After months of meticulous preparations, you finally have everything you need to commence your studies abroad. Isn't that right?! You look at your admission letter, and your heart climbs the seventh heaven, your feet refusing to touch the ground. Yes! I am on my way to paint the town red with you. Let us celebrate this feat together ;) But first! I know what you are here for. 

Do you have cold feet thinking about what to pack for the semester abroad? No worries! I am here to guide you through all the essentials you might need without your bags bursting at the seams. Just sit back and go through this checklist at your leisure. Once you are done reading, you will have a comprehensive understanding of what to pack/unpack. Shall we begin?

 

 

Research: Trust me, it's worth the trouble!

 

Before you even start laying out the stuff to be packed, get on that computer and plunge into some deep research. What for and what about? Yes, let me spill the beans.

 

 

 

STUDY LOCATION

Too warm? Leave out those coats and boots. Too cold? Pack those warmers and mittens! And that's it. Researching the overall climate of the place you are heading to spend your next few years will help you make informed decisions while packing. This might sound trivial right now, but mix in the baggage allowances and the efforts of actually carrying those heavyweights - you might as well pack ONLY what you need. 

 

CULTURE OF THE PLACE

Yes, you have the freedom of expression and choice. But if you don't want to attract too much attention, try mixing in with the place. And the best way to do that is to research what do people normally live like at the place - and then pack accordingly! All said and done, focus on your own comfort and style sense while also being culturally appropriate. It's all about finding the right balance.

 

RURAL OR URBAN?

This factor can be very important while deciding whether to pack your favorite bottle of shampoo and your first aid box. Rural places don't generally have access to emergency medicare, and you might need a box of important medications with you at all times. Similarly, other basic necessities are also sometimes a luxury to find quickly in rural areas.

 

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Yes! If you know and have the allowances in mind, your subconscious prohibits you from overpacking. That's it! With these pointers in front of you, let's get packing - without slacking!

 

 

What to pack?

 

In this section, let us go over the basic essentials that you should absolutely squeeze in that suitcase. And then, if you still have the room, you can go ahead and pack those favorites that you really wanted!

 

 

DOCUMENTS

 

 

These are some nuts and bolts that you just cannot miss. If you don't have the required documents with you, there is no way you can fly abroad. This is the first thing you should gather up and pack. No, no, don't wait, go ahead and pack up that passport and visa! Make sure to tick off any extra document you need for a specific country, like the i20 form for traveling to the US.

 

 

WARDROBE

 

 

Have you heard of a capsule wardrobe? This basically contains a few essential and/or classic pieces of clothing that you can mix and match for wearing over a long time. You can set your own range but keeping 30-35 pieces is a good start. The benefit of this type of wardrobe is that it is highly personalized and contains ONLY the pieces that you love and are sure to absolutely wear. If you have studied permutation and combination, you know just how many styles can you come up with just 30-35 items of clothing without having to carry all that extra weight ;) Keep in mind that whatever range you set according to your allowances (preferably 30-35) should comprise everything ranging from clothing to shoes to accessories.

Shall we pack? Make sure to limit trendy items and stick to the classics.

 

That's it! Having fewer items that work well together will not only leave space for other essential stuff but keep your mind from making too many decisions while getting ready in the morning. Moreover, you can buy any additional stuff you need from your destination itself. Don't try to take everything just because you think your home country has cheaper stuff. Even abroad, you are sure to find the same expensive piece of clothing in a cheaper range as well ;)

Pro tip: Having most of these items in neutrals will make them interchangeable and easy to mix and match!

 

 

PERSONAL CARE

 

 

Personal care and toiletries are important, especially because you don't want to run around finding these shops as soon as you land! Pack enough of these to last you at least two weeks before you need to restock. Get travel-sized bottles and carry your hair wash, body wash, and lotion. Apart from that, don't forget your menstrual products, your tooth and hairbrushes, and toothpaste. If there is anything extra you wish to carry like cosmetics, just keep them to be packed at last if the space allows.

 

 

MEDICINES

 

 

God forbid you get unwell in a foreign country, there is only one thing you will miss the most apart from your closed ones! Your first-aid box. Make sure you have all the essentials in there without having to run out at odd hours. This gets even more challenging if you are ailing. Therefore, it's best to keep these pills handy:

 

 

This list should cover you in case of any emergencies until you get access to proper healthcare. Don't forget to pack a thermometer and Vicks along with these medications.

 

 

CASH

 

 

This remains one of the most difficult questions to answer: "Should I carry cash?" and "How much cash should I carry?" Well, let us get you out of the hot water.

You definitely need to carry cash and that too in the currency of your destination. I advise you to carry enough to cover you for at least a week. In the meantime, after you arrive at the place, you can directly apply for a bank account. That's it; within a week, you will have your own account and will be able to transact normally. If you are going to the USA, $500-$1000 should be more than enough to cover you for a week or so until your account gets processed.

P.S. You can also carry a forex card along, which is more convenient in terms of exchanging currency. However, there are a lot of other overhead charges and hassles that come with the forex card, which can simply be avoided if you go with cash. 

 

 

FOOD

 

I get it. You want to dedicate one entire suitcase for this section. I would have done it too! Those homemade specialties and local food we cannot live without? I know! Sadly, there are constraints. And we need to stick to that. So, let us resist that temptation and proceed with packing just the essentials.

 

 

If you are traveling a long distance, chances are that you have a lengthy layover in between. Since you won't be having the currency of the foreign land and would want to avoid the expensive airport food generally, it is better to pack some packaged food like noodles and chocolates for this time. You can also keep fruits with you if you want to get in something healthy. Avoid liquid foods like curries as they won't be allowed at the airport anyways. Moreover, just avoid carrying any sort of liquids because some flights don't even allow you to take water along. It's best to keep a very small plastic bottle of water and no other beverage. 

