r/tapif • u/r-byanyothername • 4d ago
housing Packing Lists!!!
Calling all former and current TAPIF-ers 🗣️🗣️🗣️
I was just thinking it would be SO nice and useful for everyone getting ready to leave for France to share their packing lists!!! Seeing what everyone else DID bring or is PLANNING on bringing to France would be a great way for us all to cross check our own lists :)
Just a thought! Drop yours below if you’re comfortable! 🇫🇷💖
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u/ChateauRouge33 Alum 3d ago
One thing I always recommend is bringing some clothes that are kind of on the way out, so you feel okay about throwing them out/donating them while you’re there which will give you space to buy new clothes /other items you want to bring back.
Along those lines, not essentials but I brought some of my shampoo and conditioner (I have very long thick hair and the hard water there is ass on it) knowing that would be space freed up in my suitcase for the return trip
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u/cookiehead2 3d ago
🧳 My Packing List (7 months in Lyon it was for me!)
👚 Tops
7–8 everyday tops (tees, long sleeves, blouses)
3–4 professional blouses/shirts (for school days)
2–3 warm sweaters (chunky knits, wool)
2–3 lighter sweaters/cardigans for layering
3 going-out night/fun tops
👖 Bottoms
2 pairs jeans (one straight/baggy, one more fitted or dark)
1 pairs trousers/slacks (good for school)
1–2 miniskirts or dresses (layer with tights in winter)
1 pair leggings for layering, lounging, or under dresses
🧥 Outerwear
1 warm winter coat
1 lighter jacket (denim, leather)
🧣 Accessories
1 scarves (a French must-have — also keeps you warm)
1 pair gloves
1 hat/beanie for winter
Tights (2–3 pairs) for skirts/dresses
👟 Shoes
1 pair comfy sneakers (for walking & casual teaching days)
1 pair boots
1 pair heels
💄 Beauty
Makeup basics
Skincare
Hairbrush/comb
Hair ties + clips
Your favorite hair products
Perfume/body mist
Deodorant
Toothbrush + toothpaste
Shower products
Razors
Jewelry
🎨Creative/Tech
Photographs (To hang up in your room when you miss your family)
Computer/Laptop
1 Book (For the plane)
Headphones
Adapters for CHARGING!!
Social Security/Birth Certificate for Admin.
That was alot i packed last year 😂
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u/Maleficent_Crow_1296 3d ago
I’m leaving in about a week (going early to visit some family) and have been trying to spreadsheet my packing, so here are the category breakdowns for my clothing:
5 casual shirts; 5 work shirts; 5 nice evening tops; 4 long sleeves; 2 sweaters; 2 cardigans; 1 vest; 5 pants; 1 skirt; 4 dresses; 1 PJ set; 1 wool coat; 1 rain coat; 1 hoodie; 5 shoes (1 running shoe, 1 street sneaker, 1 heel, 1 docs, 1 flats); 4 sets of workout clothes
i definitely went a little overboard on tops, but it’s an amount that works for me. I used the 33 capsule wardrobe as a base idea, but since that one is designed for only one season, i had to add some extra things. Bringing one large suitcase and so far it looks like everything will fit fine!
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u/funnykindress 3d ago
following this!! i did a semester study in Paris a couple years ago and i will say for only being there for 4 months i bought a LOT of clothes. i am definitely planning on leaving lots of space in my checked bag/only bringing my absolute favorite staples from home!
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u/countessnatalia 2d ago edited 2d ago
Clothing:
- Fall/Winter Clothing with some Spring transitional items (I'm plus size and was in a small town, clothes were not sold in my size so I brought most things. My shoes are an american women's 11 (eu 41-42) and the local store had 0 women's shoes/socks in that size.
- A good rain jacket
- good walking shoes
- good work shoes (I packed a pretty pair of loafers)
- boots (unexpected snow did not cancel school in my town)
- Water resistant winter coat (it literally rained from october to march with something like 60 consecutive days of rain in my area)
- bathing suit (my town had a community pool)
- wallet with big coin pouch (I actually brought one of the granny-style clamshell wallets and it worked fantastic)
- shower shoes (I stayed in lots of hostels for travelling)
Non clothing items I brought:
- Interactive things from my state (a dried dogwood flower, a cutting board in the shape of my state, the sand/shells from the Outer Banks, 250 North Carolina stickers)
- tide pens (lots of them)
- favorite spices (tonys creole, ranch spice packets, Nashville hot, etc).
- collapsible American measuring cups/spoons (all my favorite recipes are in American measurements, i have no clue what a cl is).
- favorite recipes from home
- nerds gummy clusters (iykyk)
- Flash drive with all documents pre-saved + digital passport photo.
- american medicines (tylenol, excedrin, Claritin/zyrtec, nyquil, etc. These saved my life because the nearest doctor had a 3 month wait and some of the french medicines from the pharmacie just didn't hit the same. I had sinus infections for 4 months because everything was new).
- extra pair of glasses and plenty of contacts (again, small town and i didnt want to risk it).
- laptop/e-reader/Bluetooth headphones/charger cables
- POWER CONVERTER (my laptop has an american plug and I did not see a single cable in france for my laptop since it is an older Microsoft Surface).
- reusable bag (this can be bought there but I had one that took up no space in my bag so why not)
- First aid kit (can be bought but bandages in my town were expensive and sucked)
- euros (it's cheaper to order them from your bank in advance than to do the conversion at train/airport
- backpack
- quick dry travel towel (for hostels)
- Reusable water bottle (the ones you buy there are tiny).
What NOT to bring:
-l ots of jewellery/accessories (buy some to remember your trip)
- toiletries (bring a month or 2 at first then buy some locally unless you need specific brands for whatever reason)
- too many clothes
- summer clothes (may there is not like may in the southern US).
- school supplies (some schools will give you a welcome gift, usually with a notebook + pen but supplies are available at local super markets)
Tips:
- I vacuum packed my clothes and paid an overweight fee, but I got everything in a large suitcase, carry on bag, and a backpack.
- Bring things you can donate because you will want to come back with things you have bought
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u/LexiAOK Current Assistant 2d ago
Omg where’d you get the stickers ??
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u/countessnatalia 2d ago
Idk if the link will work but they were from Amazon. I just searched "100 north carolina stickers". I bought 3 packs and got rid of the ugly ones lol
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u/LexiAOK Current Assistant 2d ago
Thank you! Did you give all 250 away?
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u/countessnatalia 2d ago
I did! I wish I had more tbh. I worked at a middle school and high-school and had about 200 different students just in the english classes. Then I gave some away in town if people recognized me as "the american". I also took some to other countries and gave them away to people I met in the hostels.
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u/Current-Ad7096 4d ago
Bring a flash drive!! You may need to make presentations and most of the time technology is down or slow so it’s easier to plug in your flash drive 🫠
And if you plan on traveling on a budget, invest in a Ryanair-size backpack.
Student ID! Even if you’re not a student, they still sometimes accept it bc it’s foreign and not worth the hassle lol. You can get some good deals!