Hello! I’m Reba Brownell. I’m currently on week twelve of my semester abroad experience in Sevilla. I do not feel ready to leave yet, so I am so thankful that I still have a few weeks left to experience life in Sevilla! Today I will be sharing some advice on what to bring to Sevilla and (maybe more importantly) what not to bring. Of course, these are just my recommendations based off my experience during my Fall semester in Sevilla.
What to bring:
- A good raincoat and shoes that you can walk in the rain with – when it rains in Sevilla, it RAINS so you will be glad to have brought this! You don’t necessarily need to bring rainboots (though not a bad idea), but at least make sure that you have a pair of shoes that you would be okay with getting wet.
- Comfortable shoes for walking – when I came, I brought several shoes that I thought were moderately comfortable to walk in. Many blisters later I learned that since walking is a main form of transportation here, I truly only wear three pairs of shoes that are very comfortable. For me, they are my Hokas, my sandals, and my sneakers. Don’t mess around with semi-comfortable shoes as you probably will not wear them much!
- Something meaningful from home – for me this was a small picture frame and my favorite candle. While it obviously was a little extra to bring my candle from home, I knew that smelling it here would put me at ease. I light it every evening as I unwind from my day! This item could also be a coloring book, knitting things, a stress ball, a room spray, or a heated blanket.
- All medications that you need – this may seem obvious, but it can take quite a while to get contact lenses or medical prescriptions so be sure to start early on this process.
- A European style charging adaptor – it is nice to already have one, so you can charge devices as soon as you get to the European airports and don’t have to worry about your devices dying without access to contacts or boarding passes.
- If you are coming in the Fall, I recommend bringing LOTS of summer clothing. It is November and it still reaches 70 degrees every I am from Iowa, so I was thinking it would get cold in September, but I was very wrong! During August, September, and October, there were all 90 degree days!
My biggest recommendation is to not worry about what you don’t bring. I have found every single clothing item, toiletries, or office supply I have needed here. The shopping in Sevilla is amazing, so go light and plan to purchase some things here. For instance, I wish I would have brought more workout clothes here. However, I was easily able to find great workout gear here. You cannot predict everything that you will want here – but don’t stress because there are great stores!
What not to bring:
- Full size toiletries – whether you like fancy products or drugstore products, you will find it all here! Between Sephora, El Corte Ingles, Más, and Aromas, there is really everything that you need! To name a few basics, common brands such as Cetaphil, Crest, Dove, or Loreal are all sold commonly Just bring small travel size toiletries to get you through your first week or two in Sevilla.
- Unrealistic clothing options – while Sevillans generally dress more formally than in America, do not pack clothing that you just won’t realistically wear. If you are someone who regularly wears shorts and a t-shirt, I recommend you bring a few dressier items (a blazer, nice sweater, a skirt) if you want to try a new look in However, do not feel the need to completely switch up your everyday style unless that it something fun for you! Some days I wear a skirt and blouse while other ways I wear athletic shorts and a tank. While I might not look like a local on the days, I dress casual, I feel comfortable and there is value in that too.
- A lot of food – if you have a favorite snack, you know you will miss, feel free to bring that and certainly bring snacks for traveling but do not fill your suitcase with snacks. I am a huge snacker! I love goldfish, fruit snacks, animal crackers, and vanilla wafers. While I miss these snacks as I have not found them here, I have found other snacks here that I also love! Your semester abroad is a great time to try Spanish snacks – chocolate croissants, crackers, cheeses, fruit, Also, many name brands items can be found here too – Oreos, Kind bars, or Ritz Crackers.
I hope this helps you prepare to pack for your semester in Sevilla!
Reba Brownell
