the horror. the absolute horror.

[wildcard_47]

(wishes avatar had a big picture of a suitcase on it)

Well, I'm packing completely today. Spent a half-hour getting all of my junk into the living room, and promptly had a heart attack because it does not look like it will fit in my suitcase, not in a million years. So, I'm going to roll up t-shirts, jeans, and use Space Bags galore until it all goes according to plan. As I am probably the world's worst packer (I usually just throw things into my suitcase and hope for the best), cross your fingers for me and my packing efforts.

In a bit of better news, I submitted my Terminus abstract yesterday. The proposal itself kind of sucks, mainly because I was typing it around 11:50pm, but what can you do? At least there weren't any typos, but I swear, if the word 'recreate' pops up one more time, the vetting board is going to chew me a new one. Oh, well.

All right, back to the horror.

Comments

comment that ate the world

[maypanic.livejournal.com]

As someone who packed for living months in a foreign land before, more than once, a couple tips-
May be too late for this, but it helps to make a list of everything, then review the list. Instead of thinking "Oh, I might possible need this" think "Can I live without this?" You'll end up carrying all your luggage a lot more than you think, especially for customs. Were times I would have abandoned it all, if I wasn't afraid it would cause a bomb scare.
You aren't going to an unciviliZed country. You can buy necessities there.
Careful what pack in your carry-on, but be sure to carry 1 change of clothes, any meds and anything you can't live without in a carry-on. If you don't, they will lose your luggage. It's a universal law.
Take the least clothes you can live with. It's fun to hit a charity shop once you get there, find cool new stuff. Redonate before you go home. I know (very wealthy) people who do this, and only pack 1 change of clothes and pjs.

Remember that customs officials may open your luggage, rifle through it, and shove back at you. It's hard to sit on your suitcase to get closed again in the middle of the airport.

Most important, don't worry. HAVE FUN!!!

Re: comment that ate the world

[wildcard-47.livejournal.com]

Oh, maypanic, you are made of win. I definitely needed the packing tips, as well as the "I'll live without this" reminders -- it helped me take more than a few items off of my list.

As admitted before, I'm a terrible packer, and I've never traveled (let alone lived) internationally before. The nervousness made me a bit of a wreck, I suppose. So basically, thanks. Reading your tips made me much calmer about the whole thing.

Re: comment that ate the world

[maypanic.livejournal.com]

You are quite welcome, glad I could help a bit! I'm very excited for you, it's going to be an amazing experience.
You should have seen me my first time leaving for months- packed pots and pans, blankets, everything. Had to wear layers of clothing because I was over the limit on luggage. :P

Went back the next year with one suitcase and one carry-on. Now for any trip from two days to two weeks, I travel with one carry-on and a laptop bag.

PS- Feel free to call me May.

[chocoholic47.livejournal.com]

Ugh, packing... definitely not fun...
Hooray for the Terminus abstract! I remember you telling me several of your ideas, which one did you end up with? Or is it supposed to be all secret and stuff?

[wildcard-47.livejournal.com]

Nope, not secret, but you've read it anyway - it's basically the HOTEL paper that L. and I wrote last semester.

I was thinking about submitting other ideas, like a character analysis or something, but in the chaos of this week I didn't really have the time (or the desire) to write and polish that up for submission. Oh well.

[tkurogrym.livejournal.com]

Did you hear from Terminus on your proposal? Sounds like most folks I know were turned down. My "professor's roundtable" discussion was accepted, but I suspect they tend to lean toward accepting people with Ph.D.s -- for the legitimation, if nothing else!

[wildcard-47.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I did hear from them, and I can join the mass of folks who were kindly rejected by the vetting board.

It's probably better in the long run, because I'm looking over my July schedule and realizing that I have hardly any down time, much less time to plan and revamp a presentation.

Overall, the rejection was part disappointing, part impressive. Mostly impressive due to the thoughtfulness of the rejection letter - it was not too blunt (in a 'Your paper sucked, and we hate you. Ha ha!' kind of way) and not too florid. Heck, I had college application letters that weren't as friendly. So that was an upside, at least. :)

[tkurogrym.livejournal.com]

Yes, time-wise, it's not a bad thing. Ah, well. Lots of terrific proposals were accepted; lots of terrific proposals were denied. You'll have more fun without the pressure of a presentation, anyhow. :)