Hi Everyone!
It's getting time for me to hop the pond and make the big move to London! I know some of my fellow Theta sisters will be studying in Europe this semester.
For my first post, I thought I'd share some advice for those who have never traveled abroad before. The first thing is to be prepared. I have gained some travel knowledge both from traveling with my parents and watching my three older brothers study abroad, and there are a few tips that aren't always covered in abroad program orientations.
PRE-TRAVEL TIPS:
1. Paperwork: Make sure your parents or family has copies of all your important documents including your passport, i.d.s, bank cards, medical cards and any other important materials you will be traveling with. You should also carry a copy of your passport when you travel. If your passport gets lost or stolen while abroad, it is much easier to get a new passport when you have a copy of your old one.
Also, leaving your banking information in the hands of a trusted family member, whether it be your parents or a joint-account member can be extremely helpful. Often my brothers and I experienced trouble withdrawing money from ATMs while abroad. This is because the bank will see a foreign transaction and freeze the account as a precaution. This can be solved simply by notifying your bank in advance of your travels. However, if you forget or the note in your file gets lost you will have to call the bank and inform them that you are in fact traveling. I have had instances where I could not get in touch with my bank via an international number so I needed my parents back in the US to call the bank. This was easy because they already had my information, neatly organized in a binder before I left.
2. Make Contacts in Advance: Before you leave, make sure you have made contact with someone living or working in the country you are staying. This can be your program director, professor or even a distant relative who may be abroad. This can be helpful when you first arrive and may need some guidance getting around the city or translating the language and culture. This local contact may also be able to help if you bag gets lost in your travels, if you are sick and need to find a doctor's office or if you just want some suggestions on what sites to see. Even if they are a distant relative who you never met, it is worth reaching out before you leave the US! They will probably be excited to meet you and share their country with you!
3. Packing-- It's about organization! This sounds like a no brainer but make sure to check the weather for all the months you will be abroad. Taking out those heavy sweaters and ski jackets from your suitcases if you are staying in Southern Spain can save a lot of room in your bags and prevent you from getting overweight bag fees at the airport. Also, think about packing a smaller duffle bag or backpack for weekend trips. You don't need to fill it for your move overseas but throw it in one of your suitcases. It will come in handy if you travel to other countries on discount airlines. Ryan Air and Easy Jet will charge extra for checked baggage and for bags that do not meet their strict size requirement.
Most importantly, make sure to pack toiletries and at least one change of clothes in a carry on bag when making your long journey to study abroad. This is especially important if your flight has a layover. Bags can get lost and you can find yourself in a foreign country with no spare clothes or toothbrush, waiting for your bag to turn up. Simply packing an extra outfit can save a lot of hassle.
I hope this tips help in your pre-departure stage. Stay tuned for more introductory posts and some posts about my travels around Europe.
Happy Travels!
- Catherine
P.S. The top photo is from the Bobli Gardens in Florence, Italy. I visited my brother there last May when he was finishing up his semester abroad. Everything is more beautiful Italy!
PRE-TRAVEL TIPS:
1. Paperwork: Make sure your parents or family has copies of all your important documents including your passport, i.d.s, bank cards, medical cards and any other important materials you will be traveling with. You should also carry a copy of your passport when you travel. If your passport gets lost or stolen while abroad, it is much easier to get a new passport when you have a copy of your old one.
Also, leaving your banking information in the hands of a trusted family member, whether it be your parents or a joint-account member can be extremely helpful. Often my brothers and I experienced trouble withdrawing money from ATMs while abroad. This is because the bank will see a foreign transaction and freeze the account as a precaution. This can be solved simply by notifying your bank in advance of your travels. However, if you forget or the note in your file gets lost you will have to call the bank and inform them that you are in fact traveling. I have had instances where I could not get in touch with my bank via an international number so I needed my parents back in the US to call the bank. This was easy because they already had my information, neatly organized in a binder before I left.
2. Make Contacts in Advance: Before you leave, make sure you have made contact with someone living or working in the country you are staying. This can be your program director, professor or even a distant relative who may be abroad. This can be helpful when you first arrive and may need some guidance getting around the city or translating the language and culture. This local contact may also be able to help if you bag gets lost in your travels, if you are sick and need to find a doctor's office or if you just want some suggestions on what sites to see. Even if they are a distant relative who you never met, it is worth reaching out before you leave the US! They will probably be excited to meet you and share their country with you!
3. Packing-- It's about organization! This sounds like a no brainer but make sure to check the weather for all the months you will be abroad. Taking out those heavy sweaters and ski jackets from your suitcases if you are staying in Southern Spain can save a lot of room in your bags and prevent you from getting overweight bag fees at the airport. Also, think about packing a smaller duffle bag or backpack for weekend trips. You don't need to fill it for your move overseas but throw it in one of your suitcases. It will come in handy if you travel to other countries on discount airlines. Ryan Air and Easy Jet will charge extra for checked baggage and for bags that do not meet their strict size requirement.
Most importantly, make sure to pack toiletries and at least one change of clothes in a carry on bag when making your long journey to study abroad. This is especially important if your flight has a layover. Bags can get lost and you can find yourself in a foreign country with no spare clothes or toothbrush, waiting for your bag to turn up. Simply packing an extra outfit can save a lot of hassle.
I hope this tips help in your pre-departure stage. Stay tuned for more introductory posts and some posts about my travels around Europe.
Happy Travels!
- Catherine
P.S. The top photo is from the Bobli Gardens in Florence, Italy. I visited my brother there last May when he was finishing up his semester abroad. Everything is more beautiful Italy!
