Getting the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad can be a thrilling prospect for any young adult. After you say yes, however, you’ll need to tend to the reality of what you’ve agreed to. After all, you’ll be leaving the country for at least three months.
Chances are, you’re going to need to give up your dorm room or apartment. You’ll need to decide what is necessary to take with you, and where you’re going to keep all of your belongings that will be staying behind. If you’ve never had to relocate from one place to another temporarily, this can be a daunting task. To ease your burden, here are some tips on packing and moving out to prepare for a semester abroad.
1. Deciding What to Bring With You
The good news is that packing for a semester abroad is a little bit like going on an extended vacation. The bad news is that the length of the trip tends to make most people over-pack. It’s important to take only what you need unless you think you’ll enjoy carrying heavy baggage with you throughout your trip.
Aside from the obvious items like toiletries, you will have to decide on what clothing to bring. Start by doing some research into what the locals wear in your destination country. Doing this will help you fit into your environment more readily. You won’t need more than three of any item, such as jeans, shirts, and jackets. Be sure to choose clothing that you can layer, so you’ll be ready for whatever mother nature throws at you.
2. Boxing Up What’s Left
Once you’ve packed the items you’ll be taking with you; it’s time to pack up everything else and find a storage facility to keep it in. While you may find a self storage unit, these DC local movers say that many moving companies offer temporary short-term warehouse storage. Rather than taking items to storage yourself, the moving company will come to your apartment or dorm, pick your items up, them keep them in a secure facility until you return. To make the process easier, take the time to go through your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t need. Doing so will save you time, effort, and expense as you leave for your overseas adventure.
Once you’ve done that, purchase sturdy moving boxes to pack all of your things. Remember that in a storage facility, all of your boxes will likely be stacked on top of one another for months. Pack the heaviest items on the bottom of each box, and take care not to make each one too heavy for you to move around. Label each box so you won’t have to remember where everything is when you return.
3. Choosing a Storage Facility
When choosing a storage facility, there are several factors to consider besides price. You’ll want to make sure that the facility is secure and has staff on site during open access hours. The facility should be clean and show no signs of an insect or rodent infestation. You’ll also want to talk to the manager, if possible, to get a feel for how the place is run and if they are attentive to the needs of their customers. Take your time, because once you store your things, you won’t be around to check on them.
After you’ve picked out the facility itself, you’ll need to determine how large of a unit to rent. To do so, count the number and size of the boxes you’re planning to store. If you’ve got nothing but boxes, you can work out the square footage to find the right size unit. If you have appliances or furniture, use an online estimator to get an idea of what you need.