The Art of Packing

It’s like playing Tetris as a kid. Packing is fun and hard and you are ALWAYS looking for that one piece that fits perfectly in the space you have so you can add the next layer of things to your suitcase. While packing up your bag to get out of town for a bit is exciting, the stress of forgetting something, or in my case over packing, can be exhausting! I’ve had my fair share of over packed suitcases and everyone who has experienced it knows, it is NOT fun, as much as you think you need all 12 of those shirts for 4 day’s away, you don’t. I’m in the middle of packing for a trip to Florence, Italy. I’ll be there to study for over 2 weeks and I know going into this that I will not need to bring an entire wardrobe. Will that stop me from bringing everything but the kitchen sink? Probably not but, at least I know my flaws, right? I’ve cut down the number of clothing items I’m bringing since I’ve been told we will have the ability to wash clothes during our stay. So what else does one bring to Europe? Well, for starters, an adapter. No, they don’t use the same type of outlet we do here in the states (though it would be nice if there was a universal outlet design, we can dream...). Next is my sketchbook. I’m an artist! You should have gathered that already by the website you clicked on or if you are just here for the blog, the title of this post was meant to be a clever hint. You’re welcome. But, seriously, my sketchbook is the reason I’m even going over there. I’m an art student and this opportunity came to me through that. After that is a travel journal or diary, whichever you prefer to call it. Writing down your daily activities during your trip is great! It’s a written reminder of the stories you’ll be able to tell and the memories you’ll make! Make the most of it by writing it out at night or be overly excessive like me and bring it around with you to write in every time you have a free minute. You’ll enjoy reading what you wrote later. Next is a rain coat... I’m not sure that this one needs an explanation. Look at the weather before you leave and decide for yourself if you need one. I know my forecast looks like a lot of rain at the moment. That raincoat might be a staple of my outfit most days. This tip is mostly for the ladies (but guys you can bring one too if you want!). Crossbody bags are the way to go. They feel more secure than bags that only go over your shoulder and you’ll be able to keep the close to you. Well, I’ve probably taken enough of a break from packing already. I’d better get back to it! Those are just a few things that I know I will be taking. I’ll be blogging as much as I can during my trip, though my travel journal will be the first line of defense for writing down stories. Ciao! Hallie 💜