Hi guys! My name’s Hailey and I’m 1 week away from starting my study abroad journey in Vienna with IES Abroad! If you need to know one thing about me it’s that I always have been(and probably always will be) an overpacker. So obviously the thought of trying to pack four months of clothes (with very different seasons happening within those four months) was more than a little daunting. Fortunately with a good organizational system and a bigger suitcase, I think I figured out my perfect packing method.

On January 7th, I was exactly one week away from embarking on the experience of a lifetime. The date was set. On January 14th, I would board a plane out of Nashville and from there I would eventually find myself in Dublin. 

While I knew to expect some culture shocks, there were some that caught me by surprise! I wanted to share what those have been, as well as tips on adjusting to them.

The overnight field trip to Merzouga, at the northwestern edge of the Sahara Desert, is one of IES Abroad Rabat's most exciting offerings. It includes a camel ride at sunset, stargazing, a Jeep ride through the dunes, and live music at the Sahara Magic Desert Luxury Camp.

A lot can happen in 24 hours. Lightning strikes 8.5 million times. 380,00 babies are born. 27,000 people get married. Sheep yield 5,000 tons of wool. 900,000 golf balls are sold. By the time all these things happen, I will finally be arriving in Australia.

I wasn't sure if I would be able to pack for study abroad without stressing over what to bring, how much to bring, how to fit everything... But after spending a chunk of winter break working on it, I'm pleased to say that I'm all packed, and it wasn't as bad as I'd been expecting. Here are a few things that made the process easier: