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Hi there!
If you're reading this now, odds are good that you're either considering going on an IPDS trip, or maybe you're part of the next group to go! I'm going to outline my experience and offer some of my suggestions for things I would do differently if I were to repeat the trip all over again, so that my ceiling can be your floor (such a teacher thing to say, I know). To start off, this wasn't my first time traveling abroad, so my experience might have been a bit different from someone who's going to their first ever foreign country. Just like every other time I've traveled, I definitely packed more than I needed this time around. In all honesty, if you just plan on wearing a few outfits twice off the bat then you'll be much better off. When I left, my suitcase was already 50lbs on the dot, so I had to throw some things out to make room for everything I bought so that I wouldn't get charged extra. Don't be like me, pack light! In my head, I needed lots of different clothes to wear while teaching, but in actuality I could've just worn the same things twice, since you're only at the school for about 4 hours per day. I also didn't really understand how the weather would be. In my head, 50° sounded much warmer than it actually is. Plus, that's the high for the day, mornings and evenings are in the 40's. I ultimately bought two new jackets over the course of my trip because the one's I brought weren't doing the job. Plus, to reiterate why you should pack light, remember that Italians are super fashionable, and you're going to want to buy new clothes. I came home with l o t s more than I left with, and I wore most of my new clothes at some point along the way. So in case you're still missing the point here, don't cram your suitcase! Here's some things that I brought with me / had available that were super useful:
Things I wish I had with me / I would bring if I went again:
For money, I showed up with zero Euro in-hand. Because I travel pretty often, I have a checking account with zero foreign ATM fees, so I just got money once I arrived. I also have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, so I used that pretty often. Look into what your current accounts offer, and don't be shy to open a new account for this purpose. I literally only use that checking account when I travel abroad but it's been such a godsend to have. Ultimately, I didn't spend nearly as much as I thought I would (and I would say I didn't really hold back). Most important piece of advice: go with the flow, appreciate where you are, and take in all of the incredible things around you. It's the experience of a lifetime, enjoy it!
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AuthorCiao! My name is Alex and I’m a senior in the Childhood Education program. I love experiencing different cultures, trying new things, and traveling; this trip will bring my foreign country total into double digits! I’m thrilled to be able to work with students of a different background than myself, and hope to go into TESOL in the future. I can’t wait to bring my Italian experience into my own future classroom! Archives
February 2020
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