Packing to study abroad in Spain…

January is fast approaching and it’s time for many college students to leave the USA and begin a semester abroad in Spain.  I should know: I was one of those students who was leaving the country to do a semester abroad last year at this time.  I know firsthand how hard it is to put your entire life in a suitcase for six months and, since many of my readers are college students who are going abroad this year to study in Spain, I thought I would share a few “words from the wise.”  I’ve actually gotten quite a few requests via email for a post on this subject, so here it is. 

When I went to Spain to study abroad for six months, I was allowed to bring two fifty-pound suitcases, a carry on, and a personal item.  The baggage allowance, of course, depends on your airline and flight details.  I suggest checking with your airline before you leave the USA to see how much luggage you’re allowed to carry.  You should also make yourself familiar with the rules on the Transportation Security Administration’s Website (TSA).  Of specific interest to you is the “Travelers” section of the TSA’s site and the list of prohibited items.  As you probably know, the TSA is the agency that screens your baggage at the airport and says what you can (and can’t) bring aboard an aircraft.  Be sure to pay special attention to items that can’t be placed in carry-on luggage but can be placed in checked bags.  Also remember the regulations regarding liquids. 

Now that you’ve contacted your airline to see how many bags you can bring and have read the TSA’s website to make sure that the contents of your bag is ok, you probably want to know what you should bring with you for your six months in Spain.  Below, I’m going to compile a short list of things that I think you should keep in mind when you pack for your study abroad experience, or any trip to Spain for that matter.

Clothing: Clothing in Spain is expensive, especially jeans.  Thus, you should try to bring as much clothing as you can with you so that you don’t have to buy a lot there.  If you’re wondering what type of clothing to pack, I can tell you that when I was abroad last year I generally wore jeans and a t-shirt to class with sneakers.  For going out at night, I usually wore a nicer pair of jeans, real shoes (not sneakers), and a shirt with a collar.  Girls typically wore the same types of clothing to class (jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt) and when going out they generally wore either a nice pair of jeans or a skirt with a nice top.  Remember, Spaniards love to go to bars and discos and dance a lot… keep that in mind when you’re packing.  Bring clothing you can go to bars and dance in… and bring REAL shoes (not sneakers) for going out at night.  In fact, some bars and discos don’t let “sneaker-wearers” in. 

Remember, clothing in Spain is kinda expensive so try to pack as much clothing as possible, especially jeans (jeans in Spain can cost $80.00 a pair).  Of course, you’re not going to be able to pack everything and there probably will be some items that you purchase in Spain.  “Springfield,” “Zara,” “Pull and Bear,” and stores of that like are good clothing stores in Spain in which you can buy stuff comparable to the “Old Navy,” “Gap,” and “Aeropostle” brands that we have in the USA (“Springfield” is probably the cheapest of the three stores).

Toiletries: In general, you can find the same soaps, shampoos, contact solutions, etc. in Spain as you can in the USA; however, that fact does not hold true for deodorant.  If you’re particular about the type of deodorant you use, take a lot with you to Spain.  In fact, Spaniards don’t seem to use the “roll-on” type of deodorant at all (they prefer the “spray-on” variety) and I had to have my mom mail me over some “Old Spice for Men” while I was studying in Valladolid because I didn’t like the Spanish spray stuff.  Don’t let the deodorant thing worry you though, you can find almost any other beauty product you need right in Spain and it will be the same or similar to what you would find in the USA.  I recommend going to a place like “Todo Cien” (the Spanish version of “Dollar General”) when buying toiletries in Spain because they’re much cheaper there.  You could also go to one of the many “Chinese Bazaar” shops scattered throughout all major cities in Spain.  When packing, bring enough toiletries to get you started and then buy more when you get to Spain and get settled in. 

Expensive Items: Film for cameras, batteries, and other electronic devices like radios and MP3 players are a little more expensive in Spain than in the USA.  If you use a lot of batteries or film, it may be worth it for you to bring as much as you can from the USA to save money.  The exception to this rule is cell phones.  See below for what I have to say about them.

Cell Phones: When I was studying abroad in Spain for six months, I bought myself a prepaid cell phone at an Orange store.  Prepaid phones are very popular and cheap in Spain and are carried by Orange, MoviStar, Vodafone, and many other companies.  I purchased my phone from an Orange store for around 39 Euros.  I then added money as I used minutes in much the same way that a TracFone works in the USA.  To get a prepaid phone, you can go into any cell phone store and ask for a “móvil de prepago.”  Balance, in Spanish, is called “saldo” and you can add “saldo” to your phone at any time by visiting the store in which you purchased the phone. 

Remember, A cell phone is good for calling your friends within Spain; however, you’re going to want to use phone cards and a land line to call home to the USA.  It’s much cheaper that way (phone cards in Spain get GREAT rates to the USA… buy them in a tobacco shop or a locutorio… they’re called “tarjetas telefónicas”).  Another alternative for calling to the USA from Spain (or to Spain from the USA) is Skype.  It works quite well and is very affordable, as long as you have a computer and internet access. 

Photocopies of Documents: You should also pack some photocopies of your passport, visa, credit cards, etc.  The photocopies will come in handy if you lose the originals and need to have them replaced.  The Embassy of the USA in Spain can help you if you lose a document. 

Inglés, por favor: When I went to Spain, I had near-native proficiency in Spanish.  Nonetheless, there were times when I wished I could hear/read/see/speak my native language: English.  I recommend bringing along some books, CDs, DVDs, etc. in English for the days that you just want to hear your own language. 

Paper and Pens (if you’re taking classes/studying abroad): This sounds strange, but paper stores in Spain follow the traditional, closed all afternoon and all day on Sunday, schedule of all other stores in Spain.  If you’re arriving in Spain on a Sunday and starting classes on a Monday, you won’t have time to get to the paper store and buy a notebook and pen for class.  Bring at least one notebook to get you started, you can buy more once you get settled in. 

Money: When I go to Spain, I always bring my ATM Card and just take money out at the ATM (I always stop at the ATM inside the airport right after getting off my plane).  ATMs are easier to find in Spain than places to cash Traveler’s Checks.  Just be sure to call your bank ahead of time so that they know you are going to be using your card in Spain.  Also be sure to ask them if your card will work in Spain/Europe (4-digit pins are best on ATM cards that are going to be used in Spain).  As far as credit cards go, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in Spain.  American Express is less common. 

Voltage Converter: Remember that Spain uses a different voltage than we do in the USA.  You’ll need a voltage converter for any electric device that is not dual-voltage.  Most laptops, however, are dual-voltage and only need an adapter for the plug, not a whole converter.  If you go to Radio Shack, the sales associate should be able to tell you what you need to use your electric devices in Spain.  A good travel store should also be able to help you find the right converter/adapter. 

That’s basically all I can think of right now.  I will add to the list as more items come to me.  If you have any questions about this list or think of something I forgot, feel free to leave a comment below. 

Hasta la próxima,
–Chris
http://www.abroadinspain.com