Anyone on Congress Bundestag or CBYX scholarship have packing suggestions?

Question

My parents want to buy me luggage for the trip really soon.. so i need to decide what luggage to bring. According to the information packet, we can bring 2 checked luggage (50 lb. max.) and 1 carry on along with 1 personal item. I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to how much or how little to pack, or what to bring and what not to bring. Also would you suggest having parents ship over luggage? or bringing most with you to Germany right away? Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi,

I'm a CBYX Young Professional scholarship person in Germany right now. I would bring a suitcase (big and light as possible) and a large hiking pack for your checked luggage. Many people wished that they had bought a hiking pack because you tend to travel places and it is bothersome to do it with a suitcase. As for carry on, I had a duffle bag that weighed around 40 pounds. I had to pretend that it was light when I was walking onto the plane. If I were you, I would bring most of my stuff right away. I had some troubles with the customs office here in Germany. Also, pack everything you want to pack. Don't listen to people who say, for example, nobody wears horizontal stripes in germany so don't bring your horizontal striped shirts...LIE. Just remember that things are super expensive over here thanks to the dollar.

Answer 2

A little more info would be great! For instance: How long are you staying?, Where? With a host-family or as a group somewhere?

From experience (ok, I was German going to the US, and I stayed for almost a year each time) I would say: Bring as little as you possibly can with you, and do not get stuff shipped after you, unless you really forgot to bring it and can't get it here. Shipping is expensive, and most of the time, unneccessary.

Have fun packing! And welcome to Germany!