EGADS!

Only seventeen more days until I leave for France.

I'll be 4,000 miles away from anything I've known before. Google provides handy driving directions (gotta love step #21), but I think I'll let Air France take care of that part of the trip.

Things to do before I leave:

1. Buy stuff! As in, this stuff! I've decided against buying the $100 Mary Janes, but I really need to buy some sort of footwear before I go to France. I found a better (read: cheaper :D) neck wallet on another site. I don't feel like wearing someone else's name all day :P
2. Unpack stuff from college. Those boxes look mighty scary....wonder what's in 'em....
3. Make a list. There is simply no way on Earth I am keeping track of all this stuff in my head. I've used a packing list for college for 3 semesters now, and it's never failed me. This will be a grand little list:
• Grand: it must contain items for the longest, farthest journey I've ever taken
• Little: it must be light, for I am weak and will travel frequently in Europe!
  
4. Pack stuff in my suitcase(s). The luggage set came with 5 bags, but I'm only bringing two: the main suitcase and the tiny rolling one as a carry-on. I might be able to fit a collapsible duffel bag in the main one, but I won't count on it.
5. Practice my French. When I went for my French visa (the second time), I met a man from Cote d'Ivoire and managed to hold a decent conversation with him. Yay for confidence boosters!
6. Notify friends that I am going to France. I want to have a small party before I leave, but logistics are a nightmare because my friends all have different schedules :(
7. Make a souvenir/gift list.
8. Make final touch ups on my itinerary.
• Aix<->Florence - make dates for meeting Professor Healey in his Florentine castle.
  
• Aix<->La Garde-Freinet - find those stairs for Dr. Watson
  
• Aix<->Paris - goin' to that awesome apartment (thanks, Nico!)
  
• Paris<->Strasbourg - test out that record breaking TGV Est
  
• Paris<->Caen - history major must go to Normandy: 'tis life.
  
• Paris<->Wherever the Good Lord thinks I should go! (Maybe Chartres as a day trip?)
• Paris<->London - buy Eurostar tix before I leave!!!
  
• Switzerland???? Depends how much money I have left....
9. Pray that I don't f*%#@ everything up like I usually do.
10. Relax :-)