By the time you're reading this, I will already have begun my study abroad journey. Yep, you've read about me gearing up for it before, and now the time has finally come and I've "gone across the pond" as everyone in my family seems to like say.
I don't think I've ever met anyone that really likes to pack; I know I don't. The whole week before my trip, I left my suitcases open on my bedroom floor and proceeded to procrastinate (seems I will be no different in England than I was at CofC), mainly because I didn't really know where to start. I had read countless packing lists, watched Youtube videos, and I wrote my own packing list down, too. But it's harder than you think.
I quickly found out that it was going to be a weeklong endeavor, which made me extremely frustrated. To make light of my own irritation, I've put together a list of the way the steps of packing for a study abroad can make you feel, with GIFs to accompany, of course.
1. The excitement of finally beginning to pack and needing to tell anyone who will listen
It's this whole big ordeal. You've finally gotten your luggage out of the storage closet and you're officially going to start. Yes, everyone is tired of you talking about it, but who cares? You're going to another country!
2. Trying to study for how to pack for a study abroad like it's your hardest test of the semester
Like I said earlier, I watched SO SO SO many Youtube videos titled things like "What I Packed For A Semester Abroad In England". So many variations. I spent so long watching them thinking I was going to get some serious help with this whole packing thing, but I didn't. It's really not something you can prepare for.
3. Looking in your closet or dresser and wanting to scream in frustration
You think you know what you need to pack and then you realize that you have too many clothes and you don't know how you're going to choose which pieces will actually make the cut.
4. Realizing that all the "research" you did was pointless
I learned nothing I didn't already know. A big waste of my time, honestly.
5. Actually beginning to pack
Took us long enough, but here we are. Finally packing. I tried the whole week before my trip to pack but I didn't really start making a lot of progress until about two days before. Oops.
6. Realizing you can't pack those things that you "need"
I thought I was going to be able to pack a blanket from home and quickly realized how wrong I was, which made me pretty sad because I love that blanket.
7. Deciding just to pack the essentials and buy the rest once you get there
You probably can't take your hair tools, every sweatshirt you own, or tons of decorations...but it's OK. You can probably buy that stuff once you get there if you think you still need it (which you probably don't).
8. Recruiting a friend to help
It can be helpful to have someone else there to tell you that trying to pack seven pairs of shoes in one suitcase, along with everything else, is pretty ridiculous (thanks, Alexis).
9. The feeling of accomplishment because you've finally finished
It took so long to get to this point but it feels good, doesn't it?
10. Feeling beyond exhausted
It's a lot of work to pack for such a big trip. I know I was super exhausted when I finally finished.
If you're going abroad, have a great time and remember not to get too stressed out while you're trying to pack. It will be SO worth it once you get there.
