What should I prepare for studying abroad?

How should I prepare for studying abroad in England?

• From September to January. Clothing advice? Money - amount & exchange rate (from USD to Pounds?) Traveling on spare time? Weekend fun? Etc. Whatever you can think of, that would help. I don't know where exactly I'll be studying, but this helps as of now. Thanks in advance.

• Answer:

  The temps Lucy mentioned are in Celsius, so be aware of that. When she says -5, if you're from New Hampshire, that's not going to seem particularly cold at all. It's only about 23 degrees F. Of course, if you're from Phoenix, it'll seem quite cold. It's all relative. Things in the UK are more expensive than they are in the US, for the most part. For example, if you went to buy a sandwich, you'd expect to spend about twice what you'd spend in Boston, for the same sandwich in London. But outside of London, the costs are lower. You want to try to pack as little as possible, so you don't have to drag it from Heathrow to Alnwick. That said, the tourist guide books I suggest, below, will give you some guidance on what you do need to bring with you. Most important is to bring any medications or specific brands of toiletries that you can't live without, as such things may or may not be available in the UK. For example, you'll certainly find lots of really nice shampoo, but it may not be the brand you love, and if you're married to that particular brand, bring a bottle with you. You can find currency converters online. For example: http://www.xe.com/ucc/ I'd suggest you get a student travel guide book, like the Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, or Time Out guides to the UK. Those will help you now as you prepare, and while you're there, as you plan to travel. For now, you can get an idea for Alnwick here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnwick It's a small town nearish to Scotland. That means it's closer to Edinburgh than it is to London. Happily, there is a rail station in town, so you can take a train to other places. The trains in the UK are nicer than those in the US, and they run more frequently. While you're in Alnwick, you should definitely do trips to Edinburgh, which is one heck of a town, and to London, which is one of my favourite cities in the world.