What To Pack As An Exchange Student & What To Leave At Home | Exchange Student Tips USA

Summary

This video offers essential tips for exchange students on what to pack for their year abroad. It advises against bringing clothes that don't fit dress codes, bulky items, electrical appliances, and school materials. Instead, students should bring electric adapters, modest clothing, sports gear, small gifts for their host family, a diary, personal items for their room, and some cash for initial expenses.

Takeaways

• 🧳 Do not bring clothes that do not fit the dress code, especially sheer, revealing, or overly short clothing, as these may not be allowed in schools or conservative areas.
• 👗 Avoid bringing bulky items like large jackets or pillows, as they take up valuable luggage space and can often be easily purchased at the destination.
• 🔌 Don't bring electrical appliances like hair straighteners or blow dryers due to different voltage and plug requirements; focus on bringing charging cables and adapters instead.
• 📚 Leave behind excessive school supplies, as these can be readily purchased at local stores like Walmart upon arrival.
• 🎵 Consider leaving behind items that could annoy your host family, such as Bluetooth speakers, and opt for headphones to respect shared living spaces.
• 🔌 Essential to bring are electric adapters to accommodate different plug types in the host country.
• 👟 If joining a sports team, bring a favorite pair of sports trainers as practices may start immediately after school begins.
• 👕 Pack modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and avoid items like crop tops, spaghetti strap tops, and short dresses.
• 🎁 Bring small gifts for your host family as a gesture of appreciation and to initiate cultural exchange.
• 📓 Consider bringing a diary or a camera to document and remember your exchange year experiences.
• 💵 Carry some cash, around $400, for initial expenses and emergencies, and have a credit card for additional financial security.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video provides guidance on what to pack and what to leave at home when preparing for an exchange year, focusing on practical tips for exchange students.

Why is it important not to bring clothes that don't fit the dress code?

Many schools have strict dress codes, especially in conservative areas, which may not allow sheer or revealing clothing. It's better to adhere to these rules to avoid any issues.

What advice does the video give about packing bulky items?

The video advises against bringing bulky items like pillows and heavy winter jackets, as they take up valuable space. It's often easier to purchase such items after arriving in the host country.

Why should electrical appliances be left at home?

Electrical appliances such as hair straighteners or blow dryers may not work properly due to voltage differences and could be heavy and bulky. It's recommended to buy them locally to avoid compatibility issues.

What is recommended instead of bringing school supplies from home?

School supplies should be purchased in the host country, as the formats may differ, and it's usually easy to find what you need at local stores like Walmart or Target.

How should one handle music and speakers in a host family's home?

Bringing headphones instead of Bluetooth speakers is advised, as loud music can be disruptive and some music might be considered inappropriate by the host family.

What should be brought for sports activities?

Bring your favorite pair of sports trainers and some appropriate sports clothing that fits the dress code, as school sports practices often start right away.

Why are modest clothes recommended for an exchange year?

Modest clothing is suggested because many schools have dress codes that prohibit revealing outfits, and it's important to adhere to cultural norms, especially in conservative areas.

What types of gifts are recommended for host families?

Small gifts such as chocolates or sweets from your home country are recommended to show appreciation and serve as conversation starters about your culture.

Why is it suggested to bring cash, and how much should you bring?

Bringing at least $400 in cash is advised to cover initial expenses and emergencies, ensuring you have enough money until you can access your funds in the host country.

What personal items can help with homesickness during the exchange year?

Personal items like photos, small decorations, and sentimental objects can make your room feel more like home and help alleviate feelings of homesickness.

What role does a diary play during an exchange year?

Keeping a diary helps document experiences, making it easier to remember details about the exchange year. It's recommended to write entries daily or weekly.

Why should you bring multiple electrical adapters?

Bringing multiple electrical adapters is recommended to accommodate different devices like phones and laptops, as plug types vary between countries.

Outlines

00:00

🧳 Exchange Student Packing Essentials

The video script discusses the essentials for exchange students preparing for their year abroad. It emphasizes the importance of packing wisely, focusing on items that are necessary and leaving behind those that are not. The speaker advises against bringing clothes that don't fit the dress code, bulky items like pillows or heavy winter jackets, and electrical appliances due to voltage differences. Instead, they suggest bringing charging cables and an adapter, as well as considering the cultural and climate differences of the host country.

