Packing for five months seems very daunting, and it isn’t easy. But before boarding the plane to Rome, I made sure to get all the kinks out of the packing nightmare! So here's to my trial and errors so your next packing experience won't be quite so painful.
#1: Pack what you like
If you’re not comfortable in it you wont wear it. So don't pack it! It will only take up extra space and you don't have room for a mistake like that.
#2: Wear what you can on the plane
My flying ‘uniform’ consists of three equal parts: comfort, style, and practicality. Whatever I wear on the plane… I don't have to pack!
Bonus tip: Always carry your heaviest jacket with you, it instantly becomes a blanket on chilly plane rides.
#3 Roll your clothes
Even though I am a huge supporter of folding clothes, rolling them takes up much less space in your luggage and I can’t complain about that!
#4 Be prepared
Make sure you check the weather of where you are going, and even if it says that it’s going to be 80 degrees all week, bring layers. You never know when the weather will turn on you or if your hotel/hostel room will be freezing. Layers are always key.
#5 Walking shoes
Even your comfiest shoes will hurt. Bring a good variety. You will want to change up the structure of your shoe. Your feet will thank you!
Packing isn’t something people look forward too. Everyone is too preoccupied making sure they have everything together, itinerary and so on; but make sure that you don’t get caught up in an outfit or two that you regret everything you brought. Being comfortable and happy with what you packed will make your trip much easier. When packing for my five month abroad trip to Rome, I made sure I did just that! Here’s a preview of (almost) everything I brought...
Each scarf changes up a standard outfit so you never really feel like your repeating outfits!
These are the comfiest shoes I own and 8 weeks in to my trip, I'm so glad I brought these shoes!
Easy dresses to go from day to night in a snap!
Neutral sweaters that can be paired with any pants!
Neutral pants are the best. They are easy to mix and match with!
Can you tell I love neutrals? I never thought that I would be able to survive five months abroad in one suitcase! I made sure to bring clothes I knew I would always be comfortable in and were easy to mix and match. Of course everyone has their own unique style and comfort but this has worked well for me. Happy Packing!
Shayna Kerry is the Spring 2014 CEA MOJO in Rome, Italy. She is a junior at the University of Colorado at Boulder.