Microsoft word - packing list.doc

Suggested Packing List
With a little thought and planning, making sure that you have the essentials will help
make your study abroad experience in Europe an enjoyable one.

General packing tips:

 Don't be a packing procrastinator. Start packing gradually now to avoid last-  Pack your bags and then take out half of the stuff you packed. You will be surprised that you can live very comfortably with very little.  If you can’t carry everything you have packed up and down a flight of stairs by yourself, then you know you are taking too much. (Please really consider this point since you are responsible for carrying your luggage yourself!)  Don’t forget a small piece of luggage/backpack that you can take on weekend trips. You will need this for the trip to Berlin and it will make personal travel much easier!  Leave expensive jewelry/valuable items at home. If you don’t want to lose it,  Clearly identify ALL luggage inside and out with your name and destination  Check airline regulations for weight, size and number of bags. Storage space in your room will usually be limited. Do not bring more than 2 bags. If you can not carry or roll your luggage yourself, you are bringing too much.  Leave extra space in your bags for things you will want to bring home. You can send things home in the mail, but international shipping costs are high.  Keep a copy of your passport in a different place than your actual passport. Also leave a copy of your passport and itinerary at home.  Keep a list of phone numbers to cancel credit cards in case of loss or theft.
The following will be provided/available to all students at the ESC:

 Linens, blankets, and towels are provided to each student for use in your dorm room at the ESC. You may want to bring a small towel with you to take on personal trips.  Shared computers are available in the library and computer lab for those not  Student kitchen fully equipped with everything you need to cook  Washer and dryer (so don’t bring tons of clothes. You can wash them and also might like the idea of buying new clothes in Europe) Carry-On Luggage
Always pack your most important items in your carry-on luggage so you can keep track of them at all times. On the plane
You will be on the plane for quite a few hours, so think about comfort. Here are some
tips:
 Be sure to have the ESC address, phone number and Anni Taylor’s email address  Wear comfortable, loosely fitting clothes  Dress in layers to accommodate changes in the temperature as you travel  Be sure that your carry on bag is not larger than what is required of your airline.  Don’t forget about airline’s limitations for carrying liquids and other items in your carry-on. Check the FAA website - http://www.faa.gov/passengers/prepare_fly/baggage/  These things should stay with you at all times while traveling: o Your passport and money o All important documents o Your prescription medications you in case your checked luggage gets lost o A change of clothes/underwear and a toothbrush (just in case your larger luggage gets “misplaced” by the airline) Important documents
Please be sure to have your notarized statement of financial support, valid passport, and proof of health insurance with you! Checked luggage:
In general
 Pack layers so you are prepared for all types of weather.  Take clothes that are easily washed, dry quickly and require minimal ironing  Work around a basic scheme of mixing, matching and layering.  Bring 1-2 professional outfits for your visits and excursions to companies and institutions since there is a dress code.  Adapters / converters for electronics – very important to bring with you-these will Clothing
Pack less than you think you need, and choose clothing that is comfortable and can mix-and-match. Remember too - dark clothes don’t show dirt as much as light clothes…  1 warm coat/winter jacket  Lightweight jacket  Scarf/gloves  1-2 business casual outfits for excursions/field trips/ (suit/dress)  1 semi-dressy outfit for special events  10 shirts (mixture of t-shirts, sweaters, blouses, shirts)  1-2 pairs of jeans  1-2 pairs of comfortable pants  1 belt  10 pairs of socks and underwear  Umbrella (small compactable)  1-2 pairs of dress shoes for visits and field trips  1-2 comfortable pairs of closed toe shoes - be prepared to do a lot more walking that you do at home. (flip flops are not recommendable for cooler weather and many Germany won’t hesitate to point out that your footwear is inappropriate)  In general, Europeans LOVE boots. You might want to consider saving up to buy something special for yourself in Europe. Toiletries
Limit toiletries! One way to ensure you have space to take souvenirs home is to bring toiletries which you will use while here and not need to take home. However, you should still limit them since liquids are heavy and if a bottle cracks in your suitcase, it will be an unwanted mess and potentially ruin other items. All toiletries are available in Germany and you may find that you like some things here better than those you use in the States. However, if there is a certain brand you MUST have, it is advisable to bring that with since not all brands are available in Europe.  Comb/brush  Toothbrush/toothpaste  Lotion  Deodorant  Glasses/contact lenses (with contact solution and carry case)  Any prescription medication (see below)  Allergy medicine  Shampoo/conditioner  feminine products  shaving kit Text Books
Be sure to bring all textbooks you were told to purchase ahead of time because these will be difficult and expensive to get in Germany! Prescription medicines
If you take/need prescription medications, make sure to pack the medication in the bottle
you received from the pharmacy. Pack the most important medication in your carry-on
luggage in case your checked luggage gets “misplaced by the airline” (liquid medicine
should not exceed the limits allowed in carry on luggage).
Refills on medication are somewhat difficult to get in Europe with a foreign prescription.
Also do not bring more than what is allowed or needed. Most countries limit the amounts
of prescription medicine which can be brought into their country.
Be aware that some “over the counter” medications or products which are easily
purchased in the US might require a doctor’s prescription in Europe. Double check on
any products before you leave home, especially if you absolutely need certain products.

