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Best Friend Essential Gear For Men For Women Going Away Moving Abroad

10 Things to Buy Before Studying Abroad

So you’re getting ready for your very first study abroad experience? Congratulations! While we are sure you’ve got your study abroad packing list ready with all the necessary items, there are always a few essentials that get overlooked. So, with suggestions from those who have studied abroad before, we’re covering a list of things to buy before studying abroad so you’re ready for anything!

Things to buy before studying abroad

1. Specific Hair Products

There are certain items that are simply smart things to get before studying abroad – your specific hair products are some of these items. Why? Because hair products are different around the globe. If you have a particular item that is tried and true for YOU, you will miss it when you’re caught in a more humid, or more dry, or more wet climate without your fav hair gel/spray/oil/etc. Why take the time to figure out what local products will work for you, when you already have a trusted product you can bring along. 

2. Deodorant

When you study abroad, it can take time to figure out which stores to shop in and what products to buy. Or maybe you are studying abroad in a more remote location where certain “luxury” items will be hard to find. That’s why you don’t want to leave the US without ensuring you have enough quantity of crucial items to last you at least your first month. An example of one of the most crucial items to buy: DEODORANT! 

3. A Breathable Rain Jacket

You will likely come across different weather patterns during your time abroad, but you don’t have the space to pack a variety of coats and jackets for each temperature. So pick something versatile like a breathable rain jacket. It can be worn for windy days, cool evenings, rainy weather, or even layered over heavier sweaters and jackets as needed. 

» Columbia Jacket for Women // Men

4. A Durable Backpack and Daypack

Rolling luggage items aren’t always suited for a study abroad trip. Often you’ll be going on different excursions or weekend trips to make the most of your time abroad. That’s why a very essential thing to buy before study abroad is a durable backpack, plus a smaller daypack to carry important items with you instead of leaving them in the hostel. 

» Check out our list of great backpacks for study abroad, too!

5. Host Family Gifts

If you will be staying with a host family or have a specific academic advisor you’ll be assigned to, American themed gifts that you can bring with you are smart things to get before studying abroad. You’ll want to share with them a bit of your home country as well, and offer a token of your appreciation for all that they’ve done for you.   *link to article about host family gifts?

Don’t forget a goodbye gift for your host family, too!

6. A pair of comfy and versatile shoes/sandals

A study abroad packing list is not complete without having a solid pair of versatile and comfy shoes or sandals (or both). We aren’t talking about a good pair for walking, another good pair for nights out, another good pair for the beach. We are talking about one or two pairs of shoes or sandals that will cover all of the above! Especially needed for those weekend getaways. 

» Chacos are great, and so are Tevas

7. A pack (or two) of face/body wipes

Let’s face it, when you travel, you get dirty. Falling asleep on planes, using the window as a pillow on trains, overnights in cabins with barely clean water supply….you’re going to want a way to keep your face and hands (and maybe even body) clean! Make sure to buy your favorite face wipes, hand wipes, body wipes, whatever wipes you need to help you stay hygienic while you travel. 

8. Clothing you can layer

When you live in a different county, you can never be sure about the weather and how you will adjust to it. If you don’t already have clothes you can easily layer, now’s the time to get some. Leggings (or thermal underwear if you’re going somewhere cold!), tanks, tees, button or zip up sweaters, and at least one good hoodie are all things you need before studying abroad. 

9. Other specific toiletries you can’t imagine going weeks without 

Really think about this. What would you cry over if you land in a place and the local supermarkets or corner stores don’t stock your needed toiletries? These are the other crucial items to buy. Typically the list might include feminine hygiene products (especially tampons), medicated products, products for sensitive skin, or even toilet paper.

10. A comfort item

Homesickness is a bit inevitable wherever you go. No matter how much fun you are having, there will always be a few nights where you are missing the comforts of your own home. So bring a comfort with you – maybe a very American food item or sweet, your go-to movie or book, a small photo album of your favorite people — anything that can cheer you up like a good familiar hug would. 

Your study abroad packing list is just getting started!

