Narrowing down your possessions for a long trip can be difficult. The phrase “only pack the essentials” is very subjective. For you, the essentials might be t-shirts and face wash, but for me it more closely resembles boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese and a jar of peanut butter. Apart from advising you to bring underwear, socks, pants, etc., I have provided a list of 5 pieces of suitcase-packing wisdom I have acquired from my journey to Italy.

I brought one carry-on briefcase, one duffel bag, and checked my main bag. While I advise you to leave some space in your luggage for the new items you will most certainly acquire abroad, I did not follow this advice. Stay tuned in 11 months for my guide on “How to Take Everything Back to America That You Bought Abroad Because You Are a Compulsive Shopper.”

Here are my top 5 packing tips when preparing for a year abroad: