Packing list
What to Pack When Teaching Abroad
in Spain
Packing to teach abroad can be extremely hard
Some things to consider…
How do I know what to pack?
This questions depends greatly on where you have been placed. I will be teaching abroad in Southern Spain. My school year will be filled with warmer days compared to my Oregon roots. However, I also might be traveling to colder places. Variety is a must.
How do I research what people wear where I’m going?
What dates can I expect to be gone?
Normally through the entire school year- October through May.
How many suitcases should I bring?
I am brought one medium sized suitcase, one carryon suitcase, and one backpack to fit everything. My medium sized suitcase ended up being about forty-five pounds.
Should I send some things in a box?
My outlook on this idea is this: you are going to have to send that box back at the end of the year. Try to make a few suitcases work because your style is going to change and you don’t want to deal with that when you are moving again the next year (if you are planning on going home or to another location).
the list
Packing Essentials
Narrow everything down to the bare minimum.
Essentials for packing include things you are going to need eventually, underwear, swimsuits, pajamas, and workout gear.
Here are the numbers:
- 3 swimsuits
- 5 bras
- 14 pairs of underwear
- 10 pairs of socks
- 1 pair of tights
- 4 pajama sets
- 3 workout leggings
- 2 sports tops/bras
Try to keep these concise.
However, you also want to be aware of how often you do laundry. If you are someone who is doing laundry multiple times a week- the amounts are going to look very different for you.
Bottoms
- 4 skirts
- one casual, two for work, and one to go out
- 2 trousers
- 1 pair of jeans
- 3 pairs of linen pants
- 2 pairs of shorts
Tops
- 3 pairs of button up shirts
- 3 T-shirts
- 6 tank tops
- 2 I can wear to work and 4 I can wear casually and out
- 3 long sleeve black tops
- 1 black turtleneck bodysuit
- 2 sweaters
Jackets
- 1 rain jacket
- 1 leather blazer
- 1 zip up hoodie
Shoes
- 4 pairs of tennis shoes
- 2 nicer pairs and 2 that I can get dirty
- 2 pairs of heels
- 3 pairs of sandals
- water sandals, slides, and doc Martens
- 1 pair of doc Marten boots
The list continued
The Thin Line Between Enough & Not.
One of the crucial things I kept in mind the entire time I was packing was the sweet spot. The sweet spot falls between having enough that you won’t spend too much money but also not too much that you are lugging more than two suitcases. Remember, you are going to have bring all of this back to the states or to your next teaching abroad destination in 10 months.
Tips for Packing
I love trying to fit everything together and realizing I forgot something.
- I packed all of my shoes and purses in my carryon. To protect my purses and shoes I wrapped the shoes in my reusable bags. Now, I have grocery and beach bags while I am in Spain.
- Put the heavier items in your carryons so it doesn’t count towards your weight. Wear the clothes that either take too much room or weigh too much on the plane.
- Lastly, be brutal. Don’t hold back when cutting things out. The absolute worst that could happen is that you ask someone to send something to you. Good luck!
Now you’re in Spain! Time to find an apartment.
Check out my post about how to get started!
