Last Day and Packing

Today is my last day in Hillsborough. Wow. Where has the time gone? It feels like just yesterday I was freaking out about finishing my application. Now, in a few short hours I will be leaving my home, family, and friends for a year of adventure and self-descovery in Germany. I absolutely can not wait to begin my year in Germany but it is also very sad to be leaving everything I have ever known behind. It still hasn't fully sunk in yet that I'm leaving, it feels very surreal even though most of my things are already packed up. Speaking of packing, it has not been as hard as I thought it would be. I'm not bringing very much, just enough to last me until I can buy some new things that fit better into the German style. Also, I have decided to check two 28 inch suitcases instead of one, along with my carryon and backpack. In my carryon I have everything that I need for Pre Departure Orientation in D.C. so that I do not need to open my big bags until I get to Germany. In the first of my checked bags, I have everything that I will need during language camp. It is all lighter weight clothes that will be comfortable during our three week language camp at Schloss Wittgenstein in Bad Laasphe when we first arrive in Germany. In my second checked bag I have all of my heavier clothes and shoes that I will not need until the weather starts to get cooler. I also have all of my extra toiletries and miscellaneous items. I decided to check two bags instead of one so that I can fill each one about halfway on my way to Germany so that I have a lot of room left so that I can bring things back with me after my exchange year. I think this is better than only bringing one bag and then having to ship things at the end of the year because checking a second bag is a lot cheaper than shipping and it also gives you a greater space and weight allowance than shipping does. Well, I'm going to go finish the last of my packing now and go drive around Hillsborough and Chapel Hill one last time and spend some time with my family. This may be my last post for a little while because Pre Departure Orientation in D.C. is going to be very busy and I don;t know if I will have time to write a post. Also, we are going to have very limited internet access at language camp. I will try my best to write a post in both D.C and at language camp to update everyone on the beginning of my adventure!

Tschüss,
Dani♡