Pre-Departure; 13 Days

Less than two weeks to go! It's strange, the likelihood that I am not able to go for whatever reason is slim, but I still have this feeling that it's not real. I assume that once I get on the plane it will be, but until then, I have a feeling I can't shake that something could still go wrong. For me, this opportunity is so surreal that I can't help but doubt if it is all true (as corny as that may sound it seriously feels that way). None-the-less, many things are coming together that make this more believable.

I got IES's (the organization running my program, it stands for the International Education of Students) final mailing giving me details such as the program's schedule, last minute check-lists, and also my apartment's address in Freiburg. I have already spent hours googling the area to find out what is "in der Nähe," looking for grocery stores, banks, the light-rail line, etc. The location while two miles from the downtown IES center is in a nice area and right next to the same light-rail line ("Straßenbahn" in German) that goes through downtown and straight to SC Freiburg's Soccer stadium on the city's East side.

Many things keep the pre-departure excitement up but there are also mounting questions/concerns I have that make me a little nervous. This past semester was the first where I had to cook for myself. It could have turned out worse, but my menu was pretty unoriginal and not too nutritious either. Eating the right foods will be even harder I expect while in Germany, so I'm hoping to have some roommates that can teach me new recipes or it may be a rough first month. Packing is also a major concern. I have to be prepared for some varying climates over the 5-6 months that I am over there as well as the need to dress formally on certain occasions when we are at various European Union, NATO, UN or World Bank institutions. 

So much to think about and remember! However right now Christmas is at the center of my attention, and until that is complete and my family returns from South Dakota my focus will not be 100% on studying abroad. Come December 29th, it's crunch time!!