Packing!

I have spent the last few days packing and getting ready for my trip on Tuesday. My dad is going with me, and I am only allowed 3 suitcases! Although I have been pretty efficient, it is much different packing for a trip across the country rather than a 20 minute drive to Tempe. I am sure that I can survive without all of the stuff I bring with me to ASU, but it definitely feels weird to have to sort through to find what I really need. But that isn't nearly as difficult as packing for the fall and winter in D.C. I have never lived anywhere with seasons before, and I don't own any winter clothes. I have been on ski trips before, but I can't really go around D.C. in ski clothes in November. So for the past couple weeks, I have been looking around for things I need and have come up with what I think will be warm enough (and stylish enough) for a D.C. fall. I am extremely excited to spend time in D.C. and especially someplace with changing seasons!

Although I am leaving so soon, it has not quite sunk in with me just how much time I will be away from home, and just how much I will miss everyone in Arizona. Briana and my family (my mom especially) have all started getting sad and not wanting me to leave. Although I cannot imagine leaving them as well, it seems more like a week-long vacation in my mind than a semester away from everything I know. I just hope when it sets in, that it is not too hard of a hit to take.

I will keep you all updated on my first week in D.C. and all my orientation events once I get there! Thanks for reading :)

Kaleena

24 days...

Hello Everyone!

It is less than a month until I leave for the fall semester. I have never been away from Arizona for this long, never away from everyone and everything i know. It is a scary thought, to live in a new place with a new language. At the same time, I know it will be a great experience. It is exciting to live in a new place where no one knows you, if even for a few months. I know that I will appreciate the people I love more from being away, but I will also learn new things about myself to bring back to them. I have never been to Washington, D.C. and seeing as I love visiting historical things, I am really excited about seeing the city. The scariest thing is the Sign Language. Although I have taken two levels, I still feel unprepared. I have heard that when people are immersed in a foreign language, they learn it quickly out of necessity. I am counting on this and my love of the language to help me learn quickly enough to be able to understand my classes (which are all in ASL). My roommate seems great, she is also a Visiting Student and is hearing so we can help each other with our ASL. She is very accepting and is from New Jersey, she has never even been to the west coast! :) but she is very nice and it's nice to have someone I will already (somewhat) know going into this experience.

I leave Arizona on the 24th and move into my dorm room on the 25th. I have about 4 days of orientation before classes start on the 30th, but during those days I will also have time for exploring with my dad (who is helping me move in). Since I have never been to D.C., I have been given many great suggestions of places to visit and things to see. It's been hard to remember all of them though, so if you have been to D.C. and have a suggestion of something great to see or do there, I would really appreciate comments with those suggestions!! It would be great to have an inside scoop about the city before my trip.

I will also try to post a blog entry once a week about my experiences once I arrive, so please check back when you can to see what I'm up to. And I would love to hear from everyone while I'm away as well!!

Thanks for reading :)

Kaleena