ONE WEEK

I can't believe that I'm only one week away from leaving for Spain.  We fly out of RDU next Tuesday!  I am soooooo extremely excited, anxious, nervous, and - quite frankly - overwhelmed.  Not only is this my next to last semester as a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student, but also I am in the middle of applying to law schools.  I knew when I decided to go abroad that I would be applying to law schools abroad, but I don't think I really took into account how much applying to law schools really involved.  Luckily I have found professors who are willing and able to work with me on getting my letters of recommendations done a little early since I won't be in the country.  I have spent the last several days getting the materials together for them to write the recommendations as well as working on getting everything together to apply to law schools (applications not so conveniently open on September 1st - the day I arrive in Sevilla).  But at least I feel that I am so what "on-the-ball" with applying and a little ahead of the game since I have already taken the LSAT and gotten the process of letters of recommendations started.

Now my packing experience so far is a WHOLE other story.  I can't even begin to imagine how to pack for 4 months away from home - not even away from home, but with a whole OCEAN between me and home.  I don't think that I'm all too scared/worried about forgetting something that I desperately need (I mean really, what could I need so horribly that I can't get in Spain?).  I think I'm more nervous about overpacking, not having room to bring back all the cool stuff I'll buy over there, and not being able to pick up the phone and say "hey mom, can you run to Chapel Hill and bring me....?" 

But, I am SUPER excited that it's finally here and that I finally get to go.  It seems like such a surreal experience.  Yes, I'll definitely miss family and friends back home (and wonderful UNC of course), but it really is the opportunity of a lifetime.  :)