(hi mom)

  

Packing for the Semester 

 Just two days until I board the plane and leave for a semester in England! I am beyond ready for this trip, although living out of just one suitcase and one backpack for a full semester is a bit intimidating! Typically, packing for college will fill the entire back of my station wagon and then some! But just the essentials are going with me for this journey.

I know, the explosion around my suitcase in the pictures doesn't look like "just the essentials" but trust me-- I could do a lot worse. It was difficult to narrow down my clothes selection, especially when you take the U.K.'s climate into consideration. For the past year I've been tracking their weather to see what sort of temperatures I will be experiencing. This summer saw a lot of days in the 70's, with a crap ton of rain-- and it will only get colder! So most of my wardrobe is layers that I can bulk up on for warmth. I'm bringing just one pair of shorts (I KNOW, ONE PAIR OF SHORTS?! IN AUGUST?!) and those will be packed in my carry on, since London is supposedly going to be 88 when I land. But the week after, it will be in the mid 60's and rainy. My boots and raincoat will be put to the test over there!

It wasn't hard to fit everything into the suitcase and back pack, (also, isn't Romeo the cutest?) which means I won't feel so guilty for bringing back a Harlaxton tee-shirt and a few souvenirs!

Classes are starting at Eastern today, and it feels so weird to hear from my friends but not be on campus with them. I'm not going to lie, I will be missing Eastern Illinois University so much! I can