How to Pack for your Internship Abroad

The Essentials

Like any trip, the basic travel essentials will remain the same. Here’s what you will absolutely need to bring:

• Your passport: For obvious reasons if you’re travelling abroad. Make sure to alway keep your passport in a safe, secure place! It wouldn’t hurt to purchase a money belt to keep your valuables safe, especially if this is your first time travelling alone.

• Your identity cards: It’s always a good idea to have alternative forms of identification apart from your passport. That way if you decide to go out somewhere you will need ID, you won’t have to worry about taking care of your passport the whole time.

• Your bank cards: Bring a debit card so you’ll be able to draw money from ATM’s, and a credit card as well if you have one. Always make sure to use cards at reputable locations; however, it is always smart to have a little extra cash on you at all times in case places don’t accept cards. Extra tip: learn about the tipping culture of the place you’ll be interning in- carrying a little extra change can make things much easier when going out for dinner!

• Travel insurance documents: Bring a copy of your travel insurance documents in case you need to visit a medical centre or hospital during your time abroad. It will be helpful when you need to fill out your policy number

• Vaccination records: If you’re visiting a place that has required vaccinations, bring along a record of your vaccinations. Some places will require you to provide proof of your vaccinations before even letting you enter the country.

• Medication: If you have any prescription medications you need to take, make sure to bring it with you and make sure you have enough to last the duration of your trip. You should also visit a doctor before you leave, and they’ll provide a list of recommended medications to bring with you depending on your destination. These could includes malaria pills and pills that prevent illnesses you’ll really want to avoid, like traveller’s diarrhea.

• Toiletries:  Whenever you travel long distances, its a good idea to bring a little toiletry kit with you filled with preferably travel-sized items. This will save space and after a 12-hour flight, you'll be glad of it! It wouldn't hurt to bring an extra pair of clothes as well, in case your luggage gets lost at least you'll have a fresh outfit

Once you have all these essentials down, you can start planning what else to pack- clothes, books, cameras, gadgets, your favourite stuffed animal to remind you of home.

It's always helpful to keep in mind what kind of activities you'll be taking part in during your time away. If you're going to do a lot of outdoor, adventure-type activities, it would be a good idea to bring durable, breathable clothes. What will the weather be like? If you know the country has a colder or warmer climate, be conscious of that when packing. Cultural expectations should also be taken into consideration.  If the country is a bit more conservative, perhaps reconsider bringing that mini-skirt, or that inappropirate t-shirt. 

You should also bring work appropriate clothes, since the majority of your time will be spent at your internship. It's a good idea to find out what dress code your internship organisation expects.