Packing

Packing can seem like a huge obstacle when you're going somewhere new. Personally, I love packing. It always gets me excited for the trip I'm about to take. I relish the challenge of trying to make the most of the limited space I've been given. It's kind of like playing Tetris, except instead of stacking blocks, you're cramming together all of your possessions (and then there's the added trouble of staying under the weight limit).
This will be my first time going to Germany, but more importantly, it'll be my first time traveling for more than just a couple of weeks. At first I had no idea how to pack for a year, then I came to the realization that there really isn't a way to pack for a year. When you're packing for an exchange, you have to try to limit yourself to about two weeks worth of clothes.
Anyway, I wanted to share what I'm going to bring with me incase anyone was facing a similar dilemma. I never had a physical packing list, however I had a mental list that I put together after reading blogs from past CBYX exchange students, travel blogs like herpackinglist.com, talking to other exchange students, and my own personal travel experiences. My strategy was to kind of wing it. First I put everything I thought I wanted into my suitcase, then I weighed it, saw that it was too heavy, then took things out. I repeated this a couple of times.

I'll be traveling with:

1. A large suitcase- AFS limits students to 44lbs. My suitcase is soft-sided and purple. I love it. I think it's beautiful.
2. A carry-on- I'll be using a backpack for this purpose. I don't know what sort of weight or volume restriction AFS or the airline has for carry-ons but with a backpack I should be fine. This is purple too!
3. A personal bag- I don't generally carry a purse, but for the purposes of making the most of my packing space, I'm using a large purse that will just carry some odds and ends. (Not purple, just grey.) 

And here's what I'll be putting in these things (disclaimer: I'm not sure how effectively I've packed... I guess I'll just figure that out once I get to Germany. I plan on buying more clothes once I get there. Also, this is just my personal list, different people will have different variations).

In my suitcase:

• 2 pairs of jeans
• 1 pair of tan jean-style pants
• 1 pair of black dress pants
• 2 pairs of pajama pants (one flannel, one cotton)
• 3 skirts
• 5 pairs of shorts (one casual, one dressy, three for running)
• 1 pair of running leggings (I'm a runner by the way)
• 5 sweaters of varying weights (two pull-overs, three cardigans)
• 3 casual t-shirts (for running, sleeping, etc.)
• 1 long sleeve running/sleeping shirt
• 3 long sleeve shirts
• 6 short sleeve or sleeveless shirts
• 4 camisoles (for layering)
• 1 flannel shirt
• 1 warm, water-proof jacket
• 2 scarves
• 7 bras (four regular, three for running)
• 7 pairs of socks
• 6 pairs of underwear
• 2 pairs of spandex shorts (for running)
• Three pairs of black tights
• 1 pair of loafers
• 1 pair of running shoes
• 1 belt
• 1 bathing suit
• Various toiletries (I'm trying to keep these limited since I can buy most things I'll need in Germany)
• Extra contacts

In my carry-on (I'm planning on living out of this for my three day orientation in Washington DC):

• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 sweatshirt
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 t-shirt
• 1 dress (for meeting with my congressman)
• 2 scarves
• 1 pair of flats (dressy)
• 1 sweater
• 1 pair of leggings (I plan on wearing these, the sweater and a scarf on the plane)
• 1 pair of converse 
• 2 pairs of socks
• 3 pairs of underwear
• Laptop
• iPod
• Chargers
• Sunglasses
• Glasses
• Toiletries
• Water bottle
• Money 
• Important documents

Purse:

I don't really know what I'll put in here yet. Probably just overflow and last minute things that I remember. This packing list is still a work in progress.