05:02

🏠 Adapting to Host Country Norms and Practical Tips

This paragraph delves into the specifics of what not to bring, such as inappropriate clothing and electrical items, and the importance of adapting to the host country's norms. The speaker shares personal experiences and offers advice on school dress codes, especially in conservative areas, and the types of clothing to avoid. They also mention the unsuitability of bringing school supplies and the ease of purchasing them locally. Additionally, they caution against bringing items that could annoy the host family, like Bluetooth speakers, and recommend bringing headphones and modest clothing instead.

10:03

🎁 Recommended Items for Exchange Students

The speaker outlines recommended items for exchange students, starting with electric adapters to accommodate different plug types. They suggest bringing sports trainers and a few athletic wear pieces that comply with school dress codes. The importance of modest clothing is reiterated, with a focus on items like jeans and T-shirts. The paragraph also highlights the value of bringing small gifts for the host family as a gesture of appreciation and cultural exchange. Lastly, the speaker recommends bringing a diary or camera to document the exchange experience and personal items to decorate the room and alleviate homesickness.

💵 Financial Preparations and Additional Advice

In the final paragraph, the speaker stresses the importance of financial preparedness for exchange students. They recommend bringing a certain amount of cash for initial expenses and a credit card for ongoing financial support. The paragraph also serves as a reminder to consider personal needs and the specific requirements of the host country. The speaker invites viewers to share their thoughts on the video and request additional content, emphasizing the value of community and shared experiences in the exchange process.

Keywords

💡Exchange Students

Exchange students are individuals who travel to another country to study, typically for a semester or a year. In the video, the speaker discusses the essentials and non-essentials for exchange students preparing to pack for their year abroad, highlighting the unique challenges and considerations they face.

💡Dress Code

A dress code refers to a set of rules or regulations that dictate what types of clothing are appropriate in a specific setting, such as a school. The video emphasizes the importance of adhering to the dress code in the United States, particularly in conservative areas, by avoiding revealing or inappropriate clothing.

💡Cultural Rules

Cultural rules encompass the norms, behaviors, and expectations that are typical within a certain society or region. The speaker mentions that understanding cultural rules, especially in the southern United States, is crucial for exchange students to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.

💡Bulky Items

Bulky items are large and space-consuming objects that can be difficult to pack or transport. The video advises against bringing bulky items like pillows or heavy winter jackets, suggesting that these can be easily purchased in the host country.

💡Electrical Items

Electrical items refer to devices that require electricity to function, such as hair straighteners or blow dryers. The speaker warns against bringing these due to differences in voltage and plug types, which can make them incompatible or even dangerous to use in the United States.

💡School Materials

School materials include supplies like binders, pens, and pencils that students typically use for their studies. The video suggests that bringing these from home is unnecessary, as they can easily be purchased at local stores like Walmart upon arrival.

💡Host Family

A host family is the family that provides accommodation and support to an exchange student during their stay. The video advises on how to respect the host family's cultural norms and preferences, such as avoiding loud music or inappropriate clothing.

💡Electric Adapters

Electric adapters are devices that allow electrical appliances to be used in different countries by converting the plug type or voltage. The speaker emphasizes the importance of bringing adapters to ensure that personal electronic devices can be charged in the United States.

💡Athleisure Wear

Athleisure wear refers to casual clothing designed for athletic activities but also suitable for everyday wear. The video suggests bringing a few pieces of athleisure wear, especially sports shoes, as they might be needed immediately for school activities.

💡Modest Clothing

Modest clothing is attire that is conservative and does not reveal much of the body. The speaker recommends bringing modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees, as this is often required by school dress codes and is culturally appropriate in many areas.

💡Personal Items

Personal items are objects that hold sentimental value or are used for personal comfort and decoration. The video suggests bringing a few personal items, like photos or crafts, to decorate the room and help alleviate homesickness.

