Products I Recommend For Study Abroad

As I've been abroad a few months now, I figured I would share a few products that I am glad I brought on my study abroad semester (and one I wish I did). A few of these were recommended to me by a friend who studied abroad the semester before I did. They have been invaluable, so I want to share the wealth! I hope this is helpful to anyone who might be studying abroad soon.

A travel backpack- I use this one. Travel backpacks open all the way around like suitcases do, so it’s easy to utilize every bit of space when packing. This one comes with an interior pocket that’s great for passports, wallets, and cell phones, a laptop sleeve, a main compartment, several extra pockets, a USB charging port, clips on the side to compress the bag (for extra strict size requirements), and detachable straps so you can also carry the backpack like a briefcase. Travel backpacks are perfect for short trips or traveling on budget airlines that may charge for anything more than a personal item. I have taken mine on every trip I've gone on.

An extendable cosmetics bag- Until this trip, I carried a separate bag for makeup and toiletries. The latter was starting to come apart, so I needed a replacement. Enter this bag. It has four compartments that fold together, an outside pocket, and a hanger, so you can hang it in the bathroom and free up counter space. I was able to fit all my makeup, a full-sized toothbrush and toothpaste tube, and skincare into this one bag. I also don’t really have much vanity space in my bathroom, so the hanging function has made getting ready so much easier.

Wallet/card organizer with anti-RFID technology- I picked one up similar to this one at Marshalls on a whim for $5, and it was an excellent buy. RFID is a technology that allows thieves to scan your bag to get your card information, so they can use your cards without them ever coming out of your bag. Anti-RFID technology blocks those waves, so your information is secure. My wallet doesn’t have this technology, so I decided to get this card organizer to keep my information safe. It also opens like an accordion, so it’s very easy to see all my cards at once. That makes it convenient to grab whatever card I might need at the moment (student ID, credit card, etc.) without having to dig around in my wallet due to forgetting which slot I put said card in (which happens more often than I’d care to admit). 

A belt bag- I’ll admit that I was a belt bag skeptic for a long time. I didn’t see how it was any different than a crossbody and viewed it as a passing fad. I would just like to take this opportunity to renounce all of my previous comments. Having a belt bag has made carrying my everyday essentials so much easier. Since it lies close to/in front of the body, it’s much easier to protect from pickpockets. It’s comfortable to carry around with minimal bulk. Best of all, belt bags are very in here in Buenos Aires, so carrying one around doesn’t scream, “I'm not from here.” I use this one, which fits a surprising amount of stuff: Mine has a wallet, card case, phone, EpiPen, keys, hand sanitizer, and a sheet of Claritin with room to spare. 

Medicine from home- This is especially important for prescription medicine. Most prescriptions can’t be transferred overseas, so you can’t just pick up your meds in whatever country you’re in. You have to bring them with you. I highly recommend starting to get that supply early. I dealt with insurance for multiple months and still got my six month supply of my medicines just days before my departure. Even with over the counter meds, different countries have different regulations, so some medicines that you are used to getting over the counter might be by prescription only at your destination. It can also be hard with different brands to figure out equivalents and what will work best for you. Save yourself the hassle and bring a supply of your favorites from home. I basically brought a mini CVS with me and haven’t regretted that. Some essentials I recommend bringing are painkillers, Imodium, antacids, cold meds, and allergy meds.

Portable charger- Studying abroad means plenty of trips exploring your new city or other destinations. Especially if you use the GPS, your phone battery can drain quickly, and being stuck without a working phone in an unfamiliar place is not ideal. My only portable charger isn’t travel-sized, and I didn’t think to bring a smaller one. I wish I had! A friend of mine uses this one that I have borrowed before. I can confirm it works great and is perfect to take on the go.