As the summer vacation is approaching, so are many volunteering projects and internships. But what to pack on such a new exciting experience? Even if you have been abroad many times and are an expert in packing, there are sure to be moments when you miss a thing or two. To help you have the best preparation for your project, or any other vacation, we made a special AIESEC exchange packing list!
Suitcase or backpack?
But first, where to pack all that stuff in; a suitcase or a backpack? Quite an important choice to make, and I would say it really depends on the kind of trip you want to make. If you’re staying put a suitcase might be the best choice for you. When you open it you have a clear view on everything you brought with you, whereas you have to fill a backpack from the small opening at the top. You have to pack a backpack more strategically and logically.
But, if you have to move a lot within your project, or want to travel a bit more after the project is done, a backpack is way nicer to carry with you. You can pack a lot in a backpack without it becoming to heavy. A great tip to lighten the weight is to pack heavy things, like shoes or toiletries, in the middle of your backpack and against your back. The weight feels less heavy and your shoulders and back are less likely to get hurt.
The essentials
Now that you’ve made your choice on what kind of bag to bring, let’s move on to the packing. First, the essentials:
- Passport
- Retour tickets
- Debit card
- Cash
- Insurance card
- Driver’s license
- Copy of passport
- Face mask
Without the essentials you won’t come far, but there’s of course a lot more to it than that. Before we move on to clothes you have all the handy stuff that you just have to bring with you:
- Toiletries
- Sunscreen
- Hair brush
- Shampoo
- USB stick
- Headphones
- Chargers
- Book or e-reader
- Mosquito spray
- Vitamin pills
- Band aid
- Play cards
- Pen and paper
- Linen bag/ small day time bag
- Towels
Clothes
Then lastly we move on to the clothes. This really depends on what kind of person you are, do you also want to go to some bars and cafes while you’re abroad or do you just want to chill? It of course also depends on the weather in the country you’re visiting, but here are some basics:
- Warm sweater/ vest
- Long jeans
- Short jeans
- Dress
- (sports) legging
- Long sleeve shirt
- Short sleeve shirt
- Bikini/ swim shorts
- Underwear
- Socks
- Hat
- Pyjamas
Now we’ve covered all the important stuff not to forget on your AIESEC project! Enjoy your experience and your summer holiday!
Hi! I’m Lise, one of the marketing managers from AIESEC Delft! I can be quite a chaotic person, so when going on holiday I always like to make lists to make sure I don’t forget things. This is exactly what I did for you, to make your experience even better!
