It’s exciting to think about studying abroad, sure, but behind all that excitement, nerves and stress linger. As a commuter student who had never lived outside of her house and overthinks everything, here are some of the tips and tricks that I wish I knew prior to studying abroad.
Packing
Packing was definitely one of the most stressful things. How do you pack four months of your life into a suitcase? There are so many things to consider: the weight of the suitcase, the weather in your host country, comfort, etc.
I’m here to make your life simpler by telling you that packing cubes are the secret to success. I bought mine specifically for studying abroad, and they are a game changer. Not only that, but I also recommend watching some YouTube videos on folding to conserve space. Definitely stick to basic clothing that you can mix and match into several outfits. You honestly only need three pairs of shoes: comfortable sneakers that you can walk in, sandals for the beach or for warmer days, and a pair of running shoes (if you plan on being active during your stay).
As for your carry-on, I cannot stress this enough: Buy a travel backpack. I was so stubborn in not buying one for my trip, but I ended up regretting it so much that I ordered one on Amazon. They fit another pair of shoes, clothes, your toiletries, and devices. As for those toiletries, bring only travel-size options that you can refill as you can use these on your weekend trips. Finally, don’t forget important essentials like an adapter, a water bottle, an everyday bag, and cash in your host country’s currency.
Budgeting
Let’s be real. Studying abroad is not the cheapest experience, so budgeting was another big stress of mine. While I was abroad, I wanted to take advantage and travel but not burn through my savings. StudentUniverse and Hostelworld are your friends for this.
StudentUniverse is a website to find flights at a cheaper rate for being a student. Hostels are more cost effective than hotels, so I definitely recommend staying at them and booking through Hostelworld. Don’t forget that you can also travel via bus or train, which are on the cheaper side. Taking overnight transportation is cost effective, though it does mean you have to sleep a bit uncomfortably.
That travel backpack comes in handy while travelling so you won’t have to pay to check a bag or lug a suitcase around the cobblestone streets (it’s even worse than it sounds, trust me).
When not travelling, I budgeted my groceries by allotting myself only 100 euros to spend for the week on food. This included eating out, going out, and my groceries. There were times when I did have to go above 100, but for the most part, I was able to stick to it.
Obviously, I wanted to bring home souvenirs, so I also set aside a few hundred dollars for gifts for my friends, family, and myself. Overall, I wanted to make sure I would be going back home with more than a few dollars to my name, and this strategy really helped me with that.
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
Finally, I was really nervous about going halfway across the world by myself. I had never been on my own, so this was really out of my comfort zone.
Shockingly, I wasn’t as homesick as I thought I would be. This was mainly due to the close contact that I kept with my family by calling them every day and sending text messages. I also texted or Snapchatted my close friends, which established a strong support system for me.
All I can say is, don’t be afraid to seize the opportunity to study abroad. I worked really hard to be able to, so I knew that I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from enjoying my time.
Paola Medina is a student at Seattle University and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Florence, Italy.