Here I am, less than twenty four hours from departure time. I've had a hell of a time sleeping this week; last night I didn't fall asleep till 5:30AM. that's quite a record for someone who sometimes goes to bed at 8 on school nights. I'm not ashamed- I need my beauty sleep! I could really use it tonight though. My trip will last a total of 30 hours from the time I leave my house to the time I'm (supposed to) land in Heksinki. I could use a good 8 hours of sleep. I'm nervous to leave I suppose (why else would it take me 6 hours to fall asleep?), but I feel confident about my choice to go abroad, and I am comforted by the fact that one of my best friends, Viktor, a former exchange student from Denmark who attended my school this year, made it in one piece as well as the hundreds of Rotary students everywhere. Besides, I've been determined to do this since the ninth grade so now if I bail out, I'll be disappointing my past self, and probably my hypothetical future self. So, onward! And despite the giant knot in my stomach, I'm sure I'll make friends and learn Finnish and make a fool of myself enough times to ensure small talk for at least several months.
My goodbye party (of sorts) is tonight. I only invited 6 friends, but my mom invited family friends, like my sister's boyfriend's family, the neighbors whom I have known since I was a child, my cousin and her family who is in town for her wedding. I'll be glad to have this final goodbye, and I'm sure I'll be crying, so I'll have to go easy on the eye liner today. I only wish Viktor could attend, and perhaps a few friends I met in Germany this summer.
Next time I write I'll be in Finland, so goodbye America! (I've been waiting quite a while to say that.)
