Packing... The hardest Part

As a girl who loves her makeup, cute outfits, and working out... packing for an overnight trip is hard enough. Packing for an 8 month long trip during the coldest & warmest months of the year not to mention the transition months where it's semi cold, is an absolute nightmare! Oh did I mention that I still don't know what type of job I will have in Spain? It could be a job with casual clothes, business casual, or business. Think of all the shoes I could mix with those! Lucky for me, I am able to pack two bags for spain, one for the chance that I get a job needing business clothes and another for the chance that I get a job needing normal clothes & my parents will bring whichever I need when they come to visit me.
Now, I am packing 3 bags... one for the winter months in france, and two for the summer months in Spain for the two different job opportunities I could receive. 
How do you pack for this type of adventure? Well for starters, I learned while studying abroad in France in highschool that the French are not ones for bright outfits.... fashion capital of the world? Possibly, as long as brown, black, and white are your only three color options. Thankfully, I was able to buy three pairs of jeans with about 10 different sweater options and a couple of leggings to pack. Don't get me started on workout outfits.... trying to avoid bright colors is a nightmare and even though I don't want to look like a typical American, I've given up and packed my colorful workout clothes for both winter and summer months. Sweatshirts? Forget it! Unless you bring the fashionable type... but how do you stay warm without central heat? Ok so I brought two sweatshirts to wear while freezing in my room at night. Pajamas? They take up space... but back to that whole american thing.... yeah most French people don't wear their sweats to bed like we do... two pairs of pajamas it is. Meds... never can get enough of those. Everyday meds like vitamins along with meds for every situation you might encounter. From previous experience (both in costa rica & france) being sick abroad is one of the worst things you could ever experience, don't try to make it worse by not being stocked up on meds & visit some foreign doctor whom you don't know or trust. Play it safe! Toiletries... well those I like to skimp on, it's easy enough to find those there. Bring enough to last 2-3 days in case I don't have time to go to the store right away. Shoes... as any girl knows you can never get enough shoes.... unless you're trying to pack for 8 months in 2 bags. Fine one pair of black boots, wear the brown boots on the plane, running shoes (duh!), two pairs of cute sandals that can match anything... and of course a good pair of heels to wear to the club! Scarves... yes two of those to keep warm on long walks. Oh don't forget the adapters for the foreign country! Unfortunately, my straightener will still not work with an adapter so I will be headed straight to a salon to buy a straightener and not look crazy! Parfum? Obvi! Makeup? I could take a whole bag full of that!!! Unfortunately looks like I will be keeping it basic! Phone, charger, computer, oh the technology adds so much weight! Copies of my passport? check! Different forms of money for time abroad? AAA card + chase card = perfect! Need to make sure you have at least two forms in case one gets lost or stolen or simply doesn't work! I added a smaller bag to take for traveling on the weekends or during breaks. Jewelry... I found about 5 pieces that work with everything... if worse comes to worse I can buy more there! I also bought a "pick-pocket-proof purse" at AAA so I don't have to worry about getting stuff stolen as a foreigner... ugly but it will be efficient! Of course I brought my small digital camera to take with me everywhere. Oh & did I mention I bought an unlocked phone from "piccell wireless" with sim cards for both spain and france? Now I can talk to my friends in france and receive phone calls from my parents or call them for cheap at anytime in case anything goes wrong! Perfect! Finally, I'm almost ready to go! A few more small additions & I will be set... still need to put it in the suitcase and then I will be ready... 2 more days oh my!

Travel Plans

As 2013 has passed and the time for me to leave is getting closer I am glad to say my parents have secured their flight to visit me in May and Cassie is securing her flight to visit in March! I began to look at different ways of traveling while abroad and am having difficulties. I know I want to travel to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, and Austria, however, I am not sure the best way to do that. Most of my traveling will be done on the weekends or during my vacations from school. I looked at eurail tickets and the prices are much higher than I had expected but I have heard that is the best way to travel in Europe. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them! My visa came in and it looks like I will be traveling to England for three days when it expires to exit and re-enter the Schengen area to be able to stay in Spain for 3 months without a visa. That could be interesting haha! Thankfully my brother-in-laws uncle lives in England and has invited me to stay with him! I cannot wait for this time to get here! I leave in 30 days.... the countdown has begun!