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For most people, leaving homeland for long can be a challenge. If you’re going through this process, consider packing these five items in your suitcase. They might mean more weight to the airline, but they will mean less murk to carry on your shoulders once you arrive to your new temporary home.

1. Your favourite book. These are like the safe people we return to whenever we are gloomy. Reflect on a certain date or season that gives you the blues and ask yourself, “What would I read then?” For example, Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger is a book that comforts me when I feel misunderstood or sad. Other beautiful titles that come to grips with the significance of loneliness are The Lonely City by Olivia Laing and Small in the City by Sydney Smith.
2. A friend’s gift. Since strong friendship is one of the things you will miss the most, remember to pack objects your closest friends made (or bought) for you. They can be artworks, toys, anything. As long as you deeply value them, these presents will work as good omens, creating a sense of safety when you wander the streets alone, even late at night. For this reason, I suggest that the tinier the gifts, the better, for you’ll be able to take your friends with you everywhere.
3. A collection of letters. Every now and then I handwrite a letter to a beloved uncle of mine, who passed away some years ago. When he was sick I sent him letters, and so when he died I decided I would keep sharing my thoughts with him. If you, too, have a set of handwritten letters that connects you to someone you love and loves you back, I advise packing some of them in your bag. They are emotional anchors.
4. One childhood possession. Although, most of the time, the blank feeling that comes when moving to a foreign country is exciting, sometimes it can get tricky. You can feel lost. It is then that objects from our past can create the illusion of having roots even when technically we don’t. Carrying one childhood possession can help us rediscover the courage that, when kids, allowed us to face the unknown.
5. A local snack. And last but not least, food! I firmly believe that people who love to eat associate food with feelings, alongside plain hunger or taste. If you also think a delicious meal has the potential to warm your heart, then bring your favourite local snacks with you. They tend to be not only very portable and tasty, but also one of the most universal recipes to fight a pang of homesickness✧