As a junior who attends an out-of-state university, I would like to believe that I have mastered the art of packing and unpacking my life into boxes and bins. Separating and organizing my clothes according to season is one of my many talents. However, even after two years (4 semesters, or 4 intense packing trips from home to school) nothing could have prepared me for the tragedy that is packing for a semester abroad..
Like anything that requires research, there are so many factors to consider when packing for abroad. Weather was one of the many factors of which I had an extreme lack of preparation. Coming from a small, seaside town on the East coast, I am accustomed to warm and humid climates. Don’t get me wrong, I have dabbled in climates with much colder weather, whether it was for skiing or a standard winter vacation. However, my tried and true comfort climate does not include snow and ice. Although you could spot me running around and making unfortunate looking snowmen on the Quad during a snow day at Wake Forest, you are much more likely to find a smile on my face while poolside with my pups, as the condensation drips down my glass of water.
Long story short, you get the idea. I clearly was in lack of cold-weathered clothing. A simple Patagonia Snap-T just was not going to slide in the dead of Austrian winter. I don’t believe that there was a more appropriate time to scream “Winter is coming!,” than when I realized Vienna shares similar latitude coordinates to Michigan… Fortunately for me, my parents both lived in similar weather conditions and were able to advise me on the proper footwear. So no, Elise, you cannot bring your favorite Bean boots or you will freeze your a** off.
The other unfortunate factor that I had to consider while packing was the storage space. I honestly did not think a closet could get any smaller than the one I shared with my roommate during sophomore year. Think again. However, after much deliberation, choosing between this color and that, I finally managed to pick the bare minimum of what I would need. Though my heart may be hurting for leaving behind several of my favorite items of clothing, I am feeling at ease that the hard part is over with. Now if only there was a way to prevent my sister from basically stealing all of the clothes I left at home while I’m away…
