It’s only three months, but at the same time, it’s three freakin’ months! Packing for a summer abroad can be both harder and easier than just a week-long vacation. What can I buy once I arrive? What can I not live without for three months? Will I even know where to buy nail polish remover once I get there? The most important thing is to start early so you have time to make several trips to the store and figure out what can stay and what can go. I’m living in France this summer and want to share how to pack for a summer in France:
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What I Packed:
•5 dresses
•2 jumpsuits
•4 pairs of pants (including one pair of jeans)
•2 skirts (one maxi, one denim)
•8 shirts (including 4 basic tees)
•1 pair athletic shorts
•pjs
•jean jacket
•5 pairs of shoes (flip flops, flats, Birkenstocks, sandals, tennis shoes)
•toiletries
•jewelry
•linens
•room decor
•2 swimsuits
•undergarments + socks
•contacts + glasses
•passport + passport cover
•American snacks (God bless Nature Valley granola bars, Peter Pan peanut butter and Archer Farms trail mix)
•reading material
•travel journal
•sunglasses
•purse + wallet
•headphones
•Nikon + memory card + charger
•over-the-counter meds (think ibuprofen and Benadryl)
•gum
•hamper
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What I Bought Once I Arrived:
•Shampoo
•Conditioner
•Soap
•Blanket
•Plastic kitchenware
Unfortunately, there’s no universal way to pack for a summer abroad, but you will survive. The bottom line is: what can you not go without for an entire summer? Maybe a favorite book or photo of your family. What is essential? (Think undergarments, contacts/glasses, etc.) What can I not purchase there? Probably not snacks from your home country. Packing can be stressful, but at the end of the day, you learn as you go. Bon voyage!
{How do you decide what to pack and not to pack for long trips?}
