This past week, I packed my bags for a three-month-long study abroad program in Vienna, Austria. As you can imagine, my suitcase is... heavy. Really heavy. My heart is just as heavy, because I won't see any family in person for those three months. I'm excited, but I'm also scared, because I have a pretty close relationship with my family. That didn't stop me from having these thoughts while I packed everything I'll need–and probably some things I won't–for my three-month adventure.
1. Is this all I need?
After I'd packed all of my clothes in my monster of a suitcase, it was a little less than half full! "What am I forgetting?" I asked myself. It was scary to realize that a good deal of my worldly possessions could fit easily into an (admittedly giant) blue case.
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2. Am I forgetting anything?
I'm notoriously forgetful, so it's no surprise that I did forget something while packing. Even though I asked myself this question a thousand times in less than a day. But now I have to head to the store because I left my ear plugs (which I need for the shower, because my ears and water don't get along) sitting on the bathroom counter. I even took them out of their drawer and left them there, intending to put them in my carry-on.
3. Is this too heavy? What if it's too heavy after I add all the clothes I'll be wearing for the next five days????
Anyone who has ever checked baggage on a plane knows that oversized/overweight bags can be expensive. I checked with the airline to make sure I wouldn't be overweight, and it turns out Air Canada charges $100 for an oversize (dimension-wise) or overweight (poundage-wise) bag. If the bag is both, there is only one charge, but still!
4. How am I going to get to the airport?
Since I live in Indiana, go to school in Michigan, and my plane is leaving from Windsor, Canada, I had to pack five days in advance. My mother brought me to my grandparents' house (near my school) to stay with them until my grandparents take me to my school where my teacher arranged transportation from. It's complicated, and the details weren't all settled until after I'd already packed and gotten to my grandparents' house. I hated that uncertainly.
5. Do I really need all of these DVD's?
I have a pretty substantial DVD collection, and I'm bringing most of them with me. It's partially a comfort thing (I want to feel at home, after all!) and partially that I just want to make sure I have something to watch on those nights when I decide to stay in.
6. Am I going to keep from buying a ticket home in March?
I'm quite a bit worried that this will happen. And considering that a round-trip ticket will run me around $1,000, I'd rather not. Hopefully the price tag will persuade me not to.
Have you ever taken a long trip? What were your thoughts while packing? Let me know!
