Packing

 I'm packing for four months in a foreign country, what do I pack?

When I applied for this study abroad program, I was well aware of the fact that I would be experiencing an extremely different culture with a different cuisine, language, mannerisms, etc. One thing that became increasingly important, that I had completely overlooked, was what would be “appropriate” attire for the country I would be calling home for a semester. It became clear from extensive research that it was normal to repeat outfits in Italy, but Italians are not fans of  showing too much skin. I had to keep this in mind when I started thinking about what I would need to pack.

Well, as the day of my flight approached, I decided that I should probably practice packing, and I needed to keep in mind what I would actually wear so that I could avoid over-packing. I successfully packed my suitcase with a little more than ten pounds to spare! How did I do this? Let me give you a blue print of what I packed:

-     7-10 underwear and pairs of socks (It’s obvious that I will need to do laundry more often); girls: 2 bras will probably be sufficient (don’t forget to pack a sports bra)

-     2-3 pairs of jeans

-     7 short-sleeved and 7 long-sleeved shirts (The weather will change while you’re there!)

-     3-4 blouses (I might want to look nice for dinner, a museum, an opera or church!) – anything is possible!

-     4 dresses (3 sundresses and 1 a little more fancy), 2 skirts (casual and/or dressy)

-     4 pairs of shoes (Sneakers, flats, boots, heels [1 pair of each]) – I know this won't  be easy, but shoes take up space and weight!

-     3-4 tights/leggings (It will get cold!)

-     3 scarves (I will probably buy some while abroad. Hello, it’s ITALY!)

-     2-3 exercise bottoms (shorts, yoga pants, etc.) – this can also be used as sleep attire

-     4 T-shirts (These are crucial for working out and sleeping!) 

-     5 cardigans (they not only keep you warm, but they can dress up a regular V-neck shirt for class or an outing with friends)

-     Denim jacket or a classic white or black blazer (dresses up any sundress or skirt outfit)

-     1 pea coat/jacket (for those colder days in Europe!) – don’t worry about its weight because you’ll likely be wearing it on the flight back.

Overall, it became clear that repeating outfits and using some pieces for multiple purposes would become crucial for fashion survival and to avoid heavy luggage fees at the airport. Sacrifices will have to be made, but one must remember that when you look back at this experience, you won’t remember what you wore, but rather what you did or saw.

Packing-in-progress: I am going to wear my leather boots on the plane because they are the heaviest and bulkiest. I'm also probably packing my Toms (I can't live without them!)

Keep in mind that you should pack a couple of outfits in your carry-on, just in case your suitcase doesn't make it to your final destination at the same time as you. For me, I'm packing most of my short-sleeved shirts, dresses and jeans!

Oh yeah, a tip from my sister: you should definitely consider making a list of what you'd like to take before packing. It will ensure you don't forget anything and prevent you from over-packing!

32 days until departure!