💡Cash

Cash refers to physical money, as opposed to digital or card-based transactions. The speaker advises bringing a certain amount of cash for immediate needs upon arrival and for situations where electronic payment might not be available or convenient.

Highlights

Packing essentials for an exchange year includes items you'll need immediately and leaving behind what's not necessary.

Avoid bringing clothes that don't fit the dress code, especially sheer or revealing attire, as it may not be acceptable in conservative areas.

Consider local cultural norms and dress codes when selecting clothing to pack for an exchange in the United States or other countries.

Bulky items like pillows and large winter jackets are not recommended due to space constraints in luggage.

Electrical appliances may not be suitable due to differences in voltage and plugs, so it's better to purchase them locally.

School materials are easily accessible and should not be packed in advance to save space.

Avoid bringing items that could annoy your host family, such as loud Bluetooth speakers.

Headphones are recommended to maintain a considerate environment within the host family's home.

Electric adapters are essential due to differences in plug types and voltage between countries.

Bringing a favorite pair of sports shoes is advised for immediate use upon joining a sports team.

Athleisure wear should be selected carefully to comply with school dress codes and cultural norms.

Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is recommended for school and church visits.

Small gifts for the host family, such as chocolate or sweets, are a thoughtful gesture to show appreciation.

A diary or journal is useful for documenting experiences and memories throughout the exchange year.

Personal items for room decoration can help alleviate homesickness and personalize your living space.

Bringing a small amount of cash and a credit card ensures financial security and ease during the initial settling period.

Engaging with the host culture and being open to sharing your own can foster a positive exchange experience.

The video offers additional content on school dress codes and cultural norms for exchange students in the American South.

