Blog synopsis:
"European Adventures" is an incredibly cliche title. Please, no judgement. However, this blog will in fact be just that: an account of my experiences in Europe. For the next year, I'll be in Germany and anywhere else that a passport can take me (on slightly limited funds, of course). Lord knows, I will starve myself to the bone as long as I can travel as much as conceivably possible.
For all you Juniatians studying abroad now or in the future, this will also be a "what the Study Abroad Office doesn't tell you in those ridiculous study abroad meetings" blog. Preparation is key.
But, one thing I've learned so far: being prepared and being ready for studying abroad are two very, very different things.
Preparation, of course, includes packing. A few things (besides the obvious) that I would suggest bringing in your carry-on:
- a pocket-sized language dictionary (English to German/German to English; English to French/French to English, etc. Barnes & Noble sells them cheap, as does Amazon.com)
- books...as many books as you can -- books are an amazing escape, and you can take them anywhere (I'm bringing Sex with Kings and Dune: the Messiah on the plane with me. So stoked.)
- copies of your insurance card, social security card, military ID, passport, driver's license, birth certificate, verification of enrollment at college, etc. (You never know when this information might be important.)
- iPod (Yet another amazing way to keep people from talking to you during plane rides. :) Just kidding.)
- two changes of clothes (Every site that I looked at for packing instructions says one. I say two. At least. Airlines are awful at following through, and shit happens.)
- addresses of at least two hotels near your destination airport (Again, shit happens.)
- phone numbers of people you can contact if something goes awry (Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but it can't hurt.)
- and, if you really want to torture yourself, a picture of your family or friends (Reminding yourself that you have a solid, loving connection to any part of this world is incredibly reassuring, even when you feel completely alone.)
- and, of course, Xanax. (Mwahahaha)
As far as for realz packing goes, that's up to you. Bring clothes that aren't difficult to hand wash. It might just come to that. I would suggest dark pants (they look cleaner for longer), dresses (If applicable. They pack like shirts. What a win.), a couple of t-shirts (I bought a six-pack of Hanes white v-necks. They're simple, cheap, and you can throw them right in your suitcase.), appropriate shoes (I almost made my fingers bleed trying to fit all the shoes I chose into a suitcase.), at least one formal or business outfit, a few "damn, that's sexy" outfits, two sweaters, extra toiletries, more books, bedding (if you can fit it), a small sewing kit, and an alarm clock (I don't trust alarm clocks on phones).
Right now, I'm sitting on my porch, smoking a cigarette and looking at the town square. Sort of masochistic, but no biggie. There's a train passing, blowing its whistle (because trains like to do that sort of thing at 10:30 at night) and the river smells amazingly like dead fish. And, it's fahreeeezing. (Can I get some global warming?...) Disturbingly romantic, I'd say. But, I am going to miss it here so much. Going away always makes me realize how much I love home, especially when I get back.
Yeah...I think I'll get over it. :)
Skype: greence09
Phone number: in progress
*warning to readers: This blog will contain copious amounts of seemingly uninteresting historical information. (Europe has museums that are older than our country. What can I do?) A history major cannot not (double negative, I realize) write about history. History is second only to breathing. :)
Enjoy. Respond. Please, by all means, laugh.
Liebe Grüße
