To Buy or Not to Buy

       One of the biggest questions when packing for any traveling adventure: what to I buy at home and what do I wait to buy when I'm there? 

Buy At Home:

• Clothes - depending on where you're studying, you may need some new attire either for class, exploring, or an internship. For instance, if you're going to London, a raincoat/trench coat is a necessity. Always look up what kind of clothes are appropriate in your host country, as all countries have different customs, and buy/pack accordingly. In London, as a tip, it isn't normal for women to wear shorts like we do in the United States unless they are wearing tights under them, but skirts and dresses are completely acceptable. London fashion tends to be business casual all the time, and should you dress in sweatpants and a t-shirt, you will surely stick out. 
• Sturdy Luggage - Traveling abroad isn't like a plane ride to Florida. Your luggage is bound to be thrown around, rooted through at customs, and could even be lost depending on your flights and airports (it happens to the best of us; to help avoid it, get direct flights without layovers). You'll need luggage that can withstand being thrown around and will protect your valuables inside from breaking should it be dropped. Both hard case and soft case are good, but a soft suitcase will give you more room to expand and over-pack. Shoot for a bag that can stand up to weather, god forbid you get trapped outside in a down pour.
• A Good Carry-on - Now, you'll most likely be on a plane for many many hours, and you'll want a carry on that can fit a ton of stuff (refer to Carry On, My Traveling Son for carry-on packing list) but may double as a weekend bag and can certainly be used for overflow on the way home to avoid going over 50 pounds in your checked bag. And, again, waterproof is key.
• A Crossbody Purse - Girls, this is essential for anywhere, especially a city. You want a bag with zippers, inside pockets, and a thick strap that will remain secure around you should anyone try to steal it. Fanny-packs ARE NOT a good idea. People have worked out easy ways to cut them off of you, and so a crossbody is the best way to go. Buy one with plenty of room for your wallet, journal, phone, camera, and umbrella (if you're going somewhere rainy). 
• A Document Holder - This is the best way to keep everything in one place and make your life easier going through airport security. I used my mother's when I traveled to Japan in 2012, but for my study abroad journey, I bought my own. It was kind of like a right of passage, a physical representation of you being in charge of this adventure, of your important documents, really of your entire identity. This will hold your plane tickets, flight itinerary, emergency money, passport, entry letter (a letter from the school stating you're coming into the country to study), etc. This is something to then be hidden in your apartment separate from your document copies - refer to Are You Who You Say You Are? for more information about documents and what you should have with you while abroad.
• Shampoo/Conditioner - most blogs will tell you to buy this in your host country, but because I dye my hair, I brought mine with me. It does add weight to the luggage, and so it is completely to your discretion whether you think its necessary or not, as in London there were many chemists (pharmacies) that carried shampoo and conditioner. 
• Make-up - though most popular brands can be found anywhere, the last thing you want is to have to add those costs while you're abroad. Bring it with you in your toiletry bag to ensure no confusion and no make-up-less days, especially if you're someone who wears it every day. 
• A Journal - if you plan on keeping a journal, you should do so from the get-go, not once you arrive. Document your feelings from the very beginning, even in the planning phases, so that you'll always remember how it felt. Not to mention, a journal is an excellent place to keep all the important dates, numbers, and information given to you by your school or program before your trip starts. 
• Camera - if you don't have one, and you aren't going to be satisfied with your phone's camera, buy one before hand so you have pictures from start to finish and don't pay an outrageous amount after conversion.
• Shoes - comfortable shoes are a must anywhere you go. Odds are you'll be walking nearly everywhere. Even in London, a city with probably the best public transportation systems in the world, I averaged 12 miles a day, and I promise you'll be sorry if you don't have good shoes.

Buy There:

• Household Items - Most likely you'll be in an apartment with other students or at a home stay. Should you be in an apartment, you'll need to buy things like paper towels, dish soap, dishwasher soap (if you have one), toilet paper, etc. All of those things can be picked up cheaply at the local store, and usually you can split those costs with your roommate/flatmates.
• School Books - If you are required to get school books, odds are there is a way to get them over there and avoid the weight coming over. However, always check with your program before assuming you can by them on the fly. A semester abroad leaves little room to be waiting for books.

Buying lists will vary based on where you're going and what you'll be doing, and of course who you are as a person. The best things to buy once you're there are souvenirs - I came home with 12 pieces of art, from posters to paintings to photographs and several shirts. You'll want to buy fun things while you're there, so get the boring things out of the way early, and budget them well.