No matter how many times you’ve done it, packing never gets easier. But don’t worry, this post will help you to decide what to pack for your move abroad.
The thing about moving abroad is that it’s difficult to cram your life into a suitcase. It can be costly to box your belongings up and send them over to your new home. Don’t get me started on the price of purchasing more baggage from an airline. That means you’re going to have to make some tough decisions about what to take and what to leave behind. These decisions can be even more difficult if you’re not sure how long you’ll be living in another country. Is it a short-term stint or long-term move?
I managed to haul one large suitcase and some hand luggage to Korea just fine. However, I know friends who lugged two or even three big suitcases across the globe. The likelihood is that these friends didn’t need everything they brought. On the other hand, there are things I wish I’d brought, particularly in the first month of living in a new country without a bank account and ID card. So here are three items you should pack for your move abroad and three things you can definitely leave behind.
What to bring
Some of these might seem obvious but read ahead to see what type of clothes, documents and ornaments you should bring along.
1. Clothes
Clothes are probably the majority of what you will pack for your move abroad. Yet packing the right clothes is what’s important. Depending on where you’re going in the world, the clothes you bring might differ. If you’re going to a hotter climate, I don’t suggest bringing your entire winter wardrobe. But I would pack a nice selection of clothes to start you off in the country.
You don’t have to go wild and blow your budget on a shopping spree before moving abroad (like I did) as you can always buy clothes when you arrive. But having some comfy clothes packed means you won’t have to fret about finding the trendy stores once you get where you’re going. I suggest packing one outfit each for different occasions: a nice top for work or formal situations, a loose T-shirt for sporting events, comfy jogging bottoms for lazy days at home. Think about keeping bulky clothes like hoodies and jumpers to a minimum and opting for thermal layers if you’re jetting off to somewhere colder.
Also when I tell you to be smart about your clothing choices, this extends to having a ‘safety outfit’ tucked away in your hand luggage. Imagine you arrive in the country of your dreams and then the airline informs you that your checked luggage didn’t make it. You’re left stranded in a foreign country without the majority of your belongings. At this moment you probably want to cry and change into some fresh clothes. That’s where your ‘safety outfit’ comes into play. Maybe I’m over-prepared, but it sounds better than being caught short at the airport.
2. Documents
This one is a no-brainer. You should definitely bring your passport when trying to move to another country. Good luck making the move without it. Along with this, you should have any visa documentation and work papers that you might need. When I left for Korea I had to bring stacks of documents with me from my contract to my degree certificate.
Double-check what’s required for the move and then check again as it can really affect how quickly you can settle into the country if you forget something important. If you’re super organised and on top of things, I’d suggest putting all these documents in a nice folder and slipping them in your hand luggage (you don’t want to lose them if something goes wrong).
Okay now we have the obvious documents out of the way, there are some other papers that might be helpful to bring. Bringing along some extra ID photos is a really good idea, especially if you think you’ll need them for immigration. Along with this, it’s useful to slip in any banking stuff from your home accounts. I brought along my card reader which has been a lifesaver when logging into banking apps abroad. Lastly, carry more than one form of ID. Your passport is great but think about popping in that driving licence or birth certificate. What if you lose your only form of ID? And do you really want to be bringing your passport to the club when you first arrive? Yeah, didn’t think so. Remember, check those documents. Then check again.
3. Memento of home
Okay, okay this one isn’t exactly essential for the move. But it was for me. And you’ll probably regret not bringing a small memento of home. Even if you’re ready to forget home at the moment, a couple of months down the line it can be really strengthening to have a little reminder. This can be anything. Whatever screams home to you. Photos or cards or a stuffed toy.
When first arriving at your new home, it’ll feel bare and strange. Immediately decorating with the items you brought from home can make the place feel more inviting and comfortable – a small way to combat the initial wave of homesickness. You’ll undoubtedly collect more tokens during your life in another country, and it’s beautiful displaying all the mementos you’ve collected from different places together. This is another item I would suggest packing in your hand luggage if you’re worried about losing it.
