Packing for a study abroad trip can be challenging, and it can come down to an exact science for some.
Meghan Gaudet, Auburn alumna in psychology, took her packing seriously when she decided on a trip to Italy the summer after her junior year.
"I even used space bags," Gaudet said. "They're vacuum-sealed and you can fit probably three times as much than you would when just packing normally."
Gaudet also said the way you position and pack clothing in the suitcase can allow for more room.
"Definitely roll your clothes and put heavier items, like denim, at the bottom of the suitcase," Gaudet said.
She said the key to smart packing when studying abroad entails bringing clothing items that can mix and match and which can be used in multiple situations.
"I brought a lot of clothes that I could hand wash in the sink and hang dry so I could maximize my options and suitcase space," Gaudet said.
Jordan Montet, senior in Spanish and sociology, went to Salamanca, Spain, this past summer.
"The suitcase weight limit was definitely a pain, so I packed items you could layer and things that were lighter in weight," Montet said.
Despite a limit on how much she could pack, Montet and her friends got creative with what they had.
"The girls on the trip would exchange clothes since we couldn't bring as much," Montet said. "The girl I lived with was the exact same size as me, so that was really convenient."
Montet said coming back to America was the biggest challenge in packing.
"I had to put my stuff in other people's suitcases because I didn't anticipate how much stuff I would buy on the trip," Montet said. "I went a little crazy at the European H&M."
Montet's group took weekend excursions during the trip, which presented another challenge in packing a bag.
"We were staying in a hotel, so you never knew what to bring exactly because half the day would be exploring cathedrals and the other half we would be going out," Montet said.
"I didn't pack any toiletries because you could buy pretty much everything there. By the end of the trip you'd use up pretty much all of the toiletries, so you could just throw it away."
Although Montet bought the majority of her toiletries on the trip, she said Spain lacked one essential item.
"The one toiletry necessity they did not have in Spain was hair conditioner, so definitely make sure you bring some," she said.
Trey Singleton, junior in geology, forgot dress shoes, so he wore electric blue tennis shoes everywhere he went.
"Yeah, it kind of sucked only bringing one pair of shoes," Singleton said. "Especially when we went to a super nice vineyard and here I was in bright blue sneakers. Needless to say, I looked ridiculous."
Success in packing requires creativity, but it's important to stick to the basics and cater what you pack to the country you visit.
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