Last Minute

So, I have two days left in Marquette before I'm off on my journey! Everything is in order...besides my suitcase...still working on that one. Recently I've just been trying to spend time with friends and family as much as I can, and getting as many winter activities in while I'm still surrounded by feet of snow! Snowshoeing and xc skiing have been accomplished, as well as sampling my favorite local restaurants with friends... not really a winter activity, but enjoyable all the same. Marquette really is beautiful this time of year, before and during Christmas and New Year's... before we are all sick of the insanely long winter hah.

I'm pretty excited for the change of scenery, however. I say pretty excited because it STILL has not fully hit me that I am going to India...and I believe it won't until I'm actually on the plane. Ah!

I also found out that I will be reimbursed for my change of flight charges, which is relieving. I tried to call the airlines with which I'm flying about bringing my EpiPen on the planes (it's a needle), and it was the most frustrating thing ever. You can only speak to a computer for so long over the phone before you feel like throwing said phone against a wall. Finally, I reached an actual human being and found out that all that I need is a copy of my prescription, so I'm hoping they were correct. As I was reading up on Hyderabad, I found that peanuts are actually used quite commonly in foods there... a difficulty to be sure, but it just means that I'll have to be extra careful... and probably avoid food from vendors.

I am now off to figure out how much I can fit into one suitcase and one carry-on bag... I feel as if I've done OK with packing light in the past...we'll see. I don't have as much to say as I thought I did... I'm sure that will change considerably in a few days :) I'll miss all my friends and family while I'm gone; I'm very dependent on them. I am opening my mind to the new experiences ahead, however. I've lived abroad longer than four months before, though not so far away! I can't wait to live in this completely foreign (to me) place and to gain so many new points of view, so much more appreciation for the incredible beauty/diversity/challenges that life brings.

 
   Parents' house with lights and snow!