Before Flight!

Packing and getting ready for travel can be really stressful and overwhelming. Especially if it is your first time traveling to a country you've never been to before (like me!). Preparing for this trip has been the most stressful thing to do.

Some important things to do:

Meeting with advisors
Before even planning on what to pack for study abroad program in a different country, it is very important to meet with study abroad advisors and your major's department advisors to make sure the classes you plan to take abroad will count towards your degree. This needs to done months in advance before the trip. It is important to research the specific program you want to participate in and estimate if you have enough time to plan.

For me the study abroad program I'm participating in starts in July. I started talking to my advisors and doing all the academic requirements early December. The earlier the better and the less stress you have to go through.

Get a passport ASAP:
Well if you don't already have one, a passport is ESSENTIAL when it comes to international travel. Not only does it allow you to get in and out of the country but having all those pretty stamps from different countries is really cool.

International Insurance:
Even if you already have insurance, it's important to have international insurance just in case. For my university, it is required to have one. The insurance I am using is CISI.

Notify bank and phone company of your travel:

It is important that your bank know where you are traveling to, especially if you are using your credit or debit cards for purchases abroad. If not you will not be able to use those cards.

As for your phone company, if you want to avoid the expensive costs for international calls, it's important to tell them about your trip. They will probably offer you plans for international use. Another option, which is what I'm doing, is the unlock your phone (which allows you to use another sim card) and purchase a sim card abroad and use that while abroad.

If your host university doesn't provide dorms, it's important to find one

My host university doesn't have an included dorm for me to stay in so I had look elsewhere for dorms. Luckily the university gave me recommendations of dorms that past students have lived in that are located really close to the university. The one that I'm going to stay at is the Masion Saint Leon.

The process of reserving a dorm was stressful because of the many emails and paperwork that I had to go through (that were by the way in French). Luckily the advisor there was able to speak English so it made it easier to communicate.

Paying for the dorm was an experience as well. I had to do a bank transfer, which I had never done before, so it was interesting learning along the way. It was funny too because it was a while since the bank that I go to does bank transfers as well.


I really think those were the only stressful part about preparing for the trip... By anyways now on to the packing part of preparing for the trip >>


So for me I'm taking one large suitcase that I will be checking in, a mini carry-on suitcase, and a backpack. Below are some of the things that I packed in each one:

Large suitcase:

6 tops
1 cover-up

3 jeans
2 dresses
1 skirt
2 shorts

lots of underwear
5 pairs of socks
3 pairs of sleepwear

2 pairs of sandals
1 pair of shoes

1 pair of workout clothes.

Makeup bag
Toiletry bag


Small carry-on suitcase:

Extra clothes to change into at layovers
1 jacket
1 pair of underwear
some food to give to friends abroad


Backpack:

Computer
chargers
universal adapter (MUST NEED)
earphones
tissues
first aid kit
wallet (with cash and cards)
travel pillow

important documents
 - passport
 - state ID/driver's license
 -  trip itinerary
 - copies of insurance papers, dorm and host university documents, and medical papers

( for me I made copies of everything to leave at home with my parents and to leave in a safe place in my dorm)


These are just some of the things that I'm bringing on my trip. It is not exactly what everyone should bring on an international trip but this should give you an idea.


But yeah! I think that is everything! Just remember to make appointments with your schools advisors first to make sure you are able to take your classes abroad. Make you make do the necessary things such as finding dorming arrangements, getting a passport, getting insurance, and notifying your bank and phone company about your travels so that there will be no problems for you while you are on your trip. Though all of this sounds stressful, just remember in the end it will be all worth it because you get to enjoy your trip with less worries and stress!


Thanks again for taking the time to read this!

~Allysha

Bonjour!

Hey everyone!

My name is Allysha Martinez and I am so excited to be traveling to Paris, France for a WHOLE MONTH for a summer study abroad program. I have never traveled to another country without my parents so will be such an amazing experience.

This blog will consist of random posts about my adventure throughout my whole trip from packing for the trip to first impressions, to posts about the different places I went to.

I hope you enjoy!!