So you’re finally making the big move. Off to the land of beaches, temples, forbidden cities, and mouthwatering cuisine. Even with all of this is on your mind, I’m sure the forefront is screaming, “What do I pack??!!”. Well fear not my fellow wanderer, as someone who has lived and traveled through Asia, here are the top 10 things you need to pack for studying abroad!
The rays are killer in Asia- sometimes even reaching as hot as 120 degrees. With this kind of heat, you’re going to need sunblock to keep your beautiful skin glowing and healthy. Trust me when I say you’ll be constantly reapplying it, so pack lots. You will breathe, live, and eat sunblock. It will be your best friend.
Speaking of best friend, you’re going to have to load up on the tampons prior to your journey. Depending on which part of Asia you’re going to, you will probably have a hard time finding them, as mostly pads are used- especially in Southeast Asia. If you understandably don’t want to pack a lifetime supply of tampons, there’s always my favorite the Diva Cup. I promise you, it’s not a dirty word and you will learn to love its ease and convenience.
10 minutes without bug spray will amount to 30 itchy quarter-sized bug bites all over your body. These mosquitoes take no prisoners, so make sure you pack a variety of bug spray. Pack regular sized bottles for your apartment, miniature sizes for your purse, and you can even find cute bug repellent bracelets on Amazon.
On weekends when you’re not busy studying your life away, you’re going to want to go on mini weekend trips to other cities or countries. On these trips, whether you’re taking the bus, the train, or a plane you’re going to want to have a good book to distract you on the journey. A Kindle is great because you can pre-load a ton of books. If you’re more old school a classic book will do the trick.
If you’re studying abroad during the rainy season or living in a country where there’s the risk of a typhoon, you’re going to want to have a rain jacket handy. A classic raincoat will still look cute with whatever you’re wearing while giving you the coverage you need. Nobody wants frizzy hair.
During those weekend trips, you’ll probably be staying in hostels to save your funds. Bring your own little travel sheet and you’ll feel clean, refreshed, and wake up feeling like you’re in your own bed.
A lot of times in Asia, you’ll come across a bathroom that is out of toilet paper, or simply doesn’t offer any. Well fear not fellow wanderer, pull out your wet wipes and you’re in good shape. They’ll also come in handy which you want to give your face a refresher.
Whether you’re enjoying some amazing street food or just got off a packed bus, you’re going to want this. Plus they’re small, so they can easily fit in your backpack, purse, or fanny.
There’s so many great uses for a sarong, I don’t know where to begin. If you’re going to the beach you can use it as a blanket or if you happen to randomly come across a temple (which is common in Southeast Asia), you’re going to want to quickly cover up. A sarong is light, easy to pack, and comes in a variety of shades, fabrics, and colors.
Do you even need a reason to buy new sunglasses? In Asia, you’ll experience so many sunny, beautiful days that you’re not going to want to be caught outside of the apartment without your shades.
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