Re Packing

Well my little sister was kind enough to help me consolidate today for my packing and I'm rather happy about it. I'm also much calmer and more ready to go. Really looking forward to getting on the plane and really finally feeling independent and european. This is gonna be awesome. Really busy for the next few days (I figured that was better than sitting around bored.) Plane leave Detroit International Airport at 6:05 pm on Thursday, September 1st!!! Wish me luck! And just as a friendly reminder my address is....

Dana Weigel

3 Rue John Kennedy

38100 Grenoble

FRANCE

Wish me luck! I'm off.

Packing

So I finally packed everything up. I think I did pretty good.

1 medium sized suitcase
1 medium sized duffel bag
1 backpack (carry-on for the plane)
my laptop case

That's really not that much if you think about it. Gone for 5 months, moving from decently warm to full-on winter. And nothing's packed so tight it's about to burst open or anything. I didn't use the optional expandable thingys on either the suitcase or the backpack either, so there's plenty of room to bring back souvenirs... or a nice frenchman if he'll fit. lol :-p

So the weirdest thing about today? I'm leaving in exactly one week. At this time in 7 days I will be driving to Detroit, Michigan with my dad. I can look at a regular forecast and see what the weather will be when I leave or when I arrive in France. It's just really weird. Not sure I'm ready to go, but at the same time I'm so nervous and anxious I really just need to get on the darn plane and be gone. Thanks for all the comments lately guys. :)

Eurail Pass

YAY!!!!

Guess what just came in the mail!?! My Eurail pass! It's really exciting. It looks really really flimsy though. Dad said that for the money it should be gold-plated and mom suggested maybe we laminate it or something... But I don't care. 11 more days until I leave! Woohoo! Now I've just got to read all this stuff about the pass and figure out how in sam hill it works...

Back Home

I leave in 12 days. This is insanity. Everything has been ordered, it just needs to arrive and I need to get an adaptor/convertor kit for my two electronic items. Packing will start shortly and I'm sure my room will look like chaos until I leave. So much to do and so little time. I'll fit it all in. If you would like a postcard or anything from France make sure I get your address before I leave. Laters kids!

YAY!

Uber-exciting news (and yes, you are all completely entitled to hate me for using the prefix "uber")!! So we got our housing packets and I definitely got in with a family in Grenoble city center. Super excited about that! And we got an e-mail from CEA with contact info for all the people in our group going. So, being typical me, I e-mailed them instantly and have already talked to two on AIM. They're both really cool. Amanda, and Aileen. This is gonna be so much fun! More news to come soon. Keep reading... it's gonna get GREAT soon.

FREAK OUT

I leave for a country where I don't know anyone, I don't know the language particularly well, I don't know cultural norms or taboos or anything... and I'm going to be there for 5 months! Why did you people let me do this? Was I insane when I thought this was a good idea? And there's NO WAY I'm gonna be ready in time. I must have been momentarily out of my friggin' mind when I decided to do this! *hyperventilating continues*

Yeah... if you couldn't tell I'm kinda nervous and spazzing out about this. But in good news, my housing packet was mailed out. Though it's going to my house and I won't be there for another week. Oh well... panick attacks never killed anyone. That I know. Maybe. Crap.....

and the countdown has begun

Princess Dana is sad that no
one leaves comments and that she
knows jack about her housing
situation for France...
I leave in 24 days everyone! I can't believe it's that close. Right now I'm just waiting on housing information. As soon as I have it I'll put up some basic stuff here and individuals will get an e-mail with my address so you can send mail... and I better get some. lol If I get mail from you I promise to send something in return so you'll have one of those cool "Air Mail" envelopes (Par Avion en francais). I'm getting a little frustrated that I don't know anything about housing or classes yet, but I'll just suffer through it and move on. A week and a half of work left should keep me busy enough. Leave some love here people... SERIOUSLY!

Visa Advice

Hello again. Some quick advice for those of you applying for French visas. It only takes about a week. I overnight mailed all the paperwork to the embassy in Chicago on a Thursday and the following Thursday my passport, with visa inside, was back at my house. So don't freak out like I did about going there in person or anything.
In other news, I can't believe I leave the country in 21 days!!!!! I'm still not as excited and worked up as I thought I'd be. When I move out of my apartment and start packing and stuff like that maybe it will really hit. I don't know. Stay cool everyone! Laters.