Studying abroad involves a great deal of thoughtful preparation. The topic of packing – and how to prevent overpacking – is especially essential. It can be quite difficult to strike the perfect balance between bringing too much and just enough. In this blog post, we will discuss a few aspects you should consider to make sure you have a smooth and stress-free study abroad experience.
Why you should avoid overpacking
Moving Issues
As a rule of thumb: the fewer items you bring with you, the smoother and the enjoyable the move to your host country will be. Chances are high that you will be moving on your own to your host country, so making your travel as straightforward as possible is essential.
A Glimpse of a Minimalistic Lifestyle
Ask yourself: Do you need every item you’re considering packing? That new guitar you’ve been meaning to play or the stack of books you plan to read might not be as essential as you think.
But that is one of the many advantages that come with going abroad for your studies. You will realize that you don’t need as much as you might think to be happy and comfortable.
Think of the Return Journey
Packing is a two-way process. Always keep this in mind while packing. You will need space for the souvenirs and gifts you’ll want to bring back. A smart packing strategy is to go to your host country with at least one empty suitcase. If friends and family from home are coming to visit you, they could help by taking some of your belongings already back, lightening your load for the return trip.
How To Avoid Overpacking
Be Truthful with Your Packing List
The best way to ensure you don’t overpack is to make a list. Be brutally honest with yourself when making this list. Ask yourself: What are the things I would not be able to cope without? If you are having doubts about whether something is essential, ask yourself: Do I use this every week? If you are not using something regularly – regularly meaning at least a couple of times a month – leave it at home. If it’s not something you use often at home, it’s likely unnecessary for your journey.
A minimalistic approach will also save you the hassle of dragging heavy suitcases around the globe. Therefore, even if you are not taking the plane – pack as though you are.
Accommodation
Choose your accommodations wisely. Look out for accommodations that provide the essentials. Furnished housing, particularly student dorms, can significantly reduce what you need to bring from home. The same works for shared flats: they usually already have at least the kitchen necessities ready for use. This saves you a considerable amount of both money and stress.
Reuse and Recycle
Exchange and international students have quite a reputation for accumulating possessions during their time abroad. The week before university starts, you will find all the international and exchange students at the store buying cushions, water boilers, water filters, pans, fans, lamps, and much more.
The only issue is that you will have nowhere to go with the stuff as soon as your study abroad stay ends.
To resolve this issue, embrace the culture of sharing that is often already established among the international student community in your host country. Ask your international student coordinators at your institution about communal storage spaces. These are areas where former international students can leave items for future students to use. If they do not have something alike, propose that they organize something like that.
Additionally, it is highly likely (especially for universities with a lot of international students) that there are “Buy & Sell” WhatsApp groups where students consistently exchange, buy, and sell possessions. This system is not only sustainable; it is also a cost-effective method of acquiring necessary items.
Conclusion
Remember that studying abroad is about the adventures you go on, the memories you make, and the people you meet – not about the things you bring. By adopting a minimalist mindset and utilizing the resources available, you can focus on what truly matters—your education and everything around it.