Preparing for my first study abroad experience has been a smooth process. This is also my first venture outside the country, so I talked to other students who had been abroad. I also found it helpful to watch YouTube videos about other college students who were traveling abroad for the first time. I learned helpful tips about packing, such as do not pack everything you think you will need because you will probably not need many non-essential items. First, be sure to check the weather report for the country you will be visiting so that you know what you will need, such as an umbrella or a jacket. Only pack basic items like T-shirts, a few sweatshirts if you plan to travel to a colder region, practical pants and an extra pair of shoes. These items can be worn multiple times, and they are easy to pack and easy to care for if you will be traveling for a while. Other things to pack are of course your passport, outlet converter if the country you will visit uses a different type of outlet, laptop, chargers, and converted money if you can exchange money at your bank. One great suggestion was to weigh my luggage to avoid being charged for a bag over 50 pounds. My bag was only 38 pounds. Also, I found it useful to carry a backpack with things I might need on my flight like my charger and laptop. I arrived at the Birmingham, AL airport two hours early but my flight was delayed, and I had to run through the Atlanta, GA airport to make my connecting flight to Amsterdam. The flight from Atlanta was non-stop to Amsterdam with no issues.
