5 Essential Packing Tips: What to Bring for Studying Abroad

Studying abroad? This guide will tell you what to bring and what necessities to remember when packing your bags. These tips are also useful for any traveler who plans to stay in a foreign country for longer than a month, and are oriented especially towards travelers who are going to China or Asian countries. Since my experience is as an EFL teacher, this information is useful for teaching English abroad as well as for study abroad.

First things first: Bring one rolling bag (the kind that's about maximum carry-on size, but is better to check) and one backpack. More is optional, but these two are essential.

Packing Toiletries/Personal Care and Hygiene
You can get toothbrushes and toothpaste anywhere. What is important is floss, which is not available everywhere. Anti-perspirant deodorant is not a universal, so make sure to stock up on your favorite brand. In general, good shampoo and soap are available anywhere, but if you have a need for good conditioner, bring some of your own.

Packing for Health & Wellness
Bring any OTC meds you take! It's easy to catch a cold or flu when traveling abroad, because our immune systems aren't always prepared for the local viruses, and the availability of medication varies between countries. Aspirin isn't over-the-counter everywhere, for instance, and a smart traveler will plan ahead so as not to have to go to the hospital for a simple headache.

Additionally, if you have a health condition that could become life-threatening, make sure to learn how to say the name of your condition in the local language. Write it on a piece of paper and carry it in your wallet in case of trouble. Remember that 911 is not the emergency number in every country; find out what the number is in the country you are visiting, and memorize it.

Packing for Safety when Studying Abroad
One of the worst case scenarios that could happen during your study abroad would be a lost or stolen passport. There are two measures to take against this:

A) Prevent passport theft. Get a money belt before you leave, and wear it under your clothing. Keep your passport and all important ID and credit or debit cards in the money belt. If sleeping in a shared room with strangers, wear it while you sleep.

B) Be prepared. Make Xerox copies of your passport and ID and all travel documents, and keep them in a safe place that is not the same place you keep your passport. These can be shown to authorities if trouble occurs.

Clothing to Pack: Look up the climate of your destination before you plan your wardrobe. Are you going to be visiting all year, or staying for only a season? Some places have summer monsoons, so summer can be wet, although even in the rain, tropical locales are usually very warm.

In many countries, including China and Thailand, washing machines are common but dryers are not, so bring thin clothing that will dry fast on a clothesline. If staying for a winter in one of these countries, bring thin clothing that layers well. This will also help to fit items in the suitcase. If staying for a long time, consider bringing money to buy clothes while living abroad.

Study Abroad Necessities: Books and Movies
It's easy to get tired of not hearing your own language. Bringing books, books-on-tape and movies will alleviate this stress. Enthusiastic readers staying away longer than a few months should make a deal with someone at home to send more books at the trip's halfway point.

Happy travels! For students heading to China, see also: Going to China? Ten Things You Need to Know.