preparations, take 2.

Countdown to Ireland: 2 days

I may actually be counting wrong, but what the hell, if it lights a fire under my ass and gets me going, I'm fine lying to myself.

Yesterday I sat down and I read all about Preparing to Study Abroad.  It's this little booklet that Butler sent us months ago, which I didn't read and proceeded to lose, which isn't online, and is apparently super important.  It really should be online, but the good news is that we found it and I read it.  I'm not as nervous anymore.  They told me things that would be problems that I force onto myself at Oberlin anyway.  Like, for example, that my Irish professors probably won't be as accessible or willing to help out in a pinch.  Okay, so I'll admit that I'm was kind of an extension junkie last year, but I didn't ask for any this semester!  And I never (if I can help it) visit a professor's office hours, so I think I'll be okay on that front.  I'm much better working individually, independently anyway.

And another problem that was mentioned was drinking killing your budget.  Well, I don't plan on drinking myself silly.  I'm not going to slam any doors and say I won't have a few beers while I'm over there... although, I'll probably just have sips of friends' stuff, because, let's get real, I could never finish a beer even if I wanted to.  They just don't taste very good, and I'm something of a five-year-old when things don't taste very good.

Since I'm not you're typical college student, they didn't really call problems what my problems will be.  Like, for instance, the fact that Irish students study during the day and socialize at night.  I'm fine studying during the day, because, well, I sleep at night.  I'm worried that it'll be like Oberlin, except worse, when it comes to my sleep schedule alienating me from the rest of the group.  Errgh how frustrating!

Apparently, I'll get to do a homestay for a few days, too, which will be really nice.  I think that's the best way to experience a culture, and maybe I won't be as nervous if I don't have to speak German, you know?  I won't have to rely as much on the point-and-go method, and when I meet people, I won't have to apologize about my language skills for the millionth time... Hopefully the homestay is something I'll really be able to take away from and have a contact in Ireland afterwards!

Okay, mom wants me to start limiting my Internet time (understandably) so that I have more time to pack.  On the agenda today is:

Packing (or at least gathering)
Skating from 6pm-8:45pm or 1:30-2:45pm, whichever happens to be most convenient
Haircut @ 12:45pm
Buying books to read on the plane
Buy a camera
Narnia w/ Amy & Co

Let's do this thinggggg!!!

preparations.

The countdown continues: 4 days.

I'm a bit, incredibly nervous about this whole endeavor.  I haven't packed, don't know what to pack, don't know where to start packing, probably won't start packing until the night before my trip.  I thought that 10 days at home was going to be enough to do everything... to clean my room, figure out what was going on with this Ireland trip, tame the evil snake, master a layback spin (haha, not gonna happen!), see everyone... Turns out I haven't started my room, don't know up from down where this trip is concerned, was bitten four times by the evil snake while helping HELPING it shed, can barely lift one foot while I spin, and might not get to see everyone before I leave.  Huh, and here I thought I was good at managing my time.

Well, anyway, I ran into Felicia at the mall and she gave me her Irish phone number, so I at least have a bit of support for my first fumbling steps into the Éire.  For those of you who don't know, I danced with Felicia at Shanahan for a super long time, and we were a part of the Daughters of Erin together.  We hadn't talked for a super long time, but it turns out she's going to NUIG as an international student!  I'm really excited to have her there, but...

When I look at pictures of Ireland, I get excited.  When I think about going to Ireland, where I've heard the boys are assholes, where I've heard it's difficult to meet anyone without drinking, where everyone is probably too cool for me, I want to cry and back out.  I've got enough on my plate trying to conquer my insecurities at Oberlin.  I feel accomplished enough with all the gains I've made at Oberlin.  I don't need to try all this in another country, you know?  But I'm going to do it, and do you know why?

I'm not going to Ireland to get a boyfriend.  That's the most ridiculous part about how nervous I am.  And I'm not going to Ireland to stress out.  I do enough of that at Oberlin.  I'm going so I can be in a beautiful place, learning about a magical culture, and if all my romances about Ireland get torn to shreds, what the hell?  It's all an education at Oberlin has taught me... from the American West to the Founding Fathers, there's no hero without a villain inside.  If I don't make any friends, it won't be something I don't know how to deal with.  I've done things on my own before, and if I have to go on Spring Break without anyone, who cares?  I have friends in Europe, so there.

If Oberlin didn't break me, Ireland sure isn't gonna.  I'm just nervous, and even though I know I'm going to be okay, I can't help how I feel.

this is just a test

I just got home from Oberlin--exams, tearful goodbyes, and packing the reptiles into the car along with all my stuff kept me from doing this sooner, but behold!  As my first step in preparing for a semester abroad, I have created a blog that everyone can see.  Prepare for pictures and ramblings, but, for now, just a brief "Hello" to the wide, wide world of unoriginal blogs.

My plane leaves for Ireland in ten days.  Keep 'hold of your hat, folks.  We're gonna end up miles from here.

Goals:
Perfect the layback spin at the rink.
Clean my room.
See everybody.
Create a budget.