Six days to go...

And I have just started packing. I actually started yesterday, but quickly ran out of steam.
Today I actually got most of it to fit into my suitcase, although tomorrow is going to be another overhaul... Pack, repack, and then repack again. I have my clothes and shoes all together, now I need to pack my more "non-essentials" like jewelry, toothbrushes, and various other miscellaneous items.
At the USAC meeting, one of the people said something useful. They said, put everything you want to take on your bed. Cut that in half. And then cut that half in half again. So a quarter of what you THINK you need is about right. She said people over packed all of the time and often kicked themselves later for it... so I need to go back through and do some fixin'!
I will tell you one little trick that REALLY saves on space:
Roll the clothes. Don't fold them, roll them into a nice little log, shove them into zip-lock bags, and squeeze all the air out. Your clothes might be a little more wrinkled, but they will take up MUCH less room. The only trouble then is packing things so tight so the suitcase gets very heavy.... like mine.
Oh well.
It took me all day today. Granted, I was going rather slow and took frequent breaks to sing Myspace Karaoke... Oh me, oh my, I am shameless. But do I care? No. Because I am shameless.

Being a week away from leaving is very stressful. I could give you all of the symptoms of my stress, but that is sort of disgusting, frankly, and is not necessary to give you idea of my stress. So, I will try to put it as politely as possible: I feel as if I were chewing hair and iron nails. Very weird, very disconcerting, very painful to the stomach.
I keep trying to get myself used to the idea that I will no longer be living here in a week. But I guess it's just like moving: You never really realize it until you do it. And then after you do it, it takes a while before you actually realize it. Phew. I am all sorts stressed out...
I try not to dwell too much on it.
Ah....
I finally recieved my Visa in the mail (victory dance). I can now enter and exit the United Kingdom as many times as I like between now and October 2010(victorious victory dance). Haha! I just realized something. My little sister will be 20 on 20/10/2010. Sweet!
Oh time... I think "Ten months..." and it holds no meaning. My mind can not comprehend the time lapse. My mind can not simply wrap itself around the fact that I will be living in another country for nearly a year. TEN MONTHS. Holy hell. I have lived in houses in different towns for less time than that. To spend that much time in one country! It's a dream come true, it really is. I just don't know exactly what to expect... obviously. I guess there's no real way to know what to expect. I mean, I know it will be good.
Wow. Six days.
Tomorrow I really need to definitely be finished packing my suitcase. The day afterwards, I need to have my backpack/carry on packed with all the essentials. Then, I need to read everything and get it all memorized the next day. Then, on Tuesday, I need to take care of my last little bit of official work at the U of I and get my dad's birthday present. On Wednesday, I have NO idea what I'm going to do! Go everything again... and Thursday, I leave.

Whew........
Ok, one day at a time. I'm freaking out (and so is my stomach) just thinking about it! I am so nervous! And that's the word... I am ALL nerves. And frayed nerves at that. Need to get some sleep!

Ciao yo!

Han