apartment with us. This helped greatly because we all had each other and we knew that we could always fall back on one another if we ever got homesick or were just not feeling it. If you can’t find someone to join you on this journey, or you feel the urge to take on this adventure independently, go you! I will say, my friends by my side are what made my study abroad experience the unforgettable adventure it was!

If you believe you’re ready to take on the adventure of studying abroad, that’s great! Prepare for an opportunity of a lifetime. Stay tuned for weekly updates with tips and tricks for studying abroad. Expect everything from how to pack, transportation and accommodation advice, and, of course, the good (and the not-so-good) stories from my own experience studying abroad!