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In three weeks, I will be on a 14-hour plane ride to Cape Town, South Africa. I will be in a new country, a new timezone, and entering a new year by myself.

Studying abroad has been an opportunity that I have always dreamt about. Now, I am enrolled in a dream program that allows me to travel around the world. In the span of five months, I will be taking classes in Cape Town, South Africa, Sydney, Australia, and Rome, Italy. 

This trip required lots of time and planning. As this semester comes to an end, I have learned a lot about the studying abroad process. Read along for helpful tips and information for studying abroad! 

 

Research

The first thing I did to prepare for studying abroad was do lots of research. It is extremely important to know the places you are traveling to. I found that reading blogs about student experiences to be the most helpful for me. The program I am working with supplies students with an ample amount of information, advisors, and opportunities to speak with other students about their travels. 

Keeping a journal of important information is another great way to keep track of your research. It is important to learn about the climate, culture, and language of where you are planning on traveling to before you land in the country you will be studying in. Because I am going to three different counties, I devoted a lot of my time to learning about these factors. I feel as a student going abroad, it is part of my duty to be respectful to the places I will be visiting. 

The final aspect of research that helped me prepare for going abroad is getting an understanding of all the options that are available. Because I have chosen a program through the University of Rhode Island, the process has been fairly easy. URI has many options for students to study abroad. The one that stood out to me most was CIEE: a program that allows students to choose up to three places to travel to throughout the semester. Click here to learn about these amazing opportunities: https://web.uri.edu/global/study-abroad/

For me, CIEE seemed to be the best opportunity. I was able to create my own semester schedule, and in just three weeks, I will be traveling around the world. This is something that you can do too! Check in with your advisor to see how you can fit studying abroad into your schedule! 

 

What to Bring Abroad

As an extreme over-packer, the process of choosing what to bring with me is quite daunting. However, after researching each place I will be studying in, I found that the climates will be similar.

In Cape Town and Sydney, I will be experiencing the summer season. When I arrive in Rome, it will be late spring. Therefore, I am hoping to keep my suitcases light and airy as it will be filled with summer clothing! 

Here is a list of items I bought to help me with my packing process!

• Packing Cubes: This is a great way to keep your clothing organized and condense space in your suitcase!
• Electronic Storage Pouch: When traveling, it is important to keep all of your electronics in one spot. A storage pouch has many pockets and room for chargers, headphones, and more. 
• Jewelry/Accessory Organizer: I love jewelry and packing for five months seemed like a struggle, until I ordered this organizer. It is a perfect way to keep jewelry from getting tangled or damaged while traveling. 

Because traveling requires a lot of effort and time, I bought other items to help with this process. 

• Charger Converter: This is one of the most recommended appliances to have when traveling anywhere in the world. A universal converter ensures you will be able to keep your electronics charged no matter where you are. 
• Luggage Tags: For me, investing in unique luggage tags is very important. I do not want to be in the airport any longer than I need to. Being able to find my luggage quickly with tags is a perfect way to speed up this process. 
• Airplane Travel Blanket: This blanket is perfect for any plane ride. Because my flights will be 15 hours and more, this blanket will keep me warm and comfortable on board. 

 

Last Weeks at Home 

Preparing for abroad has been stressful, time-consuming, and very exciting. Because I leave in three weeks, I will be spending time with my family and savoring my last days in my hometown. Capturing these moments with family and friends will help me ease into my travels and be less anxious about being homesick. 

I hope this blog was helpful to anyone who is looking for an opportunity to study abroad! Keep up with my travel experiences next semester as I continue to contribute to InsideRec. I can’t wait for you to follow my journey and travel the world with me! 

 

Hi friends! My name is Tara Roumes and I am a junior here at URI. With a double major in journalism and English, you can always find me writing! When a pen isn’t in my hand, a fresh cup of coffee and a book often replace it. My love for books can be found on Instagram, @taras_littlelibrary, where I post reviews and connect with other avid readers. If I am not reading or writing, I am definitely claiming a front-row seat at any athletic event on campus, playing with my two dogs, or listening to Harry Styles. This is my first semester blogging for Inside Rec and I am so excited to share my experiences, thoughts, and opinions with you!