Transcripts

hi guys and welcome to my newest video

today

we are going to be talking about all

things exchange students

need to know and about all things

exchange

year particularly we are going to talk

about the things you need to bring

and the ones that you should leave at

home when trying to pack for your

exchange year

now obviously it is pretty much

impossible to fit all that you will need

for six months 10 months an entire year

into one suitcase one carry-on and a

backpack

but today i would like to help you out

by telling you what things you should

definitely bring because you're

definitely going to need them and which

things you can leave at home because

you're not going to have any use for

them anyway

so without further ado let's get right

on into this video

so i am going to start off with the

things you do

not need to bring to the united states

or anywhere else in the world if you're

going to be an exchange student in a

different country because you are not

gonna have any use for them or because

it's much easier to get them

once you have arrived the first thing i

will mention

is do not bring any sort of clothes that

will not fit the dress code

i have two things to say about that one

i'm thinking about making a video

about school code school dress codes and

anything like that

and also there is going to be a video

about if you're going to be

an exchange student in the south of the

us i will tell you all about the

cultural rules this also applies to any

small town basically in the us because

the whole like set of rules there in

rather conservative areas

is quite different and there are

definitely a lot of things you need to

know

clothing is a really big part of it so

look out for those videos because i'm

going to

specify this topic and talk a lot more

about this in those videos

but to give you a quick glimpse into it

usually

anything sheer or see-through anything

that shows the shoulders or

any short skirts any short dresses

are not allowed usually schools won't

allow you to wear

anything that shows your knees or your

shoulders or too much

you know cleavage so leave any of those

things at home

additionally if you are going to go to

church

with your host parents make sure that

you only bring

dresses that cover your knees and

your arms and again the cleavage thing

don't show too much you know of your

goods

so definitely do not bring really really

short or see-through clothes or anything

like that even if you're going to a

really hot state i went to texas which

is super super hot but first of all

the ac the air conditioning is going to

make you know any inside of

like the school or your home or a car so

so cold so you're not going to

want to wear anything too short anyway

and culturally it's just not appropriate

to wear you know quite revealing clothes

so

leave all of those you know summer cute

short summer dresses or tops at home

you do not need those also i would

advise you to leave

any sort of bulky items at home do not

try to bring pillows no try to bring

huge winter jackets or anything like

that anything that takes up

a lot of space you really have to think

about because you really

only have this one suitcase and you know

the smaller carry-on items so be

very aware anything that is big or bulky

or really heavy

just really think about whether it might

not be a better idea to buy

any of those you know in your host

country and then

it's much easier to figure out whether

you actually need those things like you

might potentially not even need a winter

jacket depending on the state that you

go to

also another thing you do not need to

bring is

electrical items any hair straighteners

or blow dryers or anything like that you

really don't need to bring because the

voltage and the plugs in the us are

going to be

so so different what you should bring

obviously is charging cables for like

your phone

and you are going to need an adapter

which i'm going to

talk about more when i talk about the

things that you should bring but any

actual appliances that require a certain

voltage

you shouldn't really bring because first

of all they're usually heavy and bulky

so that goes to my last point but also

you know you can get hair dryers if

you're going to the us you just go to

walmart they're not that expensive and

you really don't need to bring them

because they might actually explode in

your hands

if the voltage isn't right so just don't

bring those other stuff you don't need

is

school materials for example don't try

and get like loads of school binders or

like bring

all of your favorite pens and pencils

from home it is really not

necessary it takes up so much space and

you can just go to walmart even if you

arrive

like on a saturday and school starts on

a monday you can still go to walmart you

can still

get all of your school supplies there

there is no need to bring it it's really

unnecessary the prices will most likely

be the same as you would

have them at home so just don't worry

about these things and also the format

is like super different where i'm from

in germany we

have this like certain measurement of

paper

and there's like four you know holes in

or two

to you know put it into binders in the

us the binders in the paper are smaller

and it only has three holes so all the

paper i brought didn't actually fit into

the binder so that was super unnecessary

so

just make sure when you get there you

hit walmart or target or anything and

you get your stuff there

do not stuff all of that in your

suitcase one thing i would also advise

you

not to bring is anything that could

potentially be

super annoying to your host family so if

you're thinking about

bringing a bluetooth box for example

like bluetooth

speakers i personally would advise you

to

leave those at home because you are

probably gonna get off on the wrong foot

with your host family if you're blasting

you know music throughout the house it's

really annoying to them

and also i'm also gonna touch on that in

my

what to you know know when you're going

to the american south

some music is not considered cool for

your host family

and actually really inappropriate and

something that you shouldn't be

listening to

so that could create a lot of conflicts

i would actually advise you to bring

headphones

so you make sure that you know you're

just being very aware that other people

are living in the house and that this is

not

you know your natural family who can

just forgive you anything and

just be kind of conscious about that

fact and leave those things at home

now moving on to the things that you

should bring because that is probably

more of the practical side of this video

the first thing that i've already

touched on a little bit is

electric adapters because as i said the

plugs will

be super different so none of my you

know electrical items would have

fit in the us plugs because the plug

sockets are just

they have a different form i think it's

like the three plug so what i would

advise you

no matter which country you're coming

from amazon usually

offers you know little adapters that

actually have like a lot of options so

you will have

an adapter with like the german plug and

the you know grey burton plug and the us

plug and

stuff like that so maybe type in like

