By Tiffeny Fields
Features Editor

When preparing to travel abroad there is much to do, and without preparation the task can be overwhelming. The best advice is to get organized early so you won’t be needlessly stressed when you should be looking forward to one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Get a passport. You can go to a courthouse or travel agency to apply for one, but allow plenty of time. If you wait too long you may not get one in time.

Go to http://travel.state.gov to find out if your destination country requires a visa, and call your local health agency to find out about any required immunizations.

Once you have a passport, start packing. Make a list and check off items as you pack Carry your list with you so you don’t leave anything behind when you return home.

Remember you are going on a trip, not moving. Pack lightly. Part of the fun of traveling is buying what you need when you get there.

Take lightweight and casual clothes and comfortable shoes for walking, and something for special occasions.

Carry essentials in your carryon in case your luggage is lost by the airline. If taking medications, have a written prescription from your doctor in case officials have any questions.

Take a camera and journal for recording your thoughts. You can buy a lead lined bag to protect your film from x-ray machines at airports.

Have the addresses of people you’ll want to send postcards to, and take postcards with your name and address on them to give to new friends you meet along the way. They are less likely to lose them and it will give them something to remember you by.

Most of all, remember to have fun and make the most of your experience abroad. Ask yourself, “Will I ever be here again?”

If the answer is no, don’t be shy about taking pictures or trying new experiences. You don’t want to get home and regret not buying a souvenir or going on an excursion into the countryside or a charming town nearby.

The summer abroad experience is yours to enjoy, so enjoy it.