As I’m reflecting on my time in Oxford, I am brainstorming blog topics. I want to help pay it forward with this blog and write about something helpful. I could get all sappy about how study abroad was the best experience I’ve ever had in my life, but frankly, I don’t want to write about that, and you probably don’t want to read that. I am a very practical person, and I love helping people, so boom: packing list. I am a huge planner, so I like to think about all the things one might need in any situation: from the worst that could happen to mild inconveniences. Most of these things are really small to bring, but they helped me more than a little bit while in Oxford. While I wanted this small list to help all people studying abroad, some of these are specific to the summer climate and nature of Oxford and England in general.
Tide pen
I am a messy eater. I wear white shirts. These don’t mix well. But Tide pens are easily portable, small, and can save your (my) clothes from stains.
Utensils
Strange one, I know. However, I would often go to the supermarket to buy a meal deal, which doesn’t include utensils. Who wants to eat pasta with their hands? Not me. Those utensil packets you get from takeout (takeaway to the English) restaurants in the US? Pack a few of those. Thank me later.
Empty spray bottle
Honestly, this one is very preference-based. I used it a lot. I brought one because I wanted to be able to de-wrinkle my clothes any time, instead of hanging them up while I’m showering (the steam naturally smooths out wrinkles, but I’m forgetful). Just fill the spray bottle with water, dampen your clothes with the mist setting, and pull your clothes so it smooths out. Voila.
Lint Roller
If you have clothes that attract a lot of lint, this should be a no-brainer. These come in portable sizes as well at most stores.
Handheld fans
My handheld fan genuinely saved me during the heatwaves in Oxford. There is no air conditioning in the dorms, so it was really REALLY hot (and I’m from Texas). Make sure to close your windows during the day so your room doesn’t become a boiler room. Bonus points if your fan can stand up on a nightstand and isn’t too loud while you’re sleeping.
Tissue Packs
Convenient and multipurpose.
Scissors
You can get TSA-compliant scissors online if you are only bringing a carry-on (which I did on the way there, and don’t regret one bit).
Portable Charger
This one really should be a no-brainer. A good portable charger will literally be your holy grail.
Sleeping Earplugs
If you’re traveling outside of your host city/dormitory, some cities can get really loud at night. Make sure to bring earplugs so you can sleep at night and not be grumpy in the morning.
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes helped me a lot with organizing my clothes and fitting more into my suitcase.
Phone plan – eSim
I know you can’t physically pack an eSIM, but these are so important for connectivity while abroad. The sooner you order an eSIM, the better. I ordered mine in May, and my study abroad term was in July. I could activate it when I wanted, and I paid $20 for 80 GB. Honestly, I never went over 20 GB, and I used it a considerable amount over the 27 days I was in England. It gets really expensive the closer you get to peak travel season in the summer.
Hope this was helpful!!