Traveling Truly

Moving in and out of my college dorm room every year was always an ordeal. It took multiple cars, stuffing things into every nook and cranny of my trunk, passenger seat, and floorboards, and usually happened super last minute, adding stress to an already exhausting task.

This summer, I picked up and moved across the world with a 40 lb suitcase and a carry-on. “Traveling light?” was the first thing my friend said to me as they picked me up at the airport. Yeah, I guess I was!

I wouldn’t call myself a minimalist per se, but I have seriously tried to de-clutter my belongings and simplify my life- a task which was made easy by preparing to leave the country for a year!

In this post, I want to try to help you navigate what things you might actually want or need to pack in your suitcase for a year abroad! Follow these steps to narrow down a personalized list of what to take to fit your needs.

1. Evaluate what will be available in the country to which you are moving.

I moved to a somewhat underdeveloped country, so I had to take into account what types of things I would not be able to get once here, such as specific medicine or hygiene products. However, I was not moving to a remote area or village-type setting, so I knew I would be able to buy clothes and most health and beauty items I need here. Since I live in Florida and was moving to a place with harsh winters, I opted to wait and buy all of my winter clothing here to save space in my suitcase. One of the only things I bought ahead of time were some snow boots, since I knew I would have difficulty finding shoes that fit – I am 5’10” (177 cm) and wear a size 10-11 (42 EUR)! Now that I have moved I think I could maybe have found some here, but it was worth saving myself the hassle to go ahead and buy them in the States. I also bought a pair of thermals and a pair of wool socks since I wanted a specific brand of each that I would not be able to buy in-country.

Remember not all American brands are available worldwide, so if there is a staple that you cannot live without, stock up and sacrifice something else that you can buy when you get to your new home. Is there a specific foundation / moisturizer / face wash that you just cannot fathom leaving behind? Consider packing a few, but make them your only full-size toiletries.

2. Consider your wardrobe.

Once again, I was moving from the Sunshine State to a country which will be covered in snow during the winter. Even though I was not bringing winter clothing with me, I tried to be mindful of what I did pack so that most of it could be worn with layers and used year-round. I am a huge fan of capsule wardrobes, so pretty much everything I brought was black, white, or one of my two accent colors. Keeping my wardrobe simple and classic has already helped now that the weather is cooling down and it’s time to begin using some light layers. Most of my summer clothes have easily transitioned to fall without looking out-of-place!

Check out my post Utilizing a Capsule Wardrobe for Travel for more information on how I curated mine and how it can help you out!

3. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

I’m sorry, but you *probably* don’t need ten books, your whole drawer of art supplies, your three favorite stuffed animals, eight different boxes of snacks, and seven pairs of shoes.

Instead, here are some parts of home to take with you that don’t take up much space or weight:

• photos
• unframed watercolor paintings
• letters / cards from family and friends
• posters
• thin canvas paintings

I brought very few extras in my suitcase: a planner, a couple of very thin, lightweight watercolor or canvas paintings, a “Return of the King” poster that I have had since the movie came out in 2003, and my autographed photo with Sean Astin. So basically, all the essentials. I also brought a couple of flat, simple crafts from Dollar Tree to do with my students, and in my carry-on were my Bible, a journal, two small books, and some cliff bars so I wouldn’t have to buy any expensive airport food.

4. Make a list

This one may seem super obvious, but it is very important so I did not want to leave it out. And I don’t mean to make a list a couple of days before you leave to make sure you don’t forget essentials (although you should do that as well), I mean a month or so before you leave, make a rough list of what clothing you want to take with you and what you already have. For instance, I realized when making this list that I really wanted a pair of black skinny jeans to complete my capsule wardrobe, as well one versatile, casual dress. Because I made the list early, I had plenty of time to look around for the right items and didn’t have to rush to the store last minute before I left.

You can also make a list of what travel essentials you are lacking- earphones, neck pillow, sleep mask, ear plugs… these are all things I cannot survive a flight without. Maybe I am just a baby when it comes to long flights, but I have found what works for me to sleep and I am not changing it a bit! For my full explanation on how I approach a long-haul flight, give this post a read!

5. USE PACKING CUBES. I repeat, USE PACKING CUBES!

This may be more of a packing-hack than advice on what to bring, but it is so important that it is wort mentioning anyway.

Why are these guys so life-changing? Honestly, I don’t know. It doesn’t really make since in my head why they help everything fit so much better. But they do. It’s like magic. And not only can you fit more in your suitcase with a set of packing cubes, you can dig around for something without suddenly having a mound of clothes and assorted items spilling over onto the floor beside you. You can buy a set on Amazon for around $20, and trust me, it will be a good investment.

6. Gather Important Documents

Do not forget all your official papers and tickets. Especially if you will be applying for a visa once you are in-country, look up what all you will need ahead of time and gather all your important documents well in advance of your departure date. You may need an official birth certificate, a background check, proof of insurance, etc. It will vary from country to country, so be sure to research it early and begin making preparations with time to spare. You don’t want to end up having to leave a country before you planned because of visa issues!

I also like to have separately a copy of my plane tickets, passport, reservations, and directions to my hotel in case something gets stolen, my phone dies, the reservation is not on file, etc. Paper copies of all these things add virtually no weight to your bags, but could be a life-saver if the need for them arose.

I hope you found this list helpful! Packing for a year overseas can be an extremely daunting task, but the truth is that you’ll find you survive just fine with only a fraction of your belongings- even if you forget something (or a lot of things). Please comment down below with any questions you have or any additional tips!

Happy Travels!!