April 6th 2001

So, tomorrow is the 'big day', I will leave for California. It's weird, I have been looking forward to the trip for months, and I thought about what it would be like to say 'tomorrow I'll go to the US'. Well, today is that day, and it's a bit weird. On the one hand, I am looking forward to going there, of course. I worked seven months and saved all the money to be able to afford it, and California is just a dream, so, it would be wrong to say that I am not looking forward to being there anymore. Yet, another feeling has appeared, I am sad whenever my mom tells me that she'll miss me, and I see a bit of sadness in her eyes. I too will miss her, and I realize that every time she looks or smiles at me today. I tell myself that it's only two weeks and that they'll be over soon. I suppose I will cry tomorrow at the airport, although for a while I was convinced I wouldn't. And I think I will be fine and looking forward to California and my two weeks there as soon as I'm sitting in the plane, without being homesick.

I started packing at 3.30pm this afternoon, quite late. My mom helped me and we had it all done within about two hours. When my dad went through all the papers, he noticed that I didn't have an insurance for whatever. I got terribly upset about that and yelled like crazy, until he realized that I'd gotten that specific insurance automatically when I got accepted in the exchange program. My grandma stopped by today to give me my chocolate Easter bunny.:) She said she wanted to give it to me now since I wouldn't be here on Eastern and that she couldn't give it to me then. I found that incredibly nice and sweet of her. Also, she gave me $200 for my vacation, which I found nice too but wasn't as important. She will also come along to the airport tomorrow, she's quite excited about that because she will not only get to take her granddaughter to the airport, but also see what such a huge airport is like. It's much bigger and more modern than the one we have here. My grandma seemed very thrilled about it.

So, I will be leaving tomorrow with mixed feelings, yet knowing that I will know to enjoy my time in California. Keep your fingers crossed that I won't burst in tears at the aport tomorrow, she that my mom won't either.

For the case that I won't have internet access there, expect the next update on April 21st or 22nd. Until then, love your life and take care.

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