Besides your standard packing list, we hope we helped you figure out all the essential and overlooked things you need before studying abroad! And who knows, you may even find some new favorite items in your host city or town that you’ll want to bring back. So make sure to leave a little space in your luggage for the return trip home 😉

To recap, here’s our list of things to buy before studying abroad:

  1. Specific Hair Products
  2. Deodorant
  3. A Breathable Rain Jacket
  4. A Durable Backpack and Daypack
  5. Host Family Gifts
  6. A pair of comfy and versatile shoes/sandals
  7. A pack (or two) of face/body wipes
  8. Clothing you can layer
  9. Other specific toiletries you can’t imagine going weeks without
  10. A comfort item

» Shop more essential study abroad gear

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Best Friend For Men For Women Moving Abroad

12 Good Going Away Gifts

Is your friend or a family member going away soon? They always get you something when they visit you and you are probably thinking about what some good going away gifts there are. We’ve got your back, my friend. We have done the research for you and found 12 amazing gifts for someone moving abroad. Choose for yourself, which is the best one that fits your friend or family member. 

Really good going away gifts

1. Photo Frame with Customizable Letters

MELANNCO Customizable Letter Board with 8-Opening Photo Collage, 19-Inch-by-17-Inch, Black

When it comes to moving away gifts, something customizable and affordable is better than something very expensive. This photo frame with customizable letters lets you add a message for your friend or family member which makes it more personal. You can find the best pictures you have together and add an inside joke that only you two understand. Hats down, this is one of many great farewell gift ideas for friends. 

2. A New Travel Backpack

Osprey Porter 46 Travel Backpack

Travelling can sometimes be very expensive. Traveling equipment can be too. If you know that your friend is traveling on a budget, why not get him or her a very nice new travel backpack. This way you get them a thoughtful gift which helps them out a little bit. The bag will remind them everywhere they are, that they have a good friend to always come back to. 

3. Pimped Out Air Travel Sleep Kit

Pimped Out Air Travel Sleep Kit

This gift is the perfect gift for friend going abroad for studies. They have a long flight ahead of them and they need to get some good sleep before they land on their new place. The pimped out air travel sleep kit doesn’t only have a neck pillow, but eye masks and earplugs as well. This travel sleep kit will help them travel more comfortably and they will be so thankful for it. 

4. Apple AirPods

Apple AirPods with Wired Charging Case

We cannot leave Apple Airpods out of our good going away gifts list. It’s time for your friend to replace their old headphones with their new just received gift. Apple Airpods can be one of the best gifts for someone moving abroad. This gift will make their day, every day! They can listen to music on the go, and even call you on the move. You don’t want to miss the expression on their face when they get this gift. So, what are you waiting for? 

5. A Turkish Travel Towel

A Turkish Travel Towel

Your friend will probably visit the beach while they are traveling. If not the beach, then they can use this gift when going to the hotel’s pool, sauna, or yoga class. I am talking about this beautiful Turkish travel towel which is 100 % cotton and has a very unique design. Because it is very thin, it doesn’t take up space in your friend’s luggage. They will have something to remember you by and also something very beautiful to use daily. 

6. Airbnb Gift Card

Airbnb Gift Card

An Airbnb gift card is one of the best good going away gifts. It is a perfect gift for any occasion. Your friend will be so glad that you saved them a little bit of money, because like I said earlier, traveling can sometimes be expensive. 

7. Fujifilm Instant Camera

Fujifilm Instant Camera

All those beautiful places that your friend is going to visit have the right to be always remembered. Taking pictures has become so easy lately. We just grab our phones and snap! But how often do we look at them, except for the ones we post online? Not quite often. Buying your friend a Fujifilm instant camera will help them save their best travel memories forever, even when they forget their iCloud password. 

8. Spotify Subscription

Spotify Subscription

Everyone deserves to listen to their favorite music when traveling. This gift is just the thing that your friend needs. A Spotify Subscription will make their travels more fun and exciting. This way they will never get bored on a plane, train or bus because they have their music with them. 

