A complete guide to pack for your study abroad journey

All set for your journey abroad? No, wait … worried about what to and what not to pack for your adventure? Moving to a completely new country and packing your life in a suitcase is an extremely new experience. But nothing can be better than hearing from a person who has gone through it all. Edukos Abroad presents to you a comprehensive guide to help you pack for your journey, specially curated by our founder, Ms. Shreya Jain, a Post Graduate of Leeds University. 

Your packing process begins right from choosing your luggage. It is crucial that you travel with the correct luggage that fits your demands and you are comfortable carrying. Carrying a four-wheeled stroller bag with TSA locks is recommended as it is easy to move. One should also carry a backpack or a small sling bag to keep the essentials that they need while departure. Speaking about essentials, here is a list of things that every study abroad student must carry: 

1. Carry all your travel documents like passport, boarding pass, student visa, college admission proof and credit cards in the handbag. Additionally, bring photocopies of all the important documents, just in case you misplace the originals.  
2. It is usually advised to carry a little amount of local currency for emergency use. 
3. Keep basic toiletries like sanitiser, face wash, napkins, sanitary products etc in small quantities for immediate use. 
4. Always keep a first-aid kit handy. One should always have their preferred medications, for example, Indians prefer homoeopathic medications. However, you must have a valid prescription with you in order to take them.

Moving on beyond the necessities, another important decision every student has to take is regarding what clothes they should pack. Your study abroad location is a deciding factor in what you should pack. The first and foremost thing to do is to research the weather of your study abroad location and then pack accordingly. To assist you in packing your clothes, we give you this comprehensive outfit checklist:

1. Intimate Wear (The more intimate wear you have the better!)
2. Comfy go-to clothes (T-shirts, Lowers, Jeans, Sweatshirts etc.) 
3. Our expert’s recommendations –
   1.  A set of formal wear
   2. Indian clothes (for Indian students)
   3. A warm jacket
   4. Good walking shoes
   5. A pair of heels 
   6. Accessories to top up your looks 

Apart from the clothing and essentials, there are things only an experienced study-abroad student can tell. So here are the special recommendations from our expert – 

1. Skin Care Routine – Relocating to a new place/country can affect your skin, therefore, it is advised you stick to your skincare routine for better and healthier skin.  

2. Cosmetics – Your relatives/friends might suggest that you buy all your cosmetics overseas (especially for Indian students), but we would advise that you carry your 

own tried and tested cosmetics according to your skin as new cosmetics can cause allergic reactions.  

3. Toiletries – Pack your toiletries in small quantities for around 10 days as you can easily find basic toiletries are reasonable costs in your host country. Carrying big bottles of toiletries will occupy more space in your luggage. 

4. It is essential to carry your own menstruation cups, tampons, and sanitary napkins because you might not be able to find your preferred brand in the host nation.

5. Moving to a new country can make you feel homesick, hence homemade food is the best comfort you can find in these situations. Additionally, it is challenging to cook in the new place immediately, therefore you should arrange meals for a few days. 

6. Indians are used to eating several side dishes with our meals like achar, papad, namkeen etc. These snacks not only work as sides but can also help up pep the food available in the host country. Therefore, always carry your preferred sides. 

7. One of the most important things for an Indian to carry from India is a Pressure Cooker. A good quality pressure cooker will satisfy all your needs for cooking in a foreign land. 

8. If you are a ‘chashmish’ then carrying an extra pair of glasses is a must. Just in case you lose one or break one. 

9. Before going on your study abroad adventure, learn basic cooking as it will help you survive in a foreign country especially if you are a vegetarian. 

10. Carrying a lot of electronics? If so or even not, carrying a good quality multi-convertor is a must. You won’t be able to use your normal charger in a foreign country. 

A list of products outlining what you shouldn’t pack now that you’ve packed all the essentials. Yup, you heard it right! Do not pack the following things: 

1. Even if you adore your pillow, carrying your own bedding is not a very feasible option. You can buy bedding according to the host country’s weather. Some accommodations also provide you with bedding so it’s better to check before you take one. 

2. We Indians have a tendency of carrying our own grains and pulses. However, staples like rice, daal, salt, and other grains and pulses are readily accessible in supermarkets, thus one need not carry them. They are large, heavy, and take up a significant amount of space, instead, you can locate Indian shops and purchase Indian goods there.

3. No books! You read that right—books are incredibly bulky and can take up a lot of room in your luggage. All of the books are available online or in the university library. Your favourite books can be downloaded as PDFs so you can read them without lugging them.

4. One must avoid carrying any kind of expensive jewellery. There is a probability of these items getting lost or stolen. You can carry artificial jewellery or items that you won’t regret if gone missing. 

So, our packing journey has come to an end. Hope this helps you pack for your study abroad adventure. You can connect with our founder, Ms. Shreya Jain to know more about her experiences and study abroad journey. Book your free consultancy session now! Au Revoir!