The most important things to pack when going on youth exchange or training course
Are you going to participate on a youth exchange or training course abroad and have some troubles packing? No doubt, preparing to go abroad can be challenging (or daunting!), so we’ve put together a short list of what to pack while going on youth exchange or training course. Of course, this may vary according to the project’s venue, project topic etc.
Personal documents and health insurance
Don’t forget the most important items: your passport, visa (if necessary), printed out itinerary and plane tickets. Make copies of all of these, PLUS the backs of your credit and debit cards, in case they get stolen or lost, and you need to call the bank. It’s also a good idea to make copies of your health and travel insurance information to have on hand.
Charger and Universal Adapter (if needed)
Make sure you make a research if the outlets will likely be different from the ones where you are from. If the answer is no, than you are good to go with your charger, but if they are different then make sure to bring an universal adapter. They can be expensive on the airports.
Apps
While you won’t necessarily pack them, certain apps will help ease your stay abroad. For example, Maps.me will let you download maps of particular areas (and whole countries!) for free, so that you can use them offline. Apps like google translate can help you break through that language barrier. Messaging apps like Line and WhatsApp will let you text and call home for free. Do some research and find out what apps would be useful to you.
Snacks from home
Every Erasmus Plus project pays attention to the cultural aspect on the project. Since, you are going to meet many new people from different countries, you can also bring some food and drinks that are traditional for the country you are coming from, and present them to your new friends.
Weather appropriate clothing
Do some research about the country you’re headed to. Check the weather for that week and pack accordingly, and definitely find out what kind of clothing is culturally appropriate. It’s always a good idea to keep a multipurpose scarf on hand to cover your shoulders in case you want to wander into a cathedral in Italy, or a mosque in Turkey.
Walking Shoes
There’s a lot of exploring to be done in foreign lands! So you may also be doing a lot of walking if you don’t have a primary mode of transportation wherever you’ll be staying. Go easy on your feet, and bring some comfortable sneakers.
Medicine
Navigating a foreign pharmacy is absolutely no fun when you’re running a high fever and are still dealing with a language barrier. Stock up on some medicine that you are using if any, and maybe some pills for headache, fly, cough etc., just in case of emergency.
Headphones
A good pair of headphones will let you listen to your podcasts and music while you have some free time, or entertain you on airplanes.
