After my slow and grueling countdown, it’s almost here! In less than 48 hours I’ll be on my way across the Atlantic Ocean and heading back to my second home, England. The days have felt like weeks and the weeks have felt like months, but it’s finally here and knocking on the door.
You would think that with all of this excitement building up I would’ve had my bags packed weeks ago. As a college student, I can tell you that is certainly not the case. Procrastination is a lifestyle. But we college students thrive under pressure.
So, how the heck am I supposed to know what to wear when the weather is unpredictably wet and simultaneously chilly? The key here for my fellow travellers is just one very important tip: pack light. Not only because it means you’ll have more room to bring chocolate and other goodies back, but I’ve realized that you can get whatever you’re missing when you land. And England is home to the cousin of the thrift store: charity shops. Charity shops carry all kinds of spunky, cool clothes for a bargain of a price. Plus, like the name implies, the money goes towards charity. It’s a win-win all around, so go ahead and splurge!
In the meantime, my carry on suitcase will have everything I need for the next week. My sister also asked me to bring some of her clothes back over, so that means even less room to work with. Thanks a lot, sis. So that leaves me with this:
- 2 pairs of jeans. You can never go wrong with jeans. They’re versatile, practical, and can be dressed up or down.
- 3 sweaters. As much as I love England, I hate the cold. No tank tops here. Sweaters are great for staying warm but still cute.
- 2 shirts. Plain shirts go with anything. A necessity!
- 1 set of athletic clothes. Not everyone may need this. I’m being dragged along to play with Sam’s university ultimate frisbee team. (Yes, you read that right. Yes, it’s a legit sport.)
- 1 winter coat. I have my oversized coat to keep me warm, but also a North Face shell for when the rain is really bad. It’s light and doesn’t take up much room. Most of the time, people just use an umbrella.
- 2 pairs of shoes. One set of sneakers for walking and athletics, and a pair of booties that can be worn around casually or for a night out.
- Umbrella. With all the rain, it’s a necessity. If you don’t want to pack one, they’re easy enough to find in dollar stores like Poundland.
Some other things that aren’t clothing on my list include my camera, laptop (for homework, sad), and an adaptor for chargers. Also be sure to let your credit card company know you’re going abroad so you don’t get stranded without any money.
That’s pretty much it. Keeping it light. Although I’ve only just finished packing my suitcase, I’m already planning what I should fill it up with on my way home. I may ditch all my clothes and come home with just chocolate…