Excess Baggage? Worry No More! Pre-Return Tips for Exchange Students
Living abroad for several months would undoubtedly result in the purchasing of many items, which we will use to meet our everyday or academic needs. For exchange students, returning to their home country is undoubtedly a sad experience. Moreover, taking care of some of the pre-return things is quite time-consuming. For example, owning a boarding pass is also necessary for us to prepare other documents, such as VISA, insurance, and other health documents.
Exchange students are often ignored regarding the pre-return preparation, which is estimating baggage allowances. Whereas, it is a crucial thing! Even though each airline has a different policy when it comes to luggage capacity. However, it is no less important for us to pay attention to and ensure that we do not overpay for extra luggage, something that everyone absolutely avoids. Well, here are some tips for dealing with, namely:
1. Thrift stores are the answer
Indeed some of us have ever felt bored with old clothes, or even felt that “why should I bring back again the things I brought from my home country?” But, then, thrift stores are the answers.
Besides the offline physical stores (that usually sell secondhand clothes) where we can directly hand over our unused items, we can also sell unused items on online buying and selling sites because certain websites serve as used goods transactions. We can “sell” unused items there, of course, in accordance with the regulations of each shop or site.
2. Time to donate!
Indeed, the aim is to minimize items as much as possible in order to reduce the possibility of carrying too much luggage. But what if it is meant to do a charity at the same time? Why not? In several countries, there would be an organization that stores used clothes, which will later be resold at a cheap price at the same company linked, and the proceeds from the sale will be used to fund social projects in various underdeveloped countries. For instance, Humana, a charitable company (which was originally a health company), which has a system; we come to the outlet, donate used clothes (but make sure they are still proper to wear), then the staffs will sort, after which they will be resold at the outlet.
Specific to certain countries where Humana’s outlets are operated, there are recycling containers. Usually located on the side of the road, so we don’t have to come to the outlet. All we need is just to pack the clothes into a plastic bag and put them inside the recycling container.
3. Sort, pack, and deliver
The next option is to use a shipping or cargo expedition service. In fact, paying this service fee is much more economical than paying excess baggage fees at the airport. Sort the items that you will supply. Make sure there is no food! Make those things, such as books or clothes, a top priority. The ease of administration at the immigration office when picking up the goods is determined by selecting goods to be shipped. Pack, you may either get the box from the expedition office or find it on your own.
DO NOT FORGET to take a personal note mentioning the goods you are about to ship; the total cost is also included. Do a small search about which expeditions can make international shipments, as well as with a good track record. Usually, shipments from abroad will automatically correspond with PT. POS Indonesia. The fee adjusts based on the service you choose. Service for the fastest delivery takes three weeks for shipments (from Europe to Indonesia); meanwhile, standard service takes up to 3 months. Afterwards, your goods are ready to be delivered!
4. Weigh your luggage yourself
This is the most conventional method but one that is very reliable. It takes a long time to package goods before returning home. Even for days, aren’t they? You can check it periodically to estimate the remaining capacity for your baggage. This should be done because AIRPORT DOES NOT PROVIDE THE LUGGAGE SCALE freely unless the one just before you load it up to be immediately put into the plane trunk. You can use a small luggage scale or outsmart it using a body scale.
Participating in a student exchange program will create an impact on your life because it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Make sure you explore a lot of things in the country you are based on! Consider “everyday is learning” so that you can take lessons from every event that you encounter. But remember, last but not least, your main goal, still, is to study. Follow the academic rules applied by the exchange university, be a proper student for both the exchange and origin universities.
About the author
Bingar Suhardi
Bingar is an International Program of International Relations student. Fond on European history and monarchy. A soon-to-be Royalist. A long-lifetime learner.