So much angst...

Pre-flight jitters.  Pre-I'm-soon-going-to-be-in-another-country-by-myself jitters.
Blog synopsis:

"European Adventures" is an incredibly cliche title.  Please, no judgement.  However, this blog will in fact be just that: an account of my experiences in Europe.  For the next year, I'll be in Germany and anywhere else that a passport can take me (on slightly limited funds, of course).  Lord knows, I will starve myself to the bone as long as I can travel as much as conceivably possible. 

For all you Juniatians studying abroad now or in the future, this will also be a "what the Study Abroad Office doesn't tell you in those ridiculous study abroad meetings" blog.  Preparation is key. 

But, one thing I've learned so far:  being prepared and being ready for studying abroad are two very, very different things.

Preparation, of course, includes packing.  A few things (besides the obvious) that I would suggest bringing in your carry-on:

• a pocket-sized language dictionary (English to German/German to English; English to French/French to English, etc.  Barnes & Noble sells them cheap, as does Amazon.com)
• books...as many books as you can -- books are an amazing escape, and you can take them anywhere (I'm bringing Sex with Kings and Dune: the Messiah on the plane with me.  So stoked.)
• copies of your insurance card, social security card, military ID, passport, driver's license, birth certificate, verification of enrollment at college, etc.  (You never know when this information might be important.)
• iPod (Yet another amazing way to keep people from talking to you during plane rides.  :)  Just kidding.)
• two changes of clothes (Every site that I looked at for packing instructions says one.  I say two.  At least.  Airlines are awful at following through, and shit happens.)
• addresses of at least two hotels near your destination airport (Again, shit happens.)
• phone numbers of people you can contact if something goes awry (Maybe I'm being overly cautious, but it can't hurt.)
• and, if you really want to torture yourself, a picture of your family or friends (Reminding yourself that you have a solid, loving connection to any part of this world is incredibly reassuring, even when you feel completely alone.)
• and, of course, Xanax.  (Mwahahaha)

As far as for realz packing goes, that's up to you.  Bring clothes that aren't difficult to hand wash.  It might just come to that.  I would suggest dark pants (they look cleaner for longer), dresses (If applicable. They pack like shirts.  What a win.), a couple of t-shirts (I bought a six-pack of Hanes white v-necks.  They're simple, cheap, and you can throw them right in your suitcase.), appropriate shoes (I almost made my fingers bleed trying to fit all the shoes I chose into a suitcase.), at least one formal or business outfit, a few "damn, that's sexy" outfits, two sweaters, extra toiletries, more books, bedding (if you can fit it), a small sewing kit, and an alarm clock (I don't trust alarm clocks on phones).

Right now, I'm sitting on my porch, smoking a cigarette and looking at the town square.  Sort of masochistic, but no biggie.  There's a train passing, blowing its whistle (because trains like to do that sort of thing at 10:30 at night) and the river smells amazingly like dead fish.  And, it's fahreeeezing.  (Can I get some global warming?...)  Disturbingly romantic, I'd say.  But, I am going to miss it here so much.  Going away always makes me realize how much I love home, especially when I get back. 

Yeah...I think I'll get over it.  :)

Skype: greence09
Phone number: in progress

*warning to readers: This blog will contain copious amounts of seemingly uninteresting historical information.  (Europe has museums that are older than our country.  What can I do?)  A history major cannot not (double negative, I realize) write about history.  History is second only to breathing.  :)

Enjoy.  Respond.  Please, by all means, laugh.

Liebe Grüße