Packing for a Semester Abroad

    I read this article about how to pack for a semester abroad [1] the other day and thought I'd speak my peace. I have a little experience on the subject [2] and had a few disagreements with the article, so I figured what would be better than to write about it online? I should say up front that my semester abroad took place during the summer months of 2006 in Germany, so there wasn't much to plan for as far as extreme conditions and third world inconveniences. I have since been to Iceland which was a little bit of a different story. That all being said, I don't consider myself an expert on the subject, just a guy with an opinion.

The Obvious

    The article linked above lists all of the basics you can think of packing for a trip abroad, and I do mean all the basics... no matter how basic. Here is my short list of the obvious things you shouldn't leave home without:

• Backpack: Duh, you need a backpack... if you can't figure this out by yourself then you should probably not do a semester abroad, sorry.
• Light/Versatile clothes: Jeans and shoes weigh a lot. You don't want to pack like you're going to an ugly sweater party [3].
• Camera: Another no-brainer, sure you'll want to take picture but you should be practical. Don't buy a $4k DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses and a mounted flash module. A pocket sized 10 megapixel camera will do just fine, and it won't be awkward to take to the pub.
• Important contacts/documents:Of course you'll want to bring your passport with you when you leave the country. It's a good idea to make plenty of copies, just in case. Most western countries will accept a U.S. driver's license as a valid form of I.D. for basic transactions (night clubs, credit card purchases, etc) but if you go to a government office or bank you'll need formal I.D. like your passport or student visa.
• Books and maps: Not really a necessity, but if you're going to a non-english speaking country you'll be wishing you'd brought some maps and/or travel guides with you.

My Advice

    There are a few things the article suggests that I don't really agree with. For starters, duct tape... really? Do you plan on studying in a former Eastern Bloc country? If you end up in a place where living conditions are shoddy then you might need some duct tape. Honestly though, you can buy this stuff anywhere, don't bother packing it.

    Another thing I wouldn't pack is a rain slicker, unless you're doing an internship on a fishing boat. Hear me out, if you go to a country that is in a rainy climate then they'll be well accustomed to it... In other words, they'll have a serious café or drinking culture. If it's raining outside, just make a break for the pub. And if it rains a lot you won't have any problem finding an umbrella or raincoat at your destination. That being said, you won't always know when it's going to raid... which is where the picture on the right comes in. I hopped on a train in the late summer and decided to go see Neuschwanstein [4]. On the way back to the train station I got stuck in a pretty crazy down pour. I ended up walking about five kilometers in the rain. It wasn't much fun at the time, as you can see from the picture, but it wasn't the end of the world. Sure I could have taken a raincoat or worn a trashbag but what's the point of living in fear of rain? It won't kill you... the pneumonia might, but it'll make for a funny story.

    Now, the author of the linked article above suggested not taking a laptop with you. I think that's insane. German universities I know do not issue a computer to you, though you do will have access to a computer lab. I'd suggest taking a notebook or netbook computer with you. Hand-in-hand with your laptop should be your backpack. I wouldn't take a laptop bag specifically with you abroad. As a traveller you'll always have your backpack with you when you go between cities and on trips so save yourself the trouble of carrying a second bag by getting a backpack with a padded notebook pocket in it. I've had the same Swiss Gear backpack for the past three and a half years, it's been around Europe and Iceland with me and it's still holding up just fine. It has a sturdy padded notebook pocket and will hold almost a week's worth of summer clothes. Best $50 I've ever spent.

    The good thing about having a laptop with you at all times is that you can always back up your pictures, check email, post blogs updates, etc. Having a laptop to keep all of your digital pictures on is a good way to save money on extra memory cards, not to mention having to carry them around in your pocket. I was able to make this blog post [5] from the spa at the Blue Lagoon about an hour after stepping out of the pool. I think that's a lot more fun than making an expensive three minute long phone call to relatives back home who are probably in bed considering the time difference. My one caveat is that you should be smart in choosing a laptop, don't buy a monster gaming laptop with a 17" screen. In fact, don't get anything you can play games on, you have better stuff to do... Keep it simple and light, like everything you take with you.

    iPods are a good idea to take with you, most than likely you'll be spending a good deal of time on bikes, buses, trains and/or airplanes. One benefit of having a laptop with you will be easy updating and charging of your iPod, truly a bonus. I would even consider bringing your phone from the states abroad with you. Most phones will work in European countries with little more than a swap of sim chips. Simply buy a prepaid card for 10 or 20 euros and you're all set, local number and all - it couldn't be easier. You can always buy a prepaid phone but keep in mind that prepaid phones in Russia will have their menus all in Russian, a good way to learn the language and makes for a cool souvenir but just something to keep in mind...

    So like anything, the best advice is to plan ahead and be smart about what you take with you. If you're going to a well developed first-world country you can feasibly show up with little more than a passport and a credit card. It all depends on how comfortable you are with adapting to your host country. If you feel the need to take your entire apartment with you abroad then you may need to rethink your plans.

    Do I have it all horribly wrong? Did you have a different experience preparing for a study abroad program? Leave a comment below and tell us about it.