electric adapter and then your country

and the us

and it will usually give you pretty

cheap options i can

try to link you the one that i had down

in the description box below

but definitely just look those up on

amazon you will probably find one that

is pretty cheap that you can use

i would actually advise you to bring

more than one just because

if you have a laptop for example and

your phone that's already two chargers

that you are going to be needing you

might even want a third one for another

electrical item i'm pretty sure i had at

least

two that's what i would advise you to

bring but these are definitely a staple

do not

leave without getting one at least or

maybe even two or three of those

if you are planning to join a sports

team i would also

advise you to bring your favorite pair

of sports trainers because

more likely than not school is going to

start very soon after your

arrival and you are going to be joining

a team which

the practice usually starts on the first

day of school so you are going to be

needing those shoes right away i'm not

saying that you should bring like all of

your athleisure wear because again there

is a dress code involved and

a lot of your like athleisure wear that

you brought from home probably won't fit

that dress code but maybe bring

a couple of you know athleisure pieces

just because you are

going to have to be working out right

away and especially the shoes because

finding a good pair of workout shoes

isn't as easy just so that you don't

stress out as much

trying to find like a really good

workout shoe that is going to get you

through

five days a week four hours a day of

like workouts

so probably bring those from home you

know what i would also advise you to do

if you do decide to bring some

athleisure wear take t-shirts no tank

tops because chances are they're not

going to be

allowed in your school and also do not

bring like

leggings because at least in my

opinion or in my you know what i

experienced is that nobody in the us

actually wears like leggings when

they're workout they all wear like

the shorts so like somewhat baggy like

nike shorts or you know any brand most

people wear nike actually i'm going to

link you

an example of one of the shorts down

below that's what everybody wears and

you're going to want to fit in so

you know don't bother with all the

leggings unless you want to just wear

them in your free time another thing

which i've also touched on before

do bring modest clothing so just you

know

bring stuff that covers the shoulders

covers the knees it's best for school to

bring

jeans so no leggings but actual jeans

that have a zipper and a pocket

that have no ribs do not bring anything

that

shows your belly so no crop tops no lacy

tops no

spaghetti strap tops none of that no

short dresses i've already mentioned

that before

so you can just google modest clothing

and what

shows up is probably right for you

another thing that you should also bring

just because

it's really really nice is a few small

gifts for your host family now i'm not

talking about

anything super pricey most of the time i

find that if you bring them some

chocolate for example or

other types of sweets or that you can

just share with them that is

not expensive at all is super super nice

just so that

you show that you're super appreciative

that you show that

you know you want to not only get to

know their culture but that you're open

for them to get to know your culture and

so that they can ask you questions about

it and it's just a nice conversation

starter

for the beginning so that's always a

nice thing to bring

another thing that you should definitely

bring is a diary

because you are going to want to

remember

a lot about your exchange year but you

know your brain has limited capacity so

i find that it is

super useful to just write down anything

you experience if you can do it daily

that's great

you might not have enough time for that

a weekly you know entry would definitely

be enough you could also bring a camera

i think that's super good i mean most

people take pictures on their iphones

now but what i also love

is having like video clips for example

if you take a trip it's super nice to

you know make a short video out of that

because moving

image is just a little bit different a

bit more personal i find

so yeah if you have a camera a small one

bring it what i would also

advise you to do is to bring a few small

personal items to decorate your room

with just because your room

is going to be probably super bare in

the beginning

which could make you feel a lot more

homesick so i find that it is nice to

have you know a couple of pictures and

picture frames or some that you can hang

up maybe

you have you know your favorite book

with you maybe you have something like a

craft that you made at home or you know

gifts from your friends before you left

or anything like that i think

anything of that sort is super super

helpful because your room will look less

empty and you will have something that

is personal that means something to you

and it's going to make your room just

feel more like

yours and it could definitely help you

with homesickness so you know choose a

few

lights and small items to bring with you

for that one lastly

probably one of the most important

things is i would advise you to

bring a bit of cash just because in case

you have a few

issues with your money especially in the

first month you are going to need

a bit of cash just to buy all of this

stuff that did not fit in your suitcase

so i would advise you to bring at least

400 dollars in cash they are going to

ask you how much cash you have

to support yourself once you get off the

plane and it is always good if you can

answer

truthfully that you have a couple

hundred dollars just you know to support

you over the first like two or three

weeks or so

and also definitely bring something like

a mastercard which is what i used

to make sure that you have money supply

throughout the year

that you can obviously revert back to if

you you know

need some money and want to buy you some

stuff so so that's definitely

really important those are all of the

things that i could think of that are

super super important obviously it

depends on where you're going and where

you come from and your

you know personal needs what you're

actually going to need to bring but

those are definitely things that you

should keep in mind

when trying to pack your suitcase please

let me know down in the comments below

if that video was helpful to you and

whether you have anything in mind that i

forgot to mention just so that other

people can check out the comments as

well and you know remember to bring

this thing that i forgot to mention also

if you would like me to do

any more exchange student content or if

you have any sort of questions please

leave them down in the comments below

i'll be so happy

to make videos about your requests as

well and just thank you guys so much for

watching this video

if you would like to not miss out on any

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and yeah i just wanna thank you guys so

so much for watching

see you very very soon goodbye

[Music]

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