What Do You Need Abroad?

With the holiday season quickly approaching, I know that I am starting to craft my Christmas list. Before heading abroad, I remember asking almost everyone I could what are some things I may need for abroad that I could forget about or just not know about. Today I am going to share with you some things that I have found to be so helpful while abroad, things you should bring from home, or what to buy here!

One of the main things that I heard everyone say was Medicine. Bring yourself some cold and cough medicine, ibuprofen, allergy meds and Benadryl. It has been so helpful having something that I know works for me when I get sick, so that I am not having to navigate a new pharmacy in another country, on top of being sick. 

Grab yourself a universal adapter. This is such a good investment before leaving as some of the outlet converters only work in certain countries, while a universal adapter has multiple plug sockets that you can just change out. For example, the outlet converter I currently use here in Barcelona, Spain did not work in London, United Kingdom and I had to buy one there. Definitely recommend checking out Amazon and buying two before leaving. I also recommend a portable charger as I have brought mine on every weekend trip either through my program or with friends. 

Invest in a nice jacket that can easily be thrown on or layered underneath. My favorite jacket has been my Barbour jacket, which I received for Christmas last year. This is a wax jacket that you can add an additional insert for extra warmth during the colder months or remove the liner for something more lightweight for those chilly mornings but warm afternoons!

Don’t pack too many shoes, like I did! Bring what you wear at home daily, and nothing extra. You will definitely buy a pair of shoes while abroad as the prices are so much better and I think that everything is just better here!

Bring some pictures of things from home that make your room more homey. Without any souvenirs or post cards those first few weeks, your room can feel lonely. I recommend packing just a few pictures and some tape to hang up so pictures of things from home to give you a sense of comfort while settling in those first few weeks. 

Pack yourself a reusable water bottle so you don’t have to constantly buy new water bottles everyday before class. Depending on where you live, there is most likely a water refill station but there is always one at your IES building which is great for in between classes. 

After arriving, try to google if you can set up an Amazon account and ask your building for the exact address. This has been so helpful for me, specifically in the beginning of my program. I purchased things like a Vacuum and a Brita through my Amazon account, while I still felt intimidated with the language barrier.  

A few weeks before my program started, I wrote down what I used everyday at home to see what I would need to pack or purchase for my semester abroad. This allowed me to ensure that I had everything, and I made sure to grab two or more of the items I used everyday. You can find alternates for almost every item in your home country, but it’s all about trial and error. See what works for you and what doesn’t!