Life is not always easy when you’re away from home and having a familiar picture or ornament can be very grounding. I brought along a small gift from my mum which lives on my shelf. Wrapped in a pair of socks, it journeyed to Korea with me and reminds me that even though life isn’t always perfect, the mistakes you make can be beautiful. Maybe I’m just sappy but I would have been a lot more miserable if it wasn’t for this small reminder of home. So, bring a little something along to spruce up your room and remind you of how strong you are.
What to leave
Avoid the bulky, unnecessary items that you’ll never end up using and reconsider bringing food, books and too many shoes.
1. Food
I know, I know. You have some favourite snacks and you’re worried you’ll be lost without them if you move away. Firstly, the food you bring can only last so long. Eventually, it’ll go off or you’ll eat it. Secondly, with a little bit of searching, you can probably find a close alternative in your new home. I’m a big fan of Cadbury chocolate. It didn’t take much looking for me to find Ghana chocolate in Korea, and I can assure you I’m quite satisfied with the alternative.
It’s also good fun to try new foods and snacks while you’re away and not having any food when you arrive is a good excuse to do this. Now I’m not saying I won’t try to cram some snacks in my luggage when I return home as gifts for my family and friends (check this post out), but I definitely didn’t need familiar food when I arrived.
If you really miss your home foods that much you can always import them. This can be expensive and time-consuming but there are ways to get a taste of home. For Christmas, I wanted to surprise my colleagues and friends with a traditional seasonal treat, which we enjoy in the UK. Mince pies! I ordered these from a snack distributor and was able to enjoy this British snack within two weeks. I certainly wouldn’t have thought about packing this food. At the end of the day, those foods that you leave behind will only taste more delicious when you return home and eat them for the first time in a while.
2. Books
I’m a little bookish. So, I brought a book along. And it ended up returning with my brother when he came to visit. The problem with bringing a book with you is that you’re probably going to have to throw it or bring it back when you come home. Not to mention, books can take a lot of your weight allowance, particularly if they’re a hardback. And when I talk about books I mean textbooks and manuals too.
It’s best if you leave that language guide at home or find a PDF version. I brought along all my teaching course notes and looked at them a total of zero times while living in Korea. In the end, I threw them all away rather than take them on the flight back.
If the flight is long and you’re worried about being bored without a book, consider downloading an E-book. Reading on your phone is a more travel-conscious way of delving into your favourite literature without pushing baggage restrictions. An E-book also can’t be damaged like a real book which can be battered and torn by all the travelling. To save your precious pages and your precious suitcase space, think about leaving your library at home.
3. Shoes
Obviously, wear shoes to travel in. Unless you’re a hobbit, it’s probably going to be uncomfortable if you don’t. But think carefully about whether you also need to pack your hiking boots, your kitten heels and your running shoes. It’s nice to have different shoes for each outfit, but shoes take up a lot of space and are heavier than other clothes. Therefore, be selective in the shoes you bring. Like clothes, you can always buy more when you arrive. A black pair of sneakers is a great choice. They can be worn comfortably for walking every day, to the gym and you can even sneak them into more formal events because of their understated colour.
I got it into my head that I needed to bring a nice pair of classy slippers to Korea as that’s what I’d have to wear at work. Not only did the school give me slippers to borrow when I first arrived, but within the first week I’d run to the shop to buy a new pair. The ones I’d brought with me were inappropriate for standing on my feet all day and didn’t match what other teachers were wearing. Although they were light, these shoes took up space in my suitcase and now remain unworn at the back of my cupboard.
On top of that, I brought three other pairs of shoes which haven’t seen their fair share of use. I’d suggest wearing one pair to travel in and bringing along only one other pair as a backup. If I were to pack again, I’d worry less about packing all of my footwear and instead splurge on one good pair of versatile shoes for the journey.
No slacking on the packing
Clothes, documents and a little something from home: bring them along. Food, books and shoes: reconsider throwing them into the suitcase. No matter how many times I do it, packing never gets easier, but it is less time-consuming now that I follow these suggestions. Always take time to think about whether you truly need that extra pair of boots and whether you really want to leave all your photos of your dog at home. You’ll be surprised by what you can live without and what you find yourself missing when you make the move to another country. It’ll take a little time to settle but once you do, you’ll likely find that your home comforts aren’t impossible to get and that you’ll adapt. I’m also sure that you’ll find new things to fill your luggage with for the return journey. Happy packing!
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