There are many packing lists online. And they all have decent recommendations. But one thing that I have learned is a must are safety pins. I keep a bundle in my luggage at all times. They are small, easy to use, and quick.  

While I’d rather avoid tired clichés, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. And I’d much rather show you my adventures than bore you with a lackluster description. So, without further ado, here’s 10 photos—straight from my BeReal—that best encapsulate my first month in Freiburg, Germany. 

Getting ready to pack my entire life into one suitcase is a challenging feat that studying abroad requires. Luckily for me, this was not my first time around. Last fall, I had to do the same thing when I studied in Belfast. What did I learn from that experience? I packed too much stuff! I had two massive cardboard boxes that contained everything from clothes to a saxophone to cricket equipment to books. How much of it did I use? You can guess the answer. 

Ciao! Three weeks have flown by, and I'm thrilled to report that I'm finally starting to find my groove in the lovely city of Rome. It's taken me a full three weeks to reach this point, and let me tell you, I'm absolutely okay with that. Having had the experience of living abroad in the past, I can vouch for the fact that adjusting and adapting are continuous processes that evolve every single day.