...too much, definitely too much! Hi, I'm Jana, 22 years old, and struggling with how to fit all my household items into two suitcases for six months. But well, that's probably the first challenge you have to face, and it's also an indicator of whether an Erasmus semester is right for you or not. You can ask yourself whether you would be able to pack your life into 1-2 suitcases for half a year. And? - Difficult, right? My study abroad program takes me to the beautiful student city of Leuven in Belgium. Besides typical Belgian waffles, beer, and fries, and the three official languages Dutch, French, and German, I don't know much about the Belgian city located approximately 30 km east of Brussels. However, that will change very soon, and now back to packing!

I pack my suitcase and bring with me...

...the most important things that have to go with me. Let's start with the must-have triangle: phone, phone charger, and sim card for abroad - welcome to the digital age. Also, make sure to bring your credit card and some cash as a backup. Even though you can pay almost everywhere with your card, you should be prepared for exceptions. Your laptop is also a must-have and loyal companion, allowing you not only to watch the latest Netflix series but also to study for the big season finale aka exam period. And when grandma and grandpa ask if you have all the necessary documents, answer confidently to create the impression of being an organized person: "Sure, my proof of international health insurance, the Erasmus-Outgoing checklist, and a list of my contact persons," while leaving out the rest of the sentence “all on here” and mentally pointing to the phone in your hand.

„Have hope but never expectations, then you will experience miracles but never disappointments.“

I pack my suitcase and bring with me...

...a rollercoaster of emotions (believe me, it still fits in the suitcase). So, I'm packing not only excitement but also a bit of homesickness in my suitcase. Even though I'm really looking forward to my study abroad program, leaving your family, friends, and beloved college town is always bittersweet - but that's entirely normal and okay. Accordingly, the mixed feelings continue. While you're bursting with curiosity and excitement, doubts also creep in. But let me give you something to start your journey with. You may have overlooked it when you opened your suitcase, but there were already some attributes in your suitcase before you even started packing. Courage, organizational skills, and self-management! To have everything you need for your journey, you should also add motivation, openness to the world, and sociability. Of course, you also need English language skills, but it's not about how well you speak, but that you speak. So, dare to go all-in with the language. When I asked a friend who was also packing her Erasmus suitcase, she just replied dryly: low expectations. At first, I laughed; it was unexpected. But maybe she’s also a bit right. There are proverbs like: "Have hope but never expectations, then you will experience miracles but never disappointments." So, here's to all the miracles that will exceed our expectations that we never even had.

I pack my suitcase and bring with me...

... small "gadgets" that can fill some gaps and cracks in my luggage. Others might call them nice-to-haves for carry-on luggage. Take something personal with you that means a lot to you or that you enjoy. Pictures of family and friends are best for this purpose. It's nice to have a piece of home in your luggage when you're far away. What really fits in every carry-on bag and provides a lot of fun is a disposable camera. With it, you can explore the city and take photos with your new acquaintances, which will soon be joined by photos of your loved ones. It's also never a mistake to pack a travel journal. Yes... that also applies to all the non-writers out there. With a journal, you can not only review your day and later have the opportunity to look back on the exciting time, but it also helps you to write down everything you’ve got going on your mind to get your emotions back under control. Finally, my personal recommendation is to download the app 1 Second Every Day (unpaid ad following). With the app, you can record one second every day, which the app will automatically edit into a video. So, after your Erasmus semester, you can present your year abroad to all your friends within 3 minutes. How cool is that?!

Next stop: a new chapter of my life! See you soon, à bientôt and tot snel!

P.S.: Remember to leave some space in your suitcase for all the new experiences you will have. After all, they all have to come back home with you.