Other things to consider:
 Acetaminophen (tylenol) and ibuprofen are easy to get over-the-counter in Germany.  We recommend bringing Pepto-Bismol, Anti-diarrhea medicine, dramamine, if you need these because it can be more difficult finding medications of this sort that work for you.  It is wise to have the following on hand, but you may wish to purchase them in Germany o small first aid kit o bandaids o eye drops o contraceptives Money

We suggest that you bring some cash with you, if it is possible for you to convert some
money before you leave.
Definitely be sure to go to your bank before you leave to let them know where you’re
going, how long you’re going for, etc. to avoid any confusion (if you plan on using a
credit card, let them know, too). Otherwise, your credit card might be tagged as stolen if
charges suddenly show up in Germany…
Although we do not want to recommend one bank over the other, we do know from past
participants that Bank of America has an international agreement which allows you to
withdraw cash without any fees from all Deutsche Bank (Germany) ATMs. You should
check with your bank and credit card company about fees that will incur and what
exchange rates they use.
IMPORTANT Within the first couple of days you will need €20 cash for a cell phone
deposit and either $300 or €250 cash or by debit/credit card for your room deposit. At the
end of the semester, if your cell phone is returned and your room left in good condition,
both deposits returned in full. You will also need €100 for your residence permit.
Miscellaneous
These are some other items you may find useful  Sun glasses  Travel umbrella  Flashlight  Language dictionary-can be purchased in Germany  Backpack (for short breaks / weekend trips)  Bathing suit (there is an indoor heated pool nearby to the Château)  Money belt  A small picture album/ or pictures of friends / family  Inflatable travel pillow  Memory stick for your data  Extra memory card for your digital camera  flip flops for the showers  small sewing kit  Fanny packs & baseball caps – these are obvious clues that you are a tourist from North America…which is of course nothing to be ashamed of, rather something you should be aware of if you do not want to be easily identified by pick-pockets when in public.  White tennis shoes, ie Keds/Nikes – most Europeans only wear their sport shoes when they are actually doing sports at the gym or jogging, so if you do not want to stick out like a sore thumb, take this into consideration.  Europe's budget airlines such as Ryan Air and Easy Jet – are a great and affordable way to see lots of Europe but they also usually have very strict rules/limits and expensive penalties for overweight luggage as compared with most US airlines. A small piece of luggage is a must for this study abroad because of your trip to Berlin!.
Last but not least: bring an open mind. You will inevitably run into new customs and
things that you are not familiar with, events that might frustrate you, things that will
surprise you – that is what makes the experience of a semester abroad so wonderful!
If you have any questions about your upcoming semester abroad, please refer first to the
FAQs which you received, but do not hesitate to contact us at
[email protected]

Source: http://studyabroad-germany.eu/cms/upload/downloads/general/Packing_list.pdf