Last Minute Thoughts

This is my last night at home for the next month. All of my clothes are laid out on my older sister's empty bed waiting to be packed tomorrow morning. Some of my friends just came over for a last goodbye. The last few days have been crazy running around buying a few last minute items that I forgot about, like a watch! I have been away from home on a trip without my parents before but I wasn't taking a class so this is a little scary. I'm afraid of how I will handle my course load and being in a different country. I love to travel so I'm hoping it won't be too bad. I know that we are leaving in less than 24 hours but it still hasn't really hit me yet and I don't think it will till I get on the plan to fly to Dallas or maybe even until I meet up with the group in Dallas. The only effect I have had so far is mild insomnia for the past three nights (I haven't been able to fall asleep till about 6 am). I know I will miss the comforts of home and my friends but hopefully I will be able to fall into the swing of things fairly easily and meet tons of new people.

Well there is nothing more I can do to prepare for the trip at this point but wait for it to be time to leave for the airport. Therefore I am just going to enjoy the next several hours at home with my parents and friends and try to remember to breath as I get ready to live in another country for a month.

T-4 Days and Counting...

Waking up this morning, I realized we only have four days until departure for the U.K. Stacks of things to pack are scattered around the bedroom. Teaching materials are neatly piled on a chair in my office for me to pick up and bring home today. Last minute schedule confirmations are in process. My parents drove off this morning with my two cats, bringing them to "Grandma and Grandpa's house" in Maryland for the month. The house feels too quiet.

But adventures await! And I'm already dreaming about taking long walks by the Thames, touring fabulous libraries, museums, and castles, slurping spicy noodles at Wagamama, and eating cold Magnum ice cream bars (they're better than Dove bars, in my opinion).

What are you all doing in your last few days at home?

First Words

If you're reading this, you're either going on our trip or know somebody who is. Thanks for stopping by! Right now, all of us are packing and repacking bags, spending time with family and friends, and planning what kinds of exciting activities we want to take part in during our trip. As the one C of C professor going over this year, I'm busy finalizing the syllabus for my course, "Love, Sex, and Desire in Shakespeare," and making sure everyone is in touch with the professors for their classes. Don't forget your books and syllabi, everyone!

This summer's living-learning trip is part of our campus British Studies Program, but it is sponsored and run by our consortium partner, the University of Southern Mississippi. There will be over 10 different classes offered as part of this program, with students and faculty from the various consortium universities. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and to meeting new ones, and to seeing the U.K. anew through this group's eyes.

Periodically, we'll all be posting on the blog, to let you know what we're up to, what we're thinking and feeling, what we're experiencing. It promises to be an amazing and life-changing summer for us all. We look forward to sharing a bit of that with you here. Departure Date: July 1.