Preparing for Study Abroad is About More Than Packing a Suitcase

When I first started preparing to study abroad in Nantes, France, I assumed most of my preparation would happen closer to the departure date. I knew I would eventually need to pack, organize my documents, and figure out the logistics of getting to France. What I didn’t expect was how many small things I could do ahead of time to make myself feel more prepared and more connected to the experience before I even less.

As I started getting ready, I realized that preparing for study abroad isn’t just about making sure you have everything you need. It’s also about preparing yourself to experience a new place and culture/ Here are some of the things I’ve been doing to get ready for my time in France.

📍 Start exploring before you arrive.

One of the first things I did was start favoriting different places on Google Maps that I want to visit while I’m in France. I’ve saved restaurants, cafés, parks, thrift shops, museums, bookstores, and other places that have caught my attention. While I know I may not be able to visit everything on my list, having these places saved gives me ideas for when I have free time.

More importantly, it has helped me start thinking about Nantes as more than just the place where I’ll be studying. I’m already thinking about the neighborhoods I want to explore, the food I want to try, and the places I want to experience.

🎤 Keep using the language—even when you already know it.

Whether you’re a beginning French speaker or already proficient, there is a value in intentionally surrounding yourself with the language before going abroad.

I’ve been listening to French podcasts and watching TV shows in French, including American shows that I’ve already seen but with the audio set to French. I like this because I already know the characters, storyline, and context, so I can focus more on how the language is being used rather than trying to figure out what is happening. It also gives me exposure to different vocabulary, expressions and ways of speaking that I might not encounter in the classroom.

I’m also planning to buy books in French that I’ve already read in English. Since I already know the storyline and characters, I can focus on understanding the French rather than worrying about following a completely unfamiliar plot. It’s another way to challenge myself without making the experience feel overwhelming.

For me, this kind of language preparation isn’t about becoming proficient before I leave. Instead, it’s about staying immersed in French and becoming even more comfortable using the language in everyday situations. I know that being able to understand French in a classroom is different from hearing it constantly in conversations, on television, in stores, and throughout daily life. By incorporating more French into my routine now, I hope the transition will feel a little more nature once I arrive.

🧳 Think carefully about what you actually need to bring.

Of course, preparing for study abroad also involves some more practical tasks. I’ve made a detailed packing list, but I’ve also made a separate list of things that I plan to purchase once I arrive in France rather than bringing them with me. 

I think it can be easy to fall into the mindset that you need to bring everything you might possibly need for several months. Making these two lists has helped me think more realistically about what is actually worth taking up valuable suitcase space. It has also given me a better idea of what I should look for once I arrive.

📂 Get organized before you leave.

Finally, I’ve created a folder on my desktop where I’m keeping all of my necessary study abroad documents (as well as printing out copies). Having everything organized in one place makes it much easier to find important information when I need it.

This may not be the most exciting part of preparing for study abroad, but I think it’s one of the most important. There are already so many things to think about when moving to another country, and I don’t want to be searching through dozens of emails and files when I need to find an important document.

What I’ve realized throughout this process is that preparing for study abroad isn’t one big task you can complete right before you leave. It’s a collection of smaller steps that gradually make the experience more manageable.

Saving places on Google Maps, continuing to practice French, figuring out what to pack, and organizing my documents may seem like small things individually. Together, though, they are helping me feel more prepared for the transition and more excited about what is ahead.