The biggest mistake I see most people make before an international adventure is getting caught up in pre-departure stress. Somewhere between the viscous cramming of suitcases, getting passport photos made, and setting up traveller’s insurance, people forget that they were even looking forward to their trip in the first place. Getting all of your affairs in order is crucial to the success of an extended trip abroad, so take a deep breath and call to mind that moment of passion that first inspired you to plan your trip.
 

Two years ago I about let the stress overwhelm me before I ever left the states. Being a dual citizen in the U.S. and Germany, I had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get two passports in order before my departure. This involved multiple trips to the local pharmacy to get photos made since I lost the first set I got, a six hour drive to Atlanta to visit the nearest German embassy for one measly thumbprint, and three nail-biting weeks of waiting by the mailbox for my new passport to arrive. I was freaking out about how I was going to pack eight months of necessities into a suitcase and a duffel bag, when in hindsight, I could have taken half the stuff and been just as happy, if not more. 

 So this time around, as I enter the ten day countdown until liftoff, I am investing my energy into much wiser things than stress. Organization and attention to detail have been imperative to the success of warding of that pre-flight stress. My pre-departure To Do List has really helped me keep my head screwed on straight. It includes things like scheduling auto-withdrawals for my student loan repayment plan and monthly mutual fund contributions, as well as padding my bank account with enough money to feed those things while I’m away. I am also researching travel insurance options, international cell phone plans, and getting an international drivers license.

I filled one small suitcase a week ago with my warmest and most durable clothing, as well as a week’s worth of socks and underwear, a black belt, and my treasured pair of Reef flip flops with the bottle-openers on the soles. All of those other little things that make my world go ’round—including my laptop, ukulele, toiletries, and sunglasses—are neatly typed into a word document so that I can be sure to put them in my backpack the night before I depart. Click HERE to see my comprehensive packing lists for both warm and cold season backpacking.

One pre-departure hurtle that I stampeded right through is ironically linked to one of my otherwise greatest achievements: graduating from college. Due to this fact, I am currently ineligible for both an international student ID and international student hostel membership. These things should have been taken care of much further in advance. There is an alternative to these things, an International Youth Card available from STA Travel, but the benefits of it are not nearly as nuce as the student cards. 

I am taking very seriously the fact that backpacking through Europe will be strenuous and taxing on my body. That is why I am eating smart and training everyday to keep myself fit and healthy. If you intend to travel on a budget as tight as mine (I am aiming to spend as little as $30 a day), you will likely be spending a great deal of time on your feet as you wander through cities and countryside alike with your thumb stuck out. For this reason, I run at least three miles a day on hilly terrain, incorporating pushups, crunches, and pullups from tree branches into my routine. While I seriously contemplated it, there is no need to waste money on a gym membership when all you need to stay in shape is freely located just outside your door. It doesn’t need to be an extreme Spartan Race regiment, just something habitual that gets your body working. 

Remember, stay positive in your last few days at home. Get that dopamine flowing by continuing to check items off your To Do List, exercising daily, and treasuring bittersweet moments with the friends and family that you will soon be leaving behind. Smile big and brag to everyone you know about how excited you are! This is the time to be getting pumped, not getting down.