The Denmarkian in Daneland

A letter detailing the pre-departure orientation arrived in the mail today.
It was excitingly big, so I ripped it open, just like I have been doing to every other envelope unfortunate enough to bear the SEA logo on its front.

Orientation day confirmed: Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Arrival times:
Students: 9am - 1pm
Parents: 12pm - 1pm

Exchange is beginning to feel very real indeed - at times I lie in bed and think about attempting to navigate through an airport (believe it or not, it's one of the things I'm most nervous about - the last time I traveled on a plane was in 2005, and I really wish I had paid more attention to the security procedures, etc, rather than just standing in the line and complaining about how bored I was and playing string and hand games with Aileen). I wonder if it's all a big mistake and that I'm just not capable, nor mature enough to travel alone to and live in another country. It feels rather frightening.

But of course, these thoughts are always fleeting, never truly serious, and I know that in reality I would not pass this up for the world.

They say that exchange (whoever 'they' are) always feels very far away - just something in the distant future - until you notice the clock ticking away and the calendar rushing forwards until before you know it, there's only one week left. And from then on in it's all cold feet, panic and tears.

I could say right now that the prospect of exchange still has a fairly 'dream-like' quality to it - I still feel as though something's going to prevent me from going, and I simply don't believe that in 3 months time I'll be in a plane by myself, camera, journal, luggage and all, and heading towards Denmark on a 36hr trip.

Speaking of the time I have left:

Til Danmark i to måneder og tyve dage.

To Denmark in two months and twenty days. 


List of things to bring:


Carry-on:

- Name tag
- Hairbrush
- Camera + charger + computer cable
- Phone + charger
- Watch
- Wallet
- Things to entertain myself with on the plane (plane letters, books, etc.)
- Passport, plane tickets, ISIC, Travelex Visa Cash Passport Card, eKit card and itinerary
- Pen
- Retainer case (oh yes. The dreaded retainers ... )
- SEA documents

Luggage:

- Clothing in general (will need layers)
- Bathroom shoes
- Bobby pins
- Maths textbook/CD/photocopies
- Advantan
- Piano sheet music
- Gloves, scarves
- Socks
- Hair ribbons, bands
- Earrings
- Journal
- Lip balm
- Shoes
- Hats
- Peacoats/coats
- USB
- Smaller bags
- Oxy, face-wash and moisturising cream
- Things for school
- Toiletries (if my host family isn't providing them)
- Locker key (need to make sure to empty out my current locker!)
- Vegemite
- Host family gifts
- Australian/European adapter


I hope I don't go over the weight limit at the airport ...

-Stella