A quick Google of “What to Bring on Your Study Abroad Program” will provide 20 different lists all containing the usual suspects: a power converter, extra underwear, copies of important documents, medications, and so on… Indeed, these are essential items, but not towards your everyday experience. During my 16-week exchange in Southern Germany, I was pleased I brought the aforementioned items; though not so much because I needed them, but because I’m a nervous guy and they were nice to have. There were a few items that I didn’t see on any “Top-10” lists that wound up being absolutely critical in my day-to-day life in Germany that I never would’ve guessed. 

  1. A fan! 

Whether this be a hand-fan or plug-in is not especially important, but there is no singular item that I used more than my fan(s). Regardless of your personal thoughts on A/C, the fact is that it’s as foreign as unicorns in most other countries, and as the most popular time for UO students to go abroad is summer, most study abroad students will be feeling the heat on their respective programs. 

As it turns out, summers in Southern Germany are brutally hot! As a native Oregonian myself, my body seems to just about give up at 80 degrees, so my wonderful hand-fan that I bought on the streets of Stuttgart became my best friend. I took it everywhere: to class, on the bus, to the gym, on walks, and everywhere in between. When in my room on my 8th floor apartment, I always had one fan clipped onto my light switch blowing sweet, cool air on my red-blushed face while a second fan sat perched at the end of my bed, cooling my overheating lower-half.

If I were to pick one accessory for you to bring on your study abroad program, without hesitating I would respond with the only correct answer: a fan. 

  1. Reusable Utensils 

Without a doubt there will be a time on your program where sitting in front of you is the most delectable-looking dish of noodles the world has ever seen. After a long morning of walking around and enjoying the sights and sounds of your temporary home, this plate of carbs is exactly what you need to replenish your energy stores and fill your rumbling tummy. But alas, there is not a fork in sight! As your hunger reaches a critical point, you make a split-second decision. You look around to ensure no one will see what you’re about to do, before you silently pick up a heap of delicious stir-fry with your bare hands and place it into your awaiting jaws... 

*RECORD SCRATCH* Don’t let this be you!!! While there will often be utensils provided for you by whatever corner store or market you have just patronized, there will inevitably be times when you find yourself utensil-less and in an unfortunate state of hunger. A simple set of $5 reusable utensils from Amazon or a similar site to keep in your backpack will make sure you never find yourself in the nightmare I have outlined.  

  1. A lock 

You never know when you’ll need one, but if you end up needing one, you’ll certainly be glad you have it. If you plan on doing any travel while abroad (which I highly recommend!), a lock of your own is always a good idea. Whether staying in a hostel, an Airbnb, or anything similar, a lock will ensure that all your valuables and key documents are safe, so you can enjoy all that there is to do and see without any nagging worry in the back of your mind. 

The town in where I stayed in Germany was extremely safe, and theft of any kind was a non-issue, but I still felt much better having a lock on my school-provided locker to keep my backpack and clothes safe while working out in the gym and heading off-campus for a nice lunch. 

While you can do your best to pack everything you think you’ll need for your time abroad, there will always be a few you wish you had. But if you bring a fan, some reusable utensils, and a lock, you can make sure you are as prepared as you can be before embarking on the wonderful journey that is studying abroad!

By Kaden Leeper, Global Programs Assistant '23-'24

Baden-Wurttemberg Exchange, Spring 2024