Everyone who studied or will be studying abroad has the same panicked feeling before they leave: Will you remember everything? What if it’s not what you expect? How will you survive in a foreign country? Instead of the generic “don’t forget your passport” spiel, we thought of out-of-the-box on things (based on our own time abroad) that you should be doing or packing before crossing the pond.

1. Bring an adapter

Planning to bring your phone along to tweet, Snapchat and Insta all of your adventures? You can’t do that if your phone dies in the first two days. Depending on the country you’re traveling to, it’s very likely that they use different volts, meaning that charging your phone is a no go if the outlets aren’t the same.

2. Get credit cards that don’t have international fees

Let’s be honest, being abroad isn’t cheap; so the last thing you want to do is pay each time you withdraw money from the bank. Check to see which cards don’t have an international fee before leaving.

Another tip: Tell your bank where you’re going. Several friends of ours had their cards frozen (because the banks thought their cards were stolen), which turned into a hot mess.

3. Always have a backup credit or debit card

Even if you are super careful about keeping track of your cards, something is bound to happen to one in four months of traveling. Lexa got hers stolen in a crowd and an ATM ate mine, so just bring an extra because it’s much easier than trying to bum money off a friend or get a new one shipped to you.

4. Leave the hair straightener at home

Unless you want to catch your hair on fire...Remember that whole thing about differences in electrical systems? It applies here too. Honestly, it’s much easier to buy a cheap straightener in your host country instead of risking potential baldness. Plus, it’ll leave a lot of extra room in your suitcase.

5. A good ol’ guidebook goes a long way

Our dads gave us a Europe guidebook (it happened to be the exact same book) that lists hostels, sights, transportation etc. which has been my go-to for planning everything. While websites are great, having the book could be a secret weapon to find cool cities & sites on the fly.

6. Stock up on your must-need items to last the semester

I’m super picky about what kind of face wash and shaving gel I use, so I’m all for sacrificing some luggage space instead of risking it with brands I can’t pronounce. While some brands are international, it was one less stress knowing that I didn’t have to hunt around for my favorite products.

7. Bring a dedicated travel journal

Write down your thoughts, feelings, and details of every trip you took and memory made. Looking back at how you were at the beginning of your trip vs the end is amazing (plus it’s one of the only ways I remember some of the small details of my trips).

8. Don’t forget to pack that selfie stick

As stupid as it may sound, and as touristy as you may look using it, you’ll feel worse if you watch everyone else use them to take great pictures while you’re limited to the length of your arm. And once you either get your phone stolen or become hyper aware of the danger of pickpockets, you’ll think twice about asking a stranger to take a photo for you.

9. Download those apps!

Need to text someone? No problem. As long as you have wifi, WhatsApp lets you communicate with anyone around the world. There’s also currency converters and apps for everything from Glide (video chat) to subway maps to Airbnb. In a foreign country, these can be a lifesaver for getting around or learning a language.

10. Weigh your suitcase before leaving

I was over the limit by five pounds and had to almost buy an extra duffle bag. Keep in mind too that you'll be buying A TON of clothes, so no need to pack your entire closet.

Trying to figure out everything you need to pack and do before leaving for a semester abroad can be overwhelming. This is our second time traveling for 4 months, and we're still learning a lot. Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid some of the mistakes we made the first time around!