Packing for a Semester Abroad

As someone who finds great comfort in memorabilia, fun decorations, unique clothes, and other material items, packing for my semester abroad was no easy task. I repacked around five times, but now I know what I should have just left at home and what I wish I had brought.

For my semester in Ireland, I was lucky enough to bring two checked bags instead of the typical one. Even so, I struggled to pick and choose what to bring. Much of this struggle stemmed from my trying to pack things that would remind me of home or that I could do if I got homesick. For example, I packed a lot of crocheting supplies, bracelet-making yarn, and even my hammock. These things do not weigh all that much, but they still took up the room I could have used for other items. In hindsight, I would not have brought my hammock and I would have cut down on the crafts.

Some examples of surpluses in my packing were outlets, socks, jewelry, tank tops, and shorts. Now, some of this is because of the weather in Ireland, so keep that in mind. First, I anticipated needing to plug in way too many things. I think I was nervous about the different outlets and just panicked, but I did not require a million adapters. I should have just brought two adapters and one powerstrip to plug in more if needed. One of my adapters is a travel one that has plug-ins for the UK, EU, and US, so I recommend finding one of those because it has been a lifesaver during travel.

Next, socks. You can never really have too many socks, but I do not need all of the ones I brought. However, if you like to exercise like me, these pairs can come in handy when you are too busy traveling to do a lot of laundry and do not want to wear the socks from your most recent run.

Jewelry is the area I most wish I had cut down. For some reason, I brought every piece of jewelry I own in a couple of Ziploc bags. While these do not take up a lot of space, they do have some weight and are just annoying in my dorm since I do not wear everything. I should have just brought four pairs of silver earrings, four pairs of gold, a few rings, and four necklaces.

While tank tops can be good for layering or traveling to warm countries, they just are not needed in Ireland. I only ever wear them if I am traveling, so I recommend cutting down to maybe two or three of your favorites if you also plan to study somewhere on the shadier side. At least they do not take up much weight or room, but I have entirely too many spring and summer clothes in my closet for Ireland’s climate.

Along this same line are shorts. I do wear shorts a decent amount for running and pajamas, but I could have left out a couple of pairs to save space.

A few more random things I have not needed are more than three pairs of shoes, a nice dress, sweatpants, a speaker, and US dollars. I only wear my running shoes, normal tennis shoes, and a pair of Birkenstock Bostons, so I did not need to bring anything else. I anticipated having formal events to go to, but have not so far. Sweatpants are not worn in public super often so I just have not needed them. I thought I would use my speaker for events, but have not. Finally, I brought US dollars just in case, but have never had to use them.

Now, for the things I wish I had brought! I should have brought my hiking boots and more nice tops. These would be helpful for my hiking adventures and anytime I wish to go out since Europe is a bit more stylish. Throughout my travels, I have just realized that these items would make my time much easier, but it depends on what you plan to do abroad.

Some things I brought that I am so glad about are my own blanket, my posters, a moving picture frame, a pair of leggings, and a rain jacket. The blanket has added extra cushion to my bed and I can use it on trips if I want to. The posters and moving picture frame were light but did a lot to make my room feel homier. My one pair of leggings is perfect for doing athletic activities in the cold. A rain jacket is a must in Ireland and can help make a rainy trip more enjoyable.

Me in my rain jacket that I wear all the time!

Packing needs are dependent on where you are going to study, but it is important to think through each item you chose to bring. Also, think of what you plan to do abroad and what may be helpful in those situations.

Me in my dorm with some of my essentials: a comfy blanket and light weight coat.

A few sentimental items I brought with me.