Howdy,
As I last left y’all, my room was a mess, I was a mess, and my life was a mess. Since then, I’ve done a complete 180. It’s amazing how a clean room can really make you feel so so so much better and release so much stress. So yes. I have put my mind to it and packed up my entire life in 3 bags: a checked suitcase, a carryon, and a backpack. whew!
I started packing about a month ago, but I later realized that until I actually bought everything, there was no sense in even packing it because I kept having to take things in and out. But yesterday, I had enough. Within roughly five hours, I did what I couldn’t handle for an entire month.
Here are some before and after photos:
everything I’m bringing for an entire year in one photo
would ya look at that! and still under the weight limit!
When going about packing, it is ESSENTIAL to make a packing list. I cannot stress this enough. To any future students reading this: DO NOT LISTEN TO THE CIEE PACKING LIST! HERE IS A MUCH BETTER ONE! (you’re welcome):
DOCUMENTS (KEEP ON YOU UNTIL YOU GET TO YOUR HOST FAM’S HOUSE):
- Passport and copies
- US issued ID or driver’s licence (or permit if your state sucks and you can’t get your license until 16) and copies
- Plane/train tickets and copies
- Debit/credit card (don’t forget to alert bank to tell them that you are using international so they don’t freeze your account)
- Insurance
- €€ (at least 200)
- Student ID (if applicable)
- Copy of current US transcript
- Copy of new school schedule (if applicable)
- Passport photos
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of social security card
- Emergency contact list
- Student visa
- CIEE program and housing details
- iNext insurance card
- Copy of medical prescriptions
CLOTHING:
- Tops:
- Crop tops/unique shirts
- Tshirts
- A few college tshirts from where you’re going (foreigners think our obsession with university sports is AWESOME)
- shirts for school
- shirts for home
- shirts for going out
- dress shirts
- Bottoms:
- Pants
- Jeans (dark/black)
- Skirts
- leggings
- tights
- dress pants
- bottoms for school
- Underwear:
- UNDERSHIRTS!!! (wear under shirts so you don’t have to wash shirts as much and can just wash undershirts)
- Underwear
- Bras
- Socks
- Shoes:
- Boots
- Running shoes
- Fashionable sneakers (converse, toms, adidas, etc.)
- Flats
- Slippers for home
- Sandals
- Flip flops for beach or pool
- Wedges (no stilettos!!)
- Overwear:
- Heavy coat
- Light coat
- Windbreakers
- Fleeces
- Sweaters
- Fashion coat
- Raincoat
- Other:
- Something conservative for Morocco trip:)
- Conservative clothes (religious use etc.)
- Hat
- Gloves
- SCARVES
- Bathing suit/cover up
- Sweatshirts and sweatpants for houses w/o heat
- Gym/workout clothes
- Belts
- nice outfits
- Formal dress
- Casual dresses
- rompers
- pajamas
TOILETRIES:
- Allergy medicine (entire year)
- Prescription medicine (entire year)
- contacts/glasses (if applicable)
- tampons/pads (if applicable) (for the whole year??)
- Birth control
- OTC drugs
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Shampoo (either travel size or nah)
- Conditioner (either travel size or nah)
- Deodorant (mini or large?)
- Soap/bodywash (mini or nah?)
- Razors
- Sunscreen
- Lotionnnnnnn
- Chapstick
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Nail buffer
- Tweezers
- Brush
- Hairbands
- Bobby pins
- Tissues
- Acne medicine
- Melatonin to reduce jet lag
- Other products you use (i.e. hair stuff, skin stuff)
MAKEUP (i thought it needed its own category):
- Make up remover (how much of this should i bring?)
- Concealer
- Eyeliner
- Lipstick
- Chapstick
- Foundation
- Mascara
MISCELLANEOUS:
- American phone
- Sim card for spain (alt. Other phone)
- Watch
- Mini alarm clock
- Small speaker
- Camera
- Extra camera batteries
- Extra camera memory
- Tripod?
- Cables for camera?
- Laptop
- Laptop charger
- Earbuds
- Case for laptop
- Portable iphone charger
- External hardrive for laptop
- Extra phone cables/chargers
- Flashdrive
- ADAPTERS
- Flashlight?
- Pepper Spray?
- Sunglasses
- Towel
- Washcloth
- Travel pillow
- kindle/e-reader/nook
- Swiss army knife (don’t put in carry-on)
- Laundry bag
- Pens
- Pencils
- Pencil sharpener
- Art supplies
- Journal!!!!!
- Money belt
- A few food items that remind you of home (e.g. peanut butter, american candy, etc.)
- A few favorite movies (either downloaded or dvds)
- A MUST DO BUCKET LIST FOR SPAIN
- Small purse (preferably with a zipper)
- Bigger purse (preferably with a zipper)
- Dictionary!!
- Folder for all paperwork
- Dictaphone (record school lectures to play back on your own time)
- Backpack (maybe use as a carry on?)
- HOST FAM GIFTS
- Nice water bottle
- Gum
- Hand sanitizer
- Wallet
- Umbrella
- Guidebook
- Small photo album
- jewelry
yes I realize that this is a lot longer than ciee’s. yes I know it seems impossible. But guess what? I packed every single thing on there and brought wayyyyy more clothes than necessary and it fits and it works and yay! Hopefully this will make your packing much easier than mine was.
Here are some tips for packing:
- roll all your clothes. no folding. at all
- rubber band your shoes together (shown below) and stuff them with socks to keep their shape
- put allllll your clothes in ziplock bags, write what the content of each bag is, and then squeeze all the air out so they are flat and take up as little space as possible.
- lay out everything you need before putting it in your suitcase
- double and triple check everything.
So yes, I did it. I feel so ready to go now and I can’t wait another minute! See you soon, Spain!
Peace,
~Parker