It's almost time to go!

So my plane will take off tomorrow!  The plan is to fly from Oklahoma City to Houston, and from there to Paris.  After a couple days in Paris, I get to see three hours worth of French countryside through a train window all the way to Clermont-Ferrand, where the school is.  I'll be traveling with a friend of mine from a French class a couple semesters ago.  I think it's a great idea to have a travel buddy, and between the two of us, hopefully we can remember all the right French words and get ourselves to all the right gates and train stations.

my new shoes; do you like them?

Right now I am packing my bags.  I have a couple new sweater dresses, which, thanks to the observations of my sister's boyfriend on his recent trip to Paris, are very popular there right now, especially worn with leggings and boots.  I also have some new blue converse, which I am sure look very American, but I love them anyway.  Besides, they'll last forever.

I won't be packing much; just one rolling suitcase, a backpack, and of course my ukulele.  I'll buy more clothes and all my consumables when I get there.  Also, I'll get a local prepaid cell phone when I get to Clermont-Ferrand, but I'll use mainly skype to call the US.  If any of you want my contact info (address, skype, etc) send me an email or facebook message and I'll give it to you. 

Earlier today I made my first French phone call to a real French-speaking French person!  Considering my irrational fear of talking on the phone to strangers and my unpracticed French, it was a bit nerve-wracking.  But I had to call the hotel and ask if we could drop off our luggage in the morning, since we can't technically check in until the afternoon, so I finally mustered up the courage to press call.  I managed to ask him, in French, if he spoke English, and luckily he did.  Whew!

So, as I make my final arrangements, and get my things together, my departure draws nearer by the hour.  Everything feels so surreal; I'm finally going to France!  Wish me luck!

P.S.  I will try to post on facebook whenever I update my blog, but remember if you don't want to have to look for it on facebook, you can always subscribe directly to the blog.  And you can comment either directly on the blog or on my facebook post, I'll see either one.