 

Apart from travel, if you wish to carry food for your stay, keep it ONLY if space allows. Any packaged food you are yearning to take along like Maggi or chips, chances are you will find all of these at your destination place at more or less the same price. Take some food along to cover you for the initial weeks, by the time you settle at your new place and know about all the food joints. 

 

In conclusion,

• Carry a small plastic bottle of water for your travel.
• Avoid any other liquid altogether.
• Carry fruits, chocolates, or noodle cups to eat in between flights.
• Carry some packaged food to cover you for a week while you settle down at your new place.

 

P.S. If you are staying in a flat and plan on making your own food, it is best to not carry heaps of utensils from home. It is just a wastage of space, even if it is budget-friendly. Instead, you can just buy these stuff at low prices and then sell it out by the time of your departure.

 

 

ELECTRONICS

 

Today's world hardly leaves any scope to travel without electronics. In fact, they have become indispensable to our lives. Right? Let us list out the electronics you should definitely carry to make your lives easier. 

 

 

1. Digital hanging luggage scale

This is one of the most essential pieces of technology to invest in. After you are done packing, it is best to weigh it if you don't want to go through the hassle of transferring items from one bag to another or else end up paying the massive luggage fees. This little tool comes quite handy while deciding whether to stuff in that extra pile you kept for last or to leave it. This is easily available on platforms like Amazon and Flipkart and comes at very reasonable rates. Make sure to carry it along with you for your trips back and forth. 

 

2. Universal adapters

After a long journey, you finally reach your destination and decide to set up your room and charge your phone before you head out to explore the new place. Your phone is at 1% when you finally find an outlet and run to it with your charger only to find it different from the one at home. What now? A foreign land and a discharged cellphone? Not a good combination. Here is when these universal adapters become extremely handy for any international trip.

 

3. Laptop

Carry your laptops along if you already have one. However, if you are planning to buy a new one for your studies abroad, WAIT! Don't buy it from your home country just yet. Compare prices of electronics in your home country and your destination. Chances are your place of landing has much cheaper technology like in the USA and Canada. In such a case, it will be beneficial if you buy your new laptops after landing at much cheaper rates.

 

4. Power bank

Although you will have charging ports at airports, it is still essential that you have a power back up at all times.

Apart from these, do carry along other electronics you use on a daily basis like your cellphones, headphones, smartwatches, etc. The only point to note here is that if there is anything new you wish to buy, just get it after landing - so it is easier both on your luggage and pockets.  

 

 

STATIONERY

 

 

If you are traveling abroad for courses that involve a lot of writing, I suggest you carry your notebooks from home. The reason being, stationery is expensive in countries like the USA, and you will end up wasting considerable bucks. Although students there prefer taking their notes on laptops, if you are fond of writing, take this point into account considering your baggage space allows ;)

 

 

COVID ESSENTIALS

 

 

This pandemic has successfully changed our lives for many years to come. Did you imagine back in 2019 about the possibility of being wrapped in plastic before stepping out? Hopefully, this gets over soon, but until then, make sure to pack all the covid essentials with you, including masks and sanitizers. You can also take gloves and gowns, but those aren't necessary anymore.

 

Apart from that, make sure you are fully vaccinated and your vaccine is approved for travel to your destination.

 

 

 

 

What NOT to pack?

 

BOOKS

 

Being a bookworm myself, I know the urge to travel around with entire libraries we own at home. But that is not possible, is it? Even if airplanes allow the weight, our own bodies won't. If you absolutely love and can't live without those one or two books in your collection, by all means, take it along. But just those two. You can always buy/rent new books at your new place without actually having to carry all that weight. 

 

 

It is also smart to invest in a kindle - which allows you to have thousands of books at your fingertips, minus the weight and the hassle. However, if you are a fan of hard copies, this is one sacrifice you will absolutely have to make! No worries, your library will be ready and waiting for you when you come back home ;)

 

 

EXPENSIVE ITEMS

 

Sure expensive items normally have better quality and feel good to carry. For the same reason, they are highly prone to being stolen. Before taking anything that has cost you a fortune, just ask yourself if it would be worth losing - either to customs or theft. Instead, you can carry along much cheaper versions, and if it is priceless, it is better off at home. Now you can travel freely without your mind being occupied with the thought of losing these items. 

 

 

 

GIANT SUITCASES

 

I know that leaving behind your favorite pair of jeans or maa ke haath ka khana (food prepared by your mother) feels terrible, but do you know what is even worse? Carrying giant suitcases all by yourself in an unknown land. It is better to travel light and carry only the essentials.

 

 

 

TONS OF SHOES

 

Let's face it. Shoes occupy a lot of unnecessary space and are heavy. It is a wastage of space AND energy. Best to leave all those pairs behind and carry only three, maximum four pairs of shoes. One for walking and daily wear, another a dressy shoe and flip-flops or bathroom slippers. And that's it. If you are crazy about shoes, you are bound to buy new ones there. Let's leave the old ones behind then, shall we? ;)

 

 

 

 

WINDING UP!

 

First of all, if you are reading this article and are at the end of it, you are definitely serious about going abroad and have received admission already. So, congratulations and best of luck with that! With everything ready, packing remains one of the last obstacles for you to overcome before you head out on this amazing journey of attaining academic and professional success. I hope this blog was beneficial for you in deciding what to pack and what to leave behind. One last tip though, there are no hard and fast rules; if there is something that you really really want to take along, please do. Whatever helps you settle down faster in a new place is welcome. Unless it is something that goes against the airline guidelines, it's all good to go. That is it from my side! I will leave you to start packing now so that there is no last-minute frenzy going on! All the best for your new journey!