9. Travel Slippers

Snoozies Skinnies & Travel Pouch | Purse Slippers for Women | Travel Flats with Pouch | Womens Slippers On The Go

After a long day of traveling and exploring their new place, your friend will need this next gift from our good going away gifts list. Travel slippers will make everyone happy. They are a very affordable gift, but very thoughtful at the same time. They are very comfortable and come in different colors. Your friend doesn’t have to worry if they get dirty, because they are fully machine washable and won’t shrink! 

10. Tripod Selfie Stick with Bluetooth Remote

Tripod Selfie Stick with Bluetooth Remote

If you ever traveled somewhere, you know it is hard to find someone to take a good picture of you. This is one of the biggest problems that someone who travels faces. Your friend can’t just take selfies all time. A selfie won’t capture the entire view, so this tripod selfie stick is the best gift for someone who loves taking pictures while traveling.  It has a Bluetooth remote, which you can connect to different devices. 

11. Packing Cubes

AmazonBasics 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set - 2 Medium and 2 Large, Blue

Packing becomes so messy. Your friend doesn’t know what to take and what not to take with them. They probably have lots of stuff which they need to separate in different areas. I think these packing cubes will help them out. They are affordable and a great gift for someone who is traveling somewhere for a long time, and they need more stuff than usual. With these packing cubes, their things won’t get messy, and your friend will appreciate it. 

12. Custom Pint Glasses

Can Glass Set - Rocky Mountain National Park Topographic Map

At the end of a long traveling day, your friend will need a drink. These custom pint glasses will come in handy. They are a stunning hand printed set of glasses that feature a section of Rocky Mountain National Park. If they visited this park, even better! They won’t only have something to remind you of, but it is also a great memory for their visit to this park!

What other farewell gift ideas for friends did we miss? 

What do you think about these 12 gift ideas for your friend or family member who is going to travel soon? Which one of these are you going to choose? To be honest, they are all great gifts, and I am sure that they will love whatever you choose for them. 

To recap, here is our go-to list for gifts for someone moving abroad:

  1. Photo Frame with Customizable Letters
  2. A New Travel Backpack
  3. Pimped Out Air Travel Sleep Kit
  4. Apple AirPods
  5. A Turkish Travel Towel
  6. Airbnb Gift Card
  7. Fujifilm Instant Camera
  8. Spotify Subscription
  9. Travel Slippers
  10. Tripod Selfie Stick with Bluetooth Remote
  11. Packing Cubes
  12. Custom Pint Glasses

Keep reading »

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Moving Abroad

7 Great Gifts for Someone Moving Abroad

These days, it seems almost everyone has a friend studying/working/traveling/living overseas. (Maybe even a friend you met abroad and never lost touch!). Receiving gifts from friends back home lets them know they are still loved and thought about no matter the distance. Maybe you want to make your friend’s birthday special even if you aren’t there, or maybe your BFF is making a short visit home after one year away, or maybe you gave up waiting and decided to hop on a plane to visit them. No matter what the occasion, we’ve found some great gifts for someone moving abroad. 

The best gifts for someone moving abroad

1. Airline Gift Card

Southwest Airlines Gift Card

An airline gift card makes a great gift for anyone who likes to travel, but it makes an even better gift for long distance friends! It’s time to give your friend a hint that it has been way too long since your last hang out by covering (part of) the cost for their flight back. Especially good as a long distance friendship gift if “home” is no longer the same place for you, too. They’ve already booked one flight, but they may need an extra flight to come see you – with an airline gift card you can make that happen! 

2. Portable Printer

Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer

If you need a gift idea when visiting friends abroad, look no further than this portable printer. You will have snapshots of your memories literally at your fingertips in seconds! It’s travel size, compatible with android and iOS, and prints 2” x 3” sticky back photos. Just download the app and print over bluetooth from your phone and social media accounts. Even if you aren’t going for a visit, these make gifts for someone moving abroad if they love to share photos.

3. Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera

Fujifilm instax Mini 9 Instant Camera

Another FUN gift idea when visiting friends abroad – a compact instant camera for selfies and photo shoots galore! Prints roughly 2” x 3” polaroid-like photos and comes with a pack of film sheets for 20 photos. You’ll both end the trip with photo memories to take home with you, and she’ll have a camera to use on your next visit too 😉 

4. Virtual Games to Play Together

The Jackbox Party Pack 3

We know, we can’t take long gaps without communication either. These interactive long distance friendship gifts not only help to fill those gaps, but make them way more entertaining, too! This Jackbox Party Pack comes with 5 virtual games that can be played with up to 8 people at a time. It’s an app to be downloaded (so no shipping required) and can be played on phones, tablets, or computers.

5. Custom Location Coordinates Rings

Custom Location Coordinates Ring Dainty Coordinates Stackable Band Latitude Longitude Ring

Your friend isn’t just studying abroad, she is MOVING overseas. Time to break out the best friendship rings on the planet. These coordinate rings are adorable gifts for long distance friends. Choose between a sterling silver, 18K gold, or rose gold finish, and customize with hand engraved coordinates or symbols. Swap coordinates so she’s still always “with” you, or pick a spot that holds special meaning for you both.

6. Airbnb Gift Card—Or Choose a Virtual Airbnb Experience to Do Together!

Airbnb $50 Gift Card

Since Airbnb is so commonly used, an Airbnb gift card makes perfect sense when it comes to gifts for someone moving abroad. While the gift card can only be shipped within the US, it can be used internationally with the card number number and code (can be added to your friends Airbnb account). OR get creative and use the gift card as an interactive long distance friendship gift! Airbnb offers virtual experiences you’ll be able to watch/learn from/adventure through together.  

7. Smartphone Camera Lens Kit

Olloclip Multi-Device Clip with 3-in-1 Essential Lens Kit

Do you have a social media influencer/travel blogger friend? Or someone who just LOVES good pics? This camera lens kit works great as gifts for someone moving abroad who want to step up their smartphone photography game. Compatible with most devices and camera apps, the portable clip offers 3 different lenses and works well with video, time-lapse, live-broadcasting, and panorama, too. Plus a bonus bluetooth wireless remote makes for an easy click. 

What other personal or interactive long distance friendship gifts did we miss?

Whether you need a gift idea when visiting friends abroad or long distance friendship gifts while you’re apart, we hope we covered it all with these 7 gift ideas. No matter what you choose as your gift idea for overseas friends, they will be immediately filled with absolute joy hearing from you. As they say, “close together or miles apart,”…friends are forever in the heart! 

Here’s a recap of our the best gifts for someone moving abroad:

Shop more gift ideas for friends moving abroad »

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Moving Abroad

11 Ideas for a Going Away Gift for a Friend Moving Overseas

Scrolling through your Instagram feed today generally leads to accounts posting pet pictures, glamour food shots, or friends posting enviable travel photos, but when a friend decides to move overseas to study abroad or start a new career, they will need a lot more than a suitcase of Insta-worthy outfits. 

Choosing a going away gift for a friend moving overseas can be challenging. You have to consider climate, the living situation, and of course, you want it to be personal. Here are some helpful tips to buy meaningful gifts for someone moving abroad.

11 awesome gifts for someone moving abroad

1. TSA-Approved Travel Backpack

TSA-Approved Travel Backpack

Travelling overseas means planning for TSA checkpoints. Depending on the country your friend is travelling to, there may be a few layovers and more checkpoints. Choose gifts for someone moving abroad that provide style and function with a leather backpack. A backpack allows for packing away valuable items like laptops and tablets (pro tip: confirm first that it’s TSA compliant!).

Backpacks today also come with built in radio frequency identification (RFID) and ez scan that allow you to pass through checkpoints without having to remove any electronic devices, saving your friend a lot of time. This backpack comes in three leather colors to match any outfit!

2. Universal International Travel Power Adapter

universal power adapter

Power outlets in the United States let out a higher wattage of power than those in European and other countries. A universal international power adaptor is a great gift for a friend moving away because they can charge their phone, laptop, or tablet and stay in touch more easily. This power adaptor is highly rated on Amazon and comes with one USB-C port, three USB ports and one universal AC socket, which allows for five devices to be charged simultaneously.

