Maybe you’re starting to get excited and eager to get going? Maybe you’re feeling nervous about arriving in a new and strange place where you don’t know anyone? Or maybe it it hasn’t quite hit you yet. Some of you in the Colby class of 2017 have already left weeks ago and have, by now, started settling in. If so, we’d love to hear from you about how you’re doing out there in the world!
If you’ve got a suitcase open in a corner of your room with a huge pile of things you want to bring, then you’re not alone! Gotta start somewhere, right? What you pack will obviously depend on where you are going and the type of program on which you are studying. Your program or university abroad or fellow students may even have given you some packing advice. Well here 10 Packing Tips For Studying Abroad to help you Pack for a semester abroad like a pro. So don’t get frustrated and use these tips to make a list of what you think you need to bring with you. Then cut it in half! And keep in mind What NOT to Pack While Studying Abroad. Please remember not to bring items that you really don’t want to lose such as those with high sentimental or financial values.
Regardless of where you’re going or where you are now you’re bound to encounter new sights, sounds, tastes, and people. Yes, you’ll probably miss home once in a while but remember why you’re there and focus on that. Talk to anyone who has studied abroad (and we hope we will hear from those of you recently returned from abroad) and you will often hear some regret about not having done enough enough of this or that: not spoken the local language enough, not immersed enough in the culture of the place, not spent enough time getting to know your host country…Here are 19 Study Abroad Tips That Are Actually Helpful to get you inspired. So go out there and explore but don’t forget to Pack Your Most Present Self.
Don’t forget to tell those of us back on the Hill about your adventures, discoveries, and learning experiences.