{"id":293,"date":"2018-02-24T19:36:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-24T19:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/?p=293"},"modified":"2023-02-24T20:51:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T20:51:33","slug":"pre-departure-series-packing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/2018\/02\/24\/pre-departure-series-packing\/","title":{"rendered":"Pre-departure Series: Packing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\u200bPacking for an international trip of any kind takes some thought. If you are traveling to a vastly different climate, you\u2019ll need to prepare differently than if you are traveling somewhere similar to home. This article will get into some more specific suggestions for packing for certain destinations below, but first we\u2019ll go into general packing suggestions for any destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to pack in your carry-on bag<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><br>No matter what, if you are flying, you will have at least one carry-on bag. And no matter what, there are some things that you will need to have in your carry-on with you at all times. It is always possible that something unplanned will happen like you miss a connecting flight or your bag gets lost, so make sure everything important is with you all the time and that you have an extra set of clothes and toiletries with you so that you can make it through an extra day or two without the rest of your luggage. Here is a list of things you should always have in your carry-on, no matter where you are going:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Boarding passes and tickets (you\u2019ll probably get these at the airport)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wallet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phone charger and voltage and plug converter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other important electronics (like a laptop or camera if you are bringing them)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Empty water bottle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Snack<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extra set of clothes*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Toiletries (toothbrush and toothpaste at least!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medications \u2013 with doctors note and in original packaging<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"786\" height=\"590\" data-id=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-unpacked.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-unpacked.jpg 786w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-unpacked-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-unpacked-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-unpacked-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"312\" height=\"312\" data-id=\"234\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-packed-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-packed-edited.jpg 312w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-packed-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/brenna-carry-on-packed-edited-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 312px) 100vw, 312px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"font-family: Poppins, sans-serif;font-size: 14.4px\">This is usually what my carry-on personal item looks like. I\u2019ve got my passport and ID, phone charger, laptop, extra clothes, snacks and water, my toiletries, and a book and notebook so I don\u2019t get bored. This is neither the most or the least I\u2019ve ever fit in a carry-on, but it is a good collection of my valuables and important things to have for a long flight!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>*A note about extra clothes: I had a flight once where my first flight was delayed and I missed my connection. I had to reschedule my flight for the next day but I couldn&#8217;t pick up my checked bag so I spent the night with my carry-on and luckily I had some extra clothes. One time my aunt and uncle went on a trip with their two young kids and their checked bags got lost. They had absolutely no clothes with them for themselves or their kids, so they had to buy all new outfits as their checked bags couldn&#8217;t be found for three days! It might seem extreme, but you should pack the extra clothes in your carry-on, just in case!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>There will probably be other things you have with you in your carry-on as well, but these are the most important. Of course, make sure to have all your valuables with you in the plane cabin no matter what (so they could be in your carry-on in the overhead bin or in your personal item under your seat). If you are bringing larger electronics,&nbsp;you will want to have them nearby for safe-keeping. Having a water bottle to fill up once you pass security is always good, as is having a snack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to keep your medications with you in your carry-on bag(s) and keep all your medications (even non-prescription ones) in their original containers so it is clear what they are. It may be necessary to carry a doctor\u2019s note explaining some prescriptions (check&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wwwnc.cdc.gov\/travel\/page\/travel-abroad-with-medicine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>&nbsp;for more info on medications). And it might seem silly, but having an extra set of clothes can be a life-saver if you have to stay overnight anywhere or if your checked baggage gets lost. Same with some toiletries after a long flight or night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsa.gov\/travel\/security-screening\/whatcanibring\/all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TSA website<\/a>&nbsp;about what you can and can\u2019t bring on flights!<br>\u200b&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to pack:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><br>One suggestion for all travelers is to not bring anything super valuable or sentimental. Traveling can be tough on your clothes, so don\u2019t bring anything that you would be devastated to see lost or damaged. And don\u2019t bring anything too valuable for the same reasons, but also because they can make you a target for theft. Remember to also think about where you are going and what you are doing. Bring clothes that are respectful of&nbsp;the local culture and to match the activities you will be involved in. It\u2019s easiest to pack clothes that work for several outfits or serve a few purposes. However, the one thing you will probably want to bring as much as you can will be socks and underwear \u2013 its always safest to have extra!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You also will probably end up bringing more than you actually need. Try practice packing your stuff a few times and carry your bags around with you \u2013 if they feel too heavy or stuffed, see what you can leave behind. If you like being organized (or want to be able to pack more), try out packing cubes. They\u2019re a great way to organize all your stuff and they let you get things out super easily. Here are a few things that you should bring with you, no matter where you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Raincoat or small umbrella<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>A towel for showers<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Enough clothes<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Daypack\/purse<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Plug and voltage adapter&nbsp;<\/em>\u2013 most countries have a different plug shape or a different amount of voltage coming from their outlets, so you\u2019ll need an adaptor to plug anything in. You can get these in many places, here are some&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/learn\/expert-advice\/world-electricity-guide.