Packing List.

My lovely little, Clare, asked me to make a list for her of things to pack when studying abroad. She is going to France this summer and my other awesome little, Rachael is going to Costa Rica in the fall! I am so proud of both of them, and I am so glad that they get to have their own awesome experiences abroad :) The following is a list of things I brought that were helpful, and some that weren't. This is based off my experience, but hopefully it'll be helpful!

Good things to bring:
1. As much spending money as possible! Granted, you should probably leave most of it in your bank account. Take out about 100 euros or whatever the currency is where you are going, so that you have money for taxis or buses and don't have to worry about finding a bank right away. Save up as much spending money as you can, especially for Europe. It is super easy to travel here, and although there are cheap flights it does add up. Also, you end up spending more than you think you will by just living. You don't want to have to be cheap all the time, cause that just isn't fun!
2. A few good pairs of walking shoes. The first few days you will probably walk around a lot touring the city. If you are in a place like Oviedo, you will be walking EVERYWHERE. Good shoes are a must, make sure to bring at least 3 comfortable pairs. I have a pair of beat up old vans and a pair of boots that I bought here, and I switch between the 2 almost everyday. Now that it's getting sunny, I'm switching my boots for my Birks and I couldn't be more excited about it! (Everyone knows how much I love my Birks hehe).
3. A couple pairs of cute shoes. In addition to good walking shoes, bring 2 or 3 pairs of cute shoes that you can wear with a lot of different outfits-don't bring an odd color or style that will only work with 1 outfit. I have 1 pair of tall boots, 1 pair of dressy sandals, and 1 pair of black booties. When I got here I bought 1 pair of cheap sandals and 1 pair of leather boots. You can always buy more shoes once you get there, and remember that they take up a lot of room in your suitcase so only bring the essentials! I brought a pair of wedges and ended up sending them home with my mom.
4. A few T-shirts for night or for working out. If you run regularly and are going to do it abroad, bring 1 or 2 more. Although be aware that going to a gym abroad can be really costly depending on your city and program. I brought 3 T-shirts. I also brought some of my favorites, but I would recommend bringing some old crappy ones so that you can just throw them away when you leave (and make more room for souvenirs in your suitcase!).
5. 1 or 2 pairs of yoga pants or sweats. It is especially important that you do not pack more than this if you are going to Europe. Unlike in the US, people in Europe actually dress nicely on a regular basis (sorry, just being honest). I brought like 3 pairs of yoga pants plus a pair of sweats for night. Total waste of space. I sent the sweats and 2 of the pairs home with my mom. I have only worn yoga pants out in public twice since I got here, and both times were for specific reasons. And everyone at home knows how much I love my yoga pants! Other places may be different, but Europe is very into fashion and personal appearance, and unless you are in a big tourist city, you will probably get stared at if you are always in yoga pants.
6. 5 or 6 pairs of jeans. I brought 5 total, and I wish I had brought more. I also have my red pants and white pants, but jeans you can always wear! Also, I lost a lot of weight and now I can't wear my red or white pants anyways without them looking awkward. Some people lost weight, some people gained weight, so don't count on either one happening. Just be prepared to have to buy more clothes!
7. 1 or 2 good purses. I brought my black side purse that is medium sized and has the secret pocket hehe. The size is perfect and black is a great color cause it goes with everything. If you want another purse, you can always buy a cheap one here. Also, the cross-the-body design is really good for avoiding pick pocketers.
8. 1 good backpack. I brought my black Eddie Bauer backpack that has been absolutely lovely! I use it for traveling, especially if I am going for the weekend and don't need a full suitcase. On the cheap airlines, it can be really expensive to bring a suitcase, so make sure you have a good backpack!
9. 1 or 2 scarves. In Europe scarves are popular. I was here during winter and they were a necessity if you didn't want to get yelled at by your host mom or by strangers on the street! During summer they would be optional, but people use light scarves as a cute accessory. I brought 4 or 5, but I used all of them cause it was freezing for the first 2 months!
10. 2 weeks worth of underwear. My lovely mother told me that was going to be too much. However, if you are staying with a host mom they will probably insist on doing your laundry for you. Many places don't use dryers and hang up clothes to dry instead, so it can take a while to get your clothes back. Also, if you are going to be doing your own laundry, you probably won't want to have to do it every week anyways. Let's be real people.
11. Laptop, phone, and netbook. I brought my big computer, my small computer, and my smart phone. My phone has been on airplane mode for the last 3.5 months, but I use it for wifi whenever I go anywhere. Almost everyone has an American phone they bring with them everywhere they go so that they can use wifi whenever its available. You will not get 3G constantly like in the US. But it is nice to be able to connect with the world occasionally. Some people have their phone on airplane mode, some disconnected it. Best thing to do is talk to your phone company. My netbook was nice to have, but I sent it home with my mom because I didn't absolutely need it. I use my big computer every day. Some people only brought tablets, and they have a hard time doing some homework, registering on some sites, and watching shows online. So I would definitely recommend bringing an actual computer.
