it's a journey

I can't sleep.  If you've checked the time-stamp of this post, I guess that's a pretty obvious statement to make.  I'm just way to excited.  I have to be up at 6:15 in the morning so that I can get ready to drive to Mercer for class.  I've been doing a lot of work on my paper, and I've also been gathering information for my group presentation, and now I have no desire to sleep.  I feel like I've done so much this week to prepare for this trip, yet there is STILL so much left to be done.

I have everything packed for the trip.  Now I just have to make it through 3 days of classes, 4 nights of limited sleep, 2 plane rides (with 2 long layovers), and I'll be there!  But I don't want to get ahead of myself.  I have certainly enjoyed the whole process, and I intend to make every minute of this experience count, from packing down to the final ride home after the trip.  I'm excited to be one step closer to being there, but I'm also trying to enjoy the journey itself.  Reading books, writing papers, and packing bags is all part of the experience, and so far it has been a great experience.  Let's hope that continues!

I guess it's time to try to sleep!  I'll leave you with this photo of my packed bag:

more preparations

So Stephanie but Bo the bear in the mail yesterday, and I'm expecting to see him tomorrow or Friday.  I should get my last check from work tomorrow or Friday also, and then I will be able to see exactly what I have to take with me to Armenia and Georgia.

Today my mom, my cousin, and I got out to do some shopping for my trip and for my dorm room next year.  It's such and odd feeling to be preparing to go overseas and back to school at the same time.  It's strange to think about what color I'm decorating my dorm while reading about the Armenian genocide and writing about their education system.  It's the odd combinations of events that keep life interesting.

The other day I found a great thrift deal at Goodwill; I got an adorable teapot/lamp for $3, and Caleb got it for me.  Now Mom and I are going to fix it up, so we went to get a lamp shade at the Dollar General and some ribbon and fabric at JoAnn's to cover it.  Did you know they are doing a 15% college student discount on everything in the store, even sale items, for the month of July?  Awesome, huh?

I also have a ring that I got from my grandmother for my 16th birthday, and I wear it all of the time.  Well, I decided that it might not be wise to take it to Armenia since it's worth a lot, both monetarily and sentimentally.  So I decided that I would get a cheap replacement ring to wear instead because I knew that I would feel odd not wearing anything on that finger.  It sounds kind of strange, but that's the way my mind works.

Anyway, I'm still trying to prepare for Armenia and Georgia.  I'm doing LOTS of reading, which I don't have a problem with.  I'm still researching and writing about the education system, specifically higher education.  So if you come across a particularly interesting article about college in Armenia/Georgia, feel free to post it. :)  I'm also still shopping for last-minute things and trying to get everything together to pack.  It's going to be a very busy and interesting week, so please keep praying that I make it through with my sanity in tact! :)

Oh, I also realized that I will have Wi-Fi access in our hotel in Georgia for the last week of our trip, so I should definitely be able to post pretty regularly then.  If nothing else, you should hear from me often that week.  Awesome!