4 days, 14 hours, and 22 minutes until my departure...

And what do you think I've prepared so far for my 4 months abroad?

This is what my room looks like:



This is my room. See that thing there? In the mess? Languishing in front of the garbage bag of clothes I will give to the Salvation Army and unused lamp and next to my overflowing bookcase and randomly placed broom? That is my suitcase. Those are my clothes. They are from when I got home from Vanderbilt...two weeks ago. I'd hire a personal maid if I had the money, but she'd (or he, I'm progressive) probably run away screaming. I am doomed.

Okay, maybe not doomed, just highly...inconvenienced (I lie). Going away to a foreign country is no place to bring a haphazardly packed suitcase, and I've looked forward to this for so long that I'd just be disappointing myself. It's just that I HAVE been looking forward for this for so long, that I can't possibly believe it's here so soon--I haven't hung out with my friends enough! I just got home! This can't be happening! Omg! AHHHHHH!!

Things Ada Needs to Do But Hasn't Yet:
-Get computer backup
-Check what stuff I need (no seriously, I have not done this yet. I'll probably end up going to Lord & Taylors for socks the day I leave.)
-Cash my last check from work--I need da rupees (as my friend Jane would say)!
-Make sure I have my departure plans neatly written down: I don't want to get stuck at Marseilles airport without directions how to get to Aix-en-Provence.
-Clean my room!
-Go to Brookstone to use up $$ from when I returned my Christmas gift (totally has nothing to do with actually going to France, but it's something that definitely needs to get done nonetheless)
-PACK!!!!! AAHHHH!!

To their credit, VIF totally has this study abroad stuff down, yo. I mean, I already have like, 2 20-page pdf manuals (one for general study abroad, and one for VIF), and they thoughtfully send me emails once in a while--here's how to get a taxi! Here are all the important phone numbers in case you need help! For the love of God, please don't bring your sorority t-shirts!! It's helpful. It makes me know they care. I've been re-reading them for the nth time to assuage my feelings of desperation and excitement--it's like I'm 6 years old again and it's the night before Christmas, and I can't sleep because I know Santa's coming, but will I get presents or not? I mean, it could be a lump of coal or a new Barbie but I don't care: it can't come soon enough, and I'm totally terrified, but completely freaking excited beyond all reason.
But yes, VIF--and Vanderbilt's study abroad office, GEO--is like some well-oiled machine. I don't have to worry about my Visa--they got that to me a couple months ago without my even having to go to the consulate--and they've even basically coordinated our arrival times with the VIF center in France. I'm happy that they've obviously had enough scatterbrained students like me to let them know how to prepare...so that's good.

Anyway, things will come together. I hope. I mean, they generally do, and at least I'm worrying about everything, right??


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What to pack, what to pack...

Since the little countdown widget on my computer now says "9 days, 15 hours, and 51 minutes until OMG I'M GOING TO EUROPE" and my room is still a mess of open suitcase, backpack, and clothes everywhere and my trunk is still downstairs waiting until I've cleaned up enough to lug it upstairs, I'm starting to get more and more antsy about what to bring--and more and more determined to make it as bare-bones as possible.

I'm no bushwhacker or hiker or anything, and I've never underpacked for anything EVER: it's usually somewhat an ordeal to get to and from Vanderbilt, since I usually have to bring my large suitcase, which means I tend to bring more stuff than I need. But this time, I'm going to make sure that whatever clothing I put out to bring, I take half. ...okay, maybe like, 2/3rds. And since I probably won't be doing any hiking (it'll be too cold, and I'd like to imagine myself more of an "urban explorer": I'd rather walk around a city all day than hike a trail, which is totally appalling in my family), that leaves out anything like hiking boots, lots of t-shirts, gym shorts, or intense sneakers (me, wear sneakers? Gym shorts? HA). So let's see what this means for my clothing situation:

-Black/dark clothes are KEY, and luckily I'm all set in that department: not only do they hide stains and dirt, but they can go with anything, and in any weather.
-Layerables: I'm not bringing my hardcore Northeasterner winter coat, so I'll need anything that I can layer, and that can be worn from season to season--I AM going to be there from the coldest of winter to spring, after all, and the south of France gets a blistering wind--the Mistral--in the winter, and has a beautiful balmy springtime.
-Shoes: 3 pairs: boots, sneakers/walking shoes, and sandals. I'll be wearing the boots on the plane, so I won't have to take up room. Cute shoes shall take a back seat...this time.
-2/3 pairs of pants: 2 pairs of jeans, max; and my black nice pants.
-Leggings and tights! They're warm and take up next to no space.
-1 black skirt
-Razors, deodorant: I'm not taking any chances.

Things I will NOT bring:
-Scarves: maybe 1 at the most, but since I've probably been told about 5 billion times that I will BUY SCARVES THERE, I'm going to take a guess that Aix is a pretty big scarf-town.
-Hats! I want me a real-time French beret, and I don't want any silly American hat taking up its space...unless it is my super-warm hunting cap, in which case I may make an exception, if I wuss out.
-Anything I barely wear at home: if I haven't found the time to wear it at home, then it doesn't deserve to come to France.
-Knick-knacks: I'm sure some super-girly Vandy girls will deck out their rooms like a Bed Bath and Beyond catalog, but I think I'm good without curtains or decor.
-Towels, shampoo, hair dryer, tooth paste: although the French may not have stick deodorant or Venus razors, I'm pretty sure Europe has progressed enough to use soap.
-More than 3 books: I know I will never read them.
-Bedding: they have it there.

And that's my resolution! Hopefully I'll stick to it...I want to be able to bring back more things than I brought with me!