3. Travel Space Saver Bags

Travel Space Saver Bags

Moving anywhere involves a lot of packing, so travel space saver bags are a helpful going away gift for a friend moving overseas. These bags are easy to use and do not require a vacuum to remove the air. They are sold in packs of nine and shrink the volume of luggage down by 75 percent optimizing suitcase capacity.

4. Personalized Journal

Personalized Journal for friend moving overseas

Give a personalized going away gift for a friend moving overseas. A personalized journal is a meaningful gift that allows your friend to write everything from packing lists to how their trip is going. Relying on cell phones and technology has become so common, but it can be more meaningful to write important events or information down.

5. Hair Brush and Money Stash

Hair Brush and Money Stash

Traveling alone can be intimidating. Providing your friend a sense of security is one of our go-to going away gift ideas. This functional hairbrush is an inconspicuous way to prevent outside attention from strangers while safely stowing away some emergency cash. It can also fit other smaller, important items and can easily be packed in carry-on luggage. Money stashing items are becoming more popular, so even if a hairbrush would not work, items like water bottles and picture frames have also been updated to include small spaces to stowe away some extra cash.

6. Meaningful Keychain

keychain gifts for friends moving overseas

Regardless of living arrangements, your friend is going to have new keys. A meaningful keychain makes a personal going away gift for a friend moving overseas. Keychains can also be used for USB drives, small flashlights, bottle openers, and Swiss army knives. Since keychains are inexpensive gifts, you could also consider giving a Swiss army knife or other attachment along with it as a package-gift for a friend moving away.

7. Travel Sweatshirt

travel sweatshirt for friend moving overseas

Give a cozy going away gift for your friend moving overseas. Having a collection of staple pieces of clothing and different layers is important to consider when trying to condense and move a wardrobe. A sweatshirt makes a great top layer when traveling. Choose something fun that reminds you of your friendship. Who says a practical gift can’t also bring sentiment?

8. Travel Scarf

travel scarf

Many clothing and accessory companies include scarves and infinity scarves in their fall and winter collections, but some materials are better quality and better for the environment. This infinity scarf is made from a soft, sustainable bamboo material. Like the hairbrush, it is also made with a secret pocket for stashing away a passport, quick cash, or anything else needed on hand when traveling. These are eco-conscious gifts for someone moving abroad that are sustainable, fashionable and functional.

9. Phone Charging Passport Holder

Phone Charging Passport Holder

Traveling anywhere out of the country requires a passport. Instead of choosing a passport holder that simply holds a passport, choose one that is multi-functional. A phone charging passport holder rocks as going away gift ideas because it provides another way to stay connected. This passport case can charge a cell phone and still has room for a passport, some cash, a boarding pass, and some cards.

10. Parka Jacket

parka jacket for traveling

Depending on where they are traveling, a parka is a good going away gift for a friend moving overseas. A quality coat is an important staple, and seasons are likely to change when living somewhere for an extended period of time, so it is important to pack lots of varying layers.

11. Foot Rest Hammock

foot hammock for travel

Pillows are the obvious choice for plane travel, but foot hammocks help with blood flow when traveling far distances in a plane. They are a good gifts for someone moving abroad because they prevent stiffness and swelling during long flights. Foot hammocks are easy to include with carry-on luggage because they are easily foldable.

Buy a meaningful going away gift for a friend moving overseas

Traveling anywhere for an extended period of time is a major decision and transition in someone’s life. Selecting a going away gift for a friend moving overseas should be both thoughtful and practical. Making such a far move, your friend will likely have to downsize their lifestyle. While paring down will become important, choosing items to pack that have meaning will become more important. Ultimately, whatever you choose will bring sentiment and nostalgic memories because it is from you.

karen doerfer

Authored by Karen Doerfer

Karen manages communications for a local environmental non-profit in New Jersey.

When she’s not creating digital content, she enjoys hiking with her two dogs.