Last day in the USA

Alrighty now, today was my last day here before I embark on my journey. I will miss everyone so much and I don't think I realized it until right now. I want to thank all of my family and friends who have supported me throughout everything, without all of you I would have not been able to really go through with it. I board that plane tomorrow, and will update when I have my feet on the ground. I start High School on Wednesday August the 5th. So lets hope that I learn enough German between now and then to not be completely lost (haha yeah right). Oh well...

Today I went shopping with my mother and we bought a few odds and ends for my trip. I have a few tiny more things to pack and then I can say that I am finally done. ( And what a time I have had, its hard to fit your closet into just 3 bags) I am going to try and stay up as late as possible, so that way maybe I can sleep on the plane. My friend who is also named Amanda is leaving tomorrow. She is going to Denmark through the Rotary Exchange also, so I wish her luck, and a safe flight.

Well I am going to go finish packing so wish me luck!

..and the countdown says 5 days

Soooo, I leave in less than a week. It really doesn't bother me at this point. Everyone today at work was asking me: How nervous are you, are you scared, will you miss us? etc. And the truth is that yes I am nervous and scared, and I will fursure miss everyone, but I am so over being worried about this. If I obsess over it too much then I will over think it, and worry too much and cause a lot of heartache that is really unnecessary. I guess me not thinking about it is my way of not having to worry. Everything is done, and it would be stupid of me at this point to back out. I am going to have an amazing adventure, and I am not going to let over thinking ruin it.

So I have my very last German lesson today. Then I will be officially on my own. I want to thank Ms. Laumer for all of her help, she has been amazing. Helping me to really understand, and things that I will really need to know. Her patience was wonderful. Next year I will visit her and be able to really converse with her in German : )

So I am done packing, well I started a week ago actually. I didn't know what to take and what to leave. It is really hard to fit your closet into three bags, but I managed somehow. I don't really know what else to say... I might post one more blog before I leave, maybe, if not then my next blog will be from Germany!!!

~Amanda

Update

Alrighty I leave in 17 days, and that is right around the corner. My German tutor has been out of town these past two weeks so no German lessons for me. Actually I was supposed to study on my own, you can probably guess how that worked out xD. Anyways...I got my German visa so everything is done, and ready to go. I just need to buy a few things like a camera, glasses, a German 501 verb book, etc etc. All just menial items.

I have to give a presentation upon my arrival of all the things I wish to do or see while in Germany. So far my list consists of:

• Oktoberfest
• Love Parade
• Castle Tours
• Tour of Berlin
• Black Forest Visit

...And that is all I can come up with at the moment. I am sure I will get to do many things that will be fun. I guess that is all for now.

~Amanda

Pre-departure Anxiety

Okay so I have 29 days left before I leave. And right now my decision to be an exchange student doesn't look so good anymore. I am nervous about not knowing the language, about having to go to school and doing well in that school. I am scared about what people are gonna think about me, and whether I will make any friends. I know I will get homesickness, I just don't know how bad it will be. I have sooo many things that need to be done, and it feels like I won't be able to finish it all. I have questions like: Should I bring my cell phone or should I buy one there? What kinds of things do people my age do for fun? Will my host family like me? Will school be super hard, or is it easier than we think? I worry about what my family will do without me, will they miss me? What about friends? Will they still be here for me when I come back?..... Yeah so that's my current inner turmoil, I know that this is (will) be amazing and I am thinking too much. I just spilled my guts, so I think this is a good place to stop.

~Amanda