12. Gift for host family. If you are staying with a host family, you should definitely bring them a gift upon arrival. Something small and personal. I brought a bag of coffee and a post card from the cafe in Pacific City, where my beach house is. I could tell Marisa about my personal connection to it, and it was a great way to start things off! Other people have brought food items, souvenirs from their hometown, common small gift items, pictures, etc.
13. Peacoat! If you are going to Europe, bring a peacoat or another nice coat. Everyone wears them here, and I have worn mine almost every single day since January. If it is summer, find a light coat that is still nice. Mine is a cheap one from Old Navy, but it has been the most useful thing to me since I got here!
14. 1 sweatshirt. You do not need more than one sweatshirt, I promise you (especially if you bring that good coat I was talking about above ;)). A sweatshirt is not necessary, but it is nice to have when it is chilly inside your house or you are feeling a little homesick for America. I don't wear mine outside the house, but I wear it at night sometimes or on a lazy weekend.
15. Copies of all of your important documents. I made 4 sets of copies of all of my insurance and bank cards, as well as my passport and ID. I left 1 with my parents, 1 with  my Grandparents, and took 2 with me. I keep them in my room unless I travel, when I take 1 set with me and guard it at all times. I always put it in a separate place than my real passport or money. I also wrote the international number of my bank on each of the copies, so that I can call and alert them if necessary.
16. Travel sized shampoo/conditioner and deodorant. Bring small ones so that they don't take up precious room in your suitcase. You can buy big ones when you get there, but this way you don't have to worry about it for a few days. Also, it's really convenient to have them when you go somewhere for a weekend!
17. Adapters for your country. Most countries have different outlets than the US. Get an adapter before you go so that when you first get there you can charge your phone or computer and skype or let everyone know that you are okay. You probably won't know the best place to get them for a few days, so it's good to have them so that you can connect with the world right away! (Clare I got you covered! Rachael, I may have one for Costa Rica. My mom bought me a pack for Christmas and it had them for all over the world, so I'll check when I get home!). Also, you don't usually need the big old converters. I paid $20 for one at Best Buy and I think I could have gone without it (even though they say you need it). Also, if there are Chino shops were you are going, you can get them for like 2 euros.
18. As many tops as you have room for. I'm not sure how many tops I have, but I get tired of wearing the same ones. Bring as many as you have room for, but don't take out other things to fit every single top you own. I would guess I probably have about 14, which is plenty. But it is always nice to have a variety :) Also, bring a few dresses! Not too many, and only ones you would wear regularly. But sometimes it's nice to mix it up a bit.
19. Going out clothes! I don't care what people say, if you are someone who likes to go out on the town then bring clothes for it. Unless you are in a super remote area, there will probably be places to go out. I usually wear jeans, boots, and a top but the Spaniards like to dress up on Saturday nights and if I had a wider variety of skirts I would wear them every weekend! I would bring 4 or 5 going out skirts, tights, and some tops to go with. Some people wear heels, but everyone knows I can't walk in heels so I don't. You can always buy heels here, so only bring a pair if they are really comfortable!
20. A couple of reminders of home. I should have brought more, I kind of skipped out on this one. I'm not someone who gets very homesick, but it would have been nice to have a few pictures to hang in my room. Plus I think Marisa may be a little concerned that I don't have any pictures up... haha. I hang up every letter I get, and it makes me happy to see them on my bulletin board! Also, bring some small food items that you love. Don't pack a whole suitcase of food, but maybe your favorite candy or boxed food. Or peanut butter, everyone seems to miss peanut butter. For me it was mac n cheese and top ramen, which my mom graciously brought me before spring break (SIDE NOTE: I made the kraft mac n cheese in the hostel in Barcelona and shared some with a British girl. She had never had it, and after tasting it said she was going to see if she could order some to her house in England hahahaha).

That's pretty much everything I brought, with a few odds and ends added in there. I definitely would not bring more than 1 big suitcase, 1 carry-on, and a backpack. Most people that I know that had 2 full sized suitcases regretted it and said it wasn't necessary. I was worried when my parents limited me, but it was definitely a good idea (thanks Mom and Dad!). If you are only going for 1 term you will definitely not need more than 1 big suitcase! Do bring a small carry-on though so that you can travel with it while you are here. Ryan Air and other cheap airlines have strict rules about how big it can be, and most are way smaller than those in the US. But on buses and trains you can bring whatever you want, and for spring break my carry-on was perfect! You can also always buy things once you get there! I have bought more things than I was planning on, so I sent some home and I am planning on throwing away a lot of my older clothes before I leave.

Good luck littles, and the rest of the people I know who will be studying abroad in the future! It truly is a life-changing experience, and it is a shame that not everyone who has the opportunity takes it :)