Amongst all of my research on what to bring- I didn’t think much about how to get it there. So far I’ve been throwing some winter clothes into my suitcase after coming across them during cleaning my room, dresser, and closet. The hardest part has definitely been trying to brainstorm creative ways to make several outfits out of what is light and easy to pack for a whole three months.

For me this is way harder than packing for college. Like when I go off every fall I have nearly two tubs, like the plastic tubs that people put Christmas decorations in, just filled with clothes. This semester will be a bit of a wake up call for me.

The best part about it so far is I’ve realized how ridiculous I am when I go to Hood every fall. Like I literally pack everything and half the stuff sits in my closet for the majority of the semester. I’m also asking myself a lot of questions like, can I wear this shirt with everything I’m bringing? If the answer is yes or more than half it worthy enough to be packed.

The only thing I really need is a dressy shirt, and I just can’t find what I’m picturing which is really nothing. I don’t know what I’m looking for when it comes to that. It might just have to be a purchase I make there because I have no clue what I want. The other thing I’m trying desperately to find is a rain jacket that doesn’t look like a rain jacket. I don’t want something super shiney and bright, so I can wear it on regular days and not stick out like a sore thumb. However, I still have a little over a month until I go so I have time to figure out what I still need.

To me one of the weirdest things about packing up and getting ready to go is that I’m actually going. For so long this has just been something that I’ve said to people when they ask questions about next semester when it comes to roommates or classes or where I’m living, but it hasn’t really set in as a reality yet. Even when I put it on my bucket list for the year, I don’t think the full reality had hit that I would be residing in another country for three months. I mean, it still hasn’t set in. With my love for travel this was always really something I never really had to think about like mindset wise, it’s how my brain works, for me this is a very logical decision, I just didn’t really realize the intensity of the decision. I feel like that makes it sound like I’m thinking I made a bad decision, which I definitely do not think. I honestly just didn’t think about what it meant to live in another country and to be quite honest, I am so very excited for this experience.

If anyone else has study abroad or plans on studying abroad, let me know your tips in the comments please! Also, if you know if you can waterproof a jacket, let me know.

PS I made a Facebook page for my blog if you would please go give it a like!