Tip: Pack Measuring Cups

Packing is overwhelming - especially when you have to live 3 months out of two suitcases. But, regardless of space, I've got something that should definitely make it into your suitcase.

Pack American measuring cups. At the Europahaus, our student housing in Vienna, we have kitchens. The cheapest and easiest way to eat most of the time is to cook for yourself. Additionally, usually several students will get together for a meal, and it becomes a great social time. At about six or seven everynight, the students will come down to the kitchen and cook together. Someone will make the main dish, someone will toss a salad, and someone will pour the wine. Daily adventures and stories are shared around the dinner table. That being said, in order to make this work, you actually have to cook. It is easiest to find recipes in English off the Internet or from an email from Mom. The only problem with this method is Americans use "cups" and Europeans use "grams" or "liters" to explain things. If you don't bring over any American measuring cups, you'll spend a lot of time doing weird conversions. And while it's not the end of the world, it's better to not have to deal with adding 5/17 of an ingredient.