Tips for Jayhawks Traveling Abroad for the First Time
Quick tips for first time travelers from Mackenzie Gregory, 2022 London Review program participant.
Pack your toiletries properly.
If you’re taking your soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, and other grooming articles on the plane with you, make sure they all comfortably fit in the required quart-sized bag. You’re going to have to take the bag out when going through security, so don’t be like me and have your toiletries fall all over the floor from a ripped zip-lock bag. I recommend efficient, travel-sized toiletries. Or just put them in a checked bag.
Use a credit card and be careful with it.
A while after I got back, there were a couple suspicious charges on my card. Luckily, with my credit card, I could easily dispute them. It wouldn’t be so easy with charges on a debit card, so use a credit card and make sure with your company you can easily dispute any fraudulent charges.
And by the way, tell your credit card company that you will be traveling.
If you use a credit or debit card abroad without notifying your company, it could be denied. A random charge in a foreign country will look suspicious, so let your company know so they will expect it.
Convert currency yourself.
You will most likely be using a different currency, so keep that in mind when making purchases. And be prepared to communicate in either a different language or dialect. A plug adapter can also come in handy.
Travel in a group if you can.
Being my first time in an airport, I’m not sure I would have made it through without having many comrades to follow. Maybe you can, but it’s nice to at least know someone is there with you.
Try to sleep on the plane if it is an overnight flight.
Unless your excitement and adrenaline can keep you going for more than 30 hours of no sleep, like me.
Search for Scholarships
When looking for scholarships to fund a study abroad program, KU Study Abroad General Scholarships are great ones to start with. If you’re in a program that is a part of the University Honors program, apply for an Honors Opportunity Award. KU Study Abroad lists many other scholarships and financial sources on their website.
Have fun!
I got to explore a foreign metropolitan city by myself and try Guinness, things I would not have done if I didn’t study abroad. Explore, get out of your comfort zone, and have fun! (Safely, of course)
