Words and photos by Makenna Kaminski (unless otherwise noted). Makenna is our Jetsetter Journalist studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy, during Spring semester 2023.

Packing is undoubtedly the hardest part of the study abroad process. As a student going abroad, you go through months of paperwork, Visa applications, and travel arrangements. Yet, when it comes down to fitting four months of your life into a suitcase, that's when most students struggle the most. I went into the packing process knowing that I wanted to pack light. I love to shop, so I definitely planned to leave room for my future purchases while abroad.

What I Packed

The hard part is that everything takes up a lot more space than you'd expect, so I had to be strict with what I took with me. I stuck with my goal to pack only neutrals and staples, leaving behind anything that was too specific to wear with multiple outfits, such as a tricky blouse or my favorite bright green sweater.

This was life-changing. Making the move towards only solid-colored basics was helpful, but it was still hard to decide between everything I had in my closet. By the end, I narrowed my huge pile of possible clothes down to the following:

• 3 pairs of leggings

• 2 pairs of yoga pants (for pajamas and the gym)

• 2 pairs of running shorts

• 2 pairs of casual/pajama shorts

• 2 gym tank tops

• 3 t-shirts

• 1 crewneck and 1 light sweatshirt

• 3 basic sweaters

• 1 "specific" or cute sweater (my favorite cropped-turtleneck, still neutral!)

• 3 casual tank tops

• 2 casual long sleeve shirts

• 2 button down tops (1 casual, 1 professional)

• 2 nice tank tops

• 2 nice tops (blouses)

• A leather jacket

• 2 casual blazers

• 1 cardigan sweater

• 2 skirts (1 long, 1 short)

• 2 sundresses

• 1 long dress

• 2 versatile black dresses

• 4 Pairs of pants (1 pair of dress pants, 2 pairs of jeans, 1 pair of "summery" linen pants)

• 1 pair of linen summer shorts

• 1 warm puffer coat

• 2 pairs of white Nikes

• Running shoes

• Doc Martens

• (Small) heeled booties

• Slippers

• Undergarments

• 1 bathing suit

When written out, this list looks pretty long. In total though, I narrowed all of my luggage down to 1 large suitcase, a carry-on, and a backpack. This was actually less than what I saw a lot of other students bring. I saw multiple girls bring two large suitcases, a small suitcase, a backpack, etc.

When wandering around the airport, I was forever grateful that I packed as light as I did. I found it so much easier to breeze through luggage-check, baggage claim and getting my bags on the bus to the school with just the three bags that I had. My roommate and I were lucky enough to have staff from the school help pull our bags down the cobblestone streets for us, but many other programs definitely won't have that luxury (many European buildings also don't have elevators). Thus, it's best to plan as if you'll have to carry everything you packed a long way by yourself.

When I got to school, however, I realized how little clothes I actually brought with me. Clothes get dirty pretty quick, and doing laundry at school is both expensive and inconvenient. I was shocked to see how quickly I ran out of things in my wardrobe, and it became a struggle to find clothes for class by just week 3. There are definitely a few items I really wish that I packed, but I still don't regret packing light by any means.

Bringing less clothes made it far less stressful to transport my luggage and unpack in my dorm. The extra space in my suitcase also gives me the peace of mind that if I see something I really like, I can buy it without worrying about how I'm supposed to bring it with me come May. Deciding what to bring on weekend trips is also much easier when you have less to chose from!

What I Regret Not Bringing

There were a few items that I did have to cave and buy, so if you're not looking to spend any extra money once abroad, here's a list of some things you should make sure to pack below:

• A blanket!!!! (this is the thing that I needed the most)

• An extra sweatshirt

• A set of winter accessories

• A thick pair of sweatpants

• A third pair of jeans

• An extra set of workout clothes

• Another zip up jacket or cardigan

• One more casual tank top

• Another cute or 'night' top

• A nice skirt

• A lighter "nice" coat- like a pea coat

Most of the things I ended up needing were due to the cold temperatures in the dorms. I brought a lot of nice clothes, but definitely not enough sweats for pajamas or walking around the communal common areas. Besides this, I felt like everything I had was pretty universal and would last me throughout my time here. Things will change based on where you're studying abroad, but while packing, just be mindful of what you bring.

Weather

Consider the weather where you are studying and how it'll change while you're living there. For example, if you're studying abroad in Spain, you might have a few weeks of mild winter weather, but it'll definitely start getting warm before you know it. If you're studying abroad in the south, don't bring a bunch of sweaters when you'll stop using them in just a month. Just as you shouldn't pack a dozen skirts if you're studying somewhere north, like Germany.

Always think about the things that you can layer to keep you warm. Also, it's good to note how a compact set of winter accessories - a hat, gloves, and scarf - can really go a long way (these practically add a whole extra layer!)

Layers

Think about layers and matching items with multiple outfits. My best decision was investing in some good neutral basics before I left. I got a nice black tank top, a warm black sweater, non-ripped jeans, and black dress pants - all of which I use almost daily. Items like the black tank top I rotate between outfits and wear with almost anything. For something casual, I'll put it under a cardigan and if I'm feeling more dressy I'll top it with a blazer. Also, remember that if it can only be paired with a single outfit - don't bring it!

Europeans particularly love neutral colors - especially black - which makes it even easier to pack. If you'll be in Europe, pack a majority of solid black staples with some accents such as jackets or jewelry for a classic and stylish look. Leave your colorful items at home. In all neutrals, you'll definitely blend in while making your life so much easier.

In the end, it's best not to stress so much about what you pack. Personally, I felt like there should be more worry about how much. Chances are that you'll be near a city of some sort, so whatever you don't bring will be available to you if you decide you really do need it.

One last thing, just remember that if you're questioning bringing it, you probably don't need it.