Not ready

On Thursday I leave for Graz, and so far I am not ready.

Luggage
I still have boxes of stuff from college that have not yet been unpacked, and I still need to start packing for my trip. Luggage has been my biggest worry thus far. I still have not decided how many pieces of luggage I will be taking. Ideally I want to take only two bags: a backpack and my camera bag. However, it looks as though it will end up being three with an additional suitcase on rollers.

I would much rather not take the suitcase because I will be traveling after the trip, and the additional bag will be a pain to lug around everywhere.

Reservations
I really need to start making reservations for hotels and youth hostiles after the program … but I still have not done that. I am a little uneasy about chiseling my post-program itinerary into stone although I already know I have to make it to Berlin by a certain date to catch a plane home.

Gifts
The most worrying pre-exchange program activity is choosing gifts for the host family. During my last two exchange programs to Japan (Summer 2005) and Germany (Spring 2006) I spent countless hours looking for the perfect gift for the host family.

I always stress out on this because I feel like it should the perfect gift since the host family is putting up with me for an extended period usually at their own expense. I have a few gifts in mind for the family I will be staying with, but now I just need find them before Thursday.