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">examples<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Any hygiene\/toiletries you can\u2019t live without or won\u2019t be able to find abroad<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Medications<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 make sure to bring as much as you need, with doctor\u2019s notes and all in their original packaging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Glasses and contacts\/contact solution&nbsp;<\/em>\u2013 contacts and contact solution are considered medically necessary, so you should be able to bring more than 3.3 fl oz if you are only carrying on your luggage, but make sure to&nbsp;check with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsa.gov\/travel\/security-screening\/whatcanibring\/all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TSA<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Walking shoes<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 having good shoes when you are abroad and out-and-about all day makes a world of difference. It\u2019s also a good idea to break them in before your trip to avoid getting blisters on your first day in an exciting new place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Snacks<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 always a good idea just in case, and especially if you are on any special diet you think might be hard to sustain while abroad<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Small first aid kit<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 just in case!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Journal<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 you might want to record your experience while gone, or collect fun things like ticket stubs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Small container of laundry soap<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 this can help if you need to wash any clothes in the sink in your room or if you are doing laundry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Small gifts from home&nbsp;<\/em>\u2013 if you are staying with anyone for&nbsp;extended periods of time or staying in a homestay with a family, it can be nice to leave them with a small gift from your home<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em><strong>Printed copies of ANY important information<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 think about the information you would be lost without if you did not have electronics or internet: anything you can think of, you should write down or print out and pack. This includes a photocopy of your passport and&nbsp;your bank cards, important phone numbers and addresses, schedules and itineraries, flight confirmations, etc. Go crazy and write down more than you think you should \u2013 better safe than sorry!\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/packingcubes.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/packingcubes.jpg 800w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/packingcubes-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/packingcubes-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/packingcubes-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Packing cubes &#8211; you can find them in all shapes and sizes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-open.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-open.jpg 800w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-open-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-open-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-open-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My travel backpack. There is a huge variety available from multiple different brands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"239\" src=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack.jpg 800w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osu-wams-blogs-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/blogs.dir\/5840\/files\/2023\/02\/travel-backpack-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The inside of my travel backpack. The open space is great for my packing cubes to fit nicely together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Suggestions for Tropical Travel:<\/strong><br>If you are going to a tropical location, you might want to take some more specialized gear with you. Often, you will want lots of sunscreen and bug spray (and these can sometimes be hard to find once you\u2019ve reached your destination). It\u2019s a good idea to evaluate your clothes for tropical travel as well. You will want gear to protect you from the sun and bugs, but that will also keep you cool. Many people often suggest not bringing cotton clothing as it will get wet from the humidity quickly but likely won\u2019t dry out very well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some other suggestions for tropical travel include strong deodorant and laundry detergent and good shoes like hiking boots. Check out these lists&nbsp;made by some of our past faculty leaders and students to see what they brought on a trip to Costa Rica:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/?p=300&amp;preview=true\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/?p=300&amp;preview=true\">What I Wish I Brought<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/?p=302&amp;preview=true\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/?p=302&amp;preview=true\">What I Packed vs. What I Used<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200bPacking is another one of those things that can be stressful, and is a good thing to start planning early. Even just thinking about and writing a list of what you want to bring can help you feel more confident.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u200bLooking for more pre-departure info? Check out of<a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/b\/8mQVWPYD\/predeparture-to-do\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/b\/8mQVWPYD\/predeparture-to-do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Pre-departure To-Do List<\/a>&nbsp;for a comprehensive list of things to consider before you go!&nbsp;\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weebly.com\/signup?utm_source=internal&amp;utm_medium=footer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u200bPacking for an international trip of any kind takes some thought. If you are traveling to a vastly different climate, you\u2019ll need to prepare differently than if you are traveling somewhere similar to home. This article will get into some more specific suggestions for packing for certain destinations below, but first we\u2019ll go into general [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13061,"featured_media":327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,40],"tags":[43,46,47],"class_list":["post-293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-study-abroad-and-exchange","category-tips-and-advice","tag-advice","tag-packing","tag-travel","has-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13061"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=293"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":330,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293\/revisions\/330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/cofinternational\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}