Krysta Frye, the Deacons Abroad marketing intern, writes:
When I was preparing to study abroad on AUIP’s South Queensland, Australia program, I wish I would have had someone to tell me the inside scoop on what to pack, what to buy when you arrive and how to remain organized throughout the stay. I managed to do alright, but if I were to go back in time, I’d definitely follow these words of advice:
1) Take pictures of important documents (such as your passport, driver’s license, credit card, hotel reservations and your instructor’s telephone number) and print them out or save them on your password-protected smart phone.
– Keep these copies in a separate place from the original documents. Remember that none of these pictures should be kept on an unprotected phone though. In my case, I had these pictures saved on my password-protected iPhone. During my stay on Lady Elliot Island, I realized I’d left my credit card on our charter bus, which was parked on the mainland. Thankfully since I had the picture of my credit card on my phone, I was able to access the card number to use for my incredible scuba diving experience.
2) Pack lightly and assume that your suitcase will weigh more on the journey home.
– I’m a girl and guilty of always overpacking. There, I said it. But I wish I had taken these words to heart before I’d packed three pairs of boots. Nowadays, airlines pack a serious fine for overweight luggage, so as a rule of thumb, always bring only the essentials and don’t assume that abroad is the time that you’ll be breaking out those stylish boots you bought three winters ago and have yet to wear. Which leads me into my next tip…
Aboard the Virgin Airways international flight to Australia. Krysta says, “The plane is very spacious and offers room for large carry-ons, unlike domestic flights that we typically take in the States.”
3) Bring a large carry-on (and not just a small backpack).
– Airlines will always weigh the luggage you check-in; however, carry-ons are less regulated and can drastically lighten your load. When I flew for my program, I stuffed all of my heavy items (laptop, shoes, etc) into my carry-on. Then, once in Australia, I moved everything into my main luggage so that I wouldn’t have to carry it.
4) Buy an outlet converter before you leave.
– Do some research to find out what kind of outlets and voltage your country uses, and then buy a converter cheaply on Amazon.com or any travel store. I forget to do this and instead bought one upon arrival in Australia for around $20. Much to my regret, I could have purchased one for a fifth of that price in the States.
5) Purchase toiletries like shampoo, soap and lotion once you arrive at your destination.
– If you want to bring a special type of shampoo, for example, you must pack it in your checked luggage and from tip number 2, you already know that overweight luggage is a huge hassle on your wallet. So, simply leave all heavy (anything that weighs over half a pound) toiletries at home and buy them at a pharmacy or chemist, as they’re often called in the South Pacific, once you arrive. In Australia, such items were not overpriced and were worth it considering that, in total, they would have added four pounds to my luggage and a $50 overweight luggage fee! For more ideas, read these tips for maximizing luggage space.
This list is hardly extensive, so if any of you have extra words of advice you’d like to add, please do so in the comments section below! And also be sure to read other interns’ suggestions for handy items to pack here.
