packing

Packing List

To Bring?

Or Not to Bring?

1. Money/Plane Ticket/Student ID/Regular ID
       -Some Euros, if possible, and some U.S. $ to
        exchange.
       -Credit Card (check with your bank to see if you
        need to inform them that you'll be purchasing
        overseas, to avoid having your card cancelled
        as fraud protection)

2. Passport/Visa
   -3-4 extra passport photos for the school (you
        can get extras at the photo booth at Neptuno
        mall, in Granada, as well)
      -at least 2 copies of your passport and visa
       (leave one at home and carry the others
       separately)
      -Passport holder that can be worn under
       clothing for security

3. Medical kit
    -Pain relief (Tylenol, Aspirin), allergy medication,
       thermometer, bandages (various sizes),
       antiseptic, rubbing alcohol, etc.

4. Antibacterial hand sanitizer
      -Bring a couple bottles, and carry them with you.
       Most bathrooms lack soap, and if it's there, it's
       not antibacterial.

5. Electrical converter

6. Eye drops

6. Fingernail Clippers

7. Hair Bands

8. Pillow

9. Journal

10. Entertainment: Books, Cards, CDs, etc.

11. Backpack for school

12. Fleece blanket
       -I have a 5" x 5" fleece blanket that traveled with
        me EVERYWHERE and came in very handy in
        underpar hostels, rainsoaked cities, buses, etc.
        This was one of the best things I brought along!

13. Camera(s)/Pictures from home
      -Don't bring the family album, but bring enough
        pictures to show where you come from and
        stave off homesickness when it strikes.

14. A sense of humor
      -We used "jet lag" and "stupid American" as
        excuses for our silly mistakes for about the first
        three months. But the real key was being able
        to laugh at ourselves and shake it off, while also
        learning from the experience. Have fun with
        yourself, and don't worry about not knowing the
        language after years of study! You've got the
        Spanish education of a five year old over there,
        and you have the right to act (and speak) like
        one once in a while.

15. Clothes
      -Bring a variety--Granada's average temperature
        is 56 Farenheit, ranging from 77 in July and
        August to 44 in December and January.
       -capris
       -skirts
       -light jacket
       -sweaters
       -pants
       -jeans
       -athletic clothes
       -underwear
       -socks
       -shoes
       -Make sure your clothes aren't not too ratty.
        Remember, your se�ora will most likely be
        doing your laundry.
       -Don't worry about bringing your whole closet.
        Leave space for new items, too, because the
        shopping is GOOD! I left some extra space in
        my bag and stuffed a small, empty duffel in it on
        the way over to ensure I'd have something to
        carry purchases and souvenirs in on the way
        back.

1. Notebooks for class

2. LOTS of toiletries
      -One bottle of shampoo, one of face wash, one
        of contact solution, etc. Bring enough for the
        first month, or so. After that, you should know
        where and how to get the things you need.

3. Bedsheets
       -Your host family should provide these

4. Touristy clothes
      -Don't dress too American. Short shorts in
        summer and huge hooded sweatshirts at any
        time will give you away immediately. And leave
        the American flage for the Europeans to wear
        (yep, that happens).
       -Embrace your obvious foreignness when you
        first get there. You'll stick out no matter what,
        and it's fun when you realize four months into
        the experience that people have stopped
        asking if you're from New York, and switched to
        England, instead! Guess what? You've learned
        how to blend in!

5. Hair Dryer
      -This is totally up to you, but some of the girls
        had trouble with their hair dryers frying out when
        using the converters (maybe the voltage wasn't
        correct?), and ended up buying Spanish ones in
        Granada.

6. Heavy winter coat
      -Unless you plan on spending a lot of time on the
       slopes of the Sierra Nevada and/or have room
       for it, I wouldn't recommend it. It gets cool in
       Granada, but not as bad as the Midwest, and I
       found lots of suitable winter coats for 20-30
       Euro in Granada. I actually bought one in
       February, got my use out of it (and ripped a
       couple holes in the pockets), and then left it
       behind when I came home.

7. Frisbee
      -You'll probably never use it

8. More than you can carry on your own!!!!
     -Ok, so this is what we like to fondly call a Linda-
       ism (in reference to our beloved study abroad
       director, whose cautioning voice remained in our
       heads right next to those of our mothers
       throughout the duration of our stay), but it's true.
       You'll probably have willing help when traveling
       in a group, but it's nice to know that if you have
       to, you can manage on your own.
      -With that in mind, you'd be surprised at how
       much you can carry, and how fast those arm
       muscles grow when subjected to constant lifting
       of bags! Nudity in Europe is frowned upon,
       except on certain beaches, so PLEASE pack
       something!
      -This rule does not apply to lifting baggage
       above your head in the case of trains. If you
       need help, use it to your advantage and ask for
       it. You might make a friend or two!