Adieu, mon cher Target.

On my way out of Raleigh today I stopped by Super Target. My awesome find: this totally cute dual voltage compact iron for $9.99. My excitement for the awesome find is slightly subdued by the fact that it was my last trip to Target until who knows when.

Besides people, Target is probably going to be the #1 thing I miss. My Target love runs deep, dear friends. My sister can vouch for that.

Anywho, I decided to buy this iron because 1) I know I'll need one, 2) they're really expensive there from looking at Monoprix prices, and 3) neither of the ones my mother has works at 240Vac. Not to mention it's not much larger than my hand. Seemed like a win to me.

I essentially have a week left. Packing needs to occur this week. Gotta dig through several Rubbermaid containers to find some things I'll need to take with me, though. That should be fun.

I got a visa, hey hey hey hey!

Yes, you read that properly. I have a visa. ALREADY.

If you recall, I went to the Consulate in Atlanta on September 1. The USPS actually tried to make a delivery on Saturday afternoon, but I didn't hear the doorbell ring (and express mail apparently requires signatures). So I had to go Monday to the post office to pick up.

I knew it wouldn't take the full 21 days to process, but a week? Seriously? That means I could have left on my original flight...............coulda woulda shoulda. Oh well.

Either way, three things are certain:
1. I have my passport back, which means I can leave this country.
2. I have a visa, which means I can legally enter France.
3. I am super excited now.

I WIN.

17 days! Only 17!

I leave in 17 days and I still can't believe it's actually happening. I suppose I should be worrying about whether or not my visa and passport will return in time, but they know when I'm leaving, so there's not much I can do really. I know that must sound strange coming from me of all people, but the French work on their own time and nothing I say or do will affect that.

I started packing tonight, mostly with shoes and cool weather clothes. So far I have 10 pairs of shoes packed in underneath some clothes. I have black boots, brown boots, off-white flats, two pairs of black flats, my awesome red flats, red heels, black heels, silvery-gray flats, and silver sandals. I had most of these with me when I was there before and wore them all routinely. I know that sounds a bit excessive, but it's not really. I can't/don't really dress the same way in France that I do in the States. I have a tendency simply to wear flip-flops, jeans, and a t-shirt, but that doesn't really go over quite so well there. I suppose I could, but why would I do such a thing when I know how to blend into the culture? My outfits will vary a lot more, so I need shoes to go with that variation. Last time, I packed a lot of things I didn't end up needing or using, and this time around I know what I'll need.

For example, this time I know not to bring more than two suitcases. I'll have my two largest ones and my carry-ons will be my backpack and a purse. Most toiletries I can buy there obviously, but I'll take a few days' supply with me anyway. I also don't want to spend a lot of money up front when I get there if I can bring things with me that I'm positive I'll use, even if they're electrical and I have to use an adapter. I don't want to spend money on an iron there when I have an extra one here. The same goes for sheets - I plan to take two sets and lucky for me, it looks like my bed will be a twin size, so I have plenty of those from four years of living in a dorm! :)

I leave from Charlotte on Sunday the 25th just before 2pm and will be flying first to Chicago, then to Paris. I know that seems really stupid, but the other options were through Miami or through NY. I would have chosen NY, but it was a flight into LaGuardia then a change over to JFK. I didn't want to have to deal with changing airports. I'm flying from Charlotte instead of RDU because it's much closer for my sister and sister-in-law, who are meeting up with me that morning for brunch somewhere to see me off!

I am ridiculously excited to be going back! It's going to be a lot different this time though because I'll essentially be a teacher, not a student (though I will be taking a course or two each semester through the CIDEF). If I didn't have so much experience tutoring, I'd probably be a nervous wreck!

There's still so much to do in preparation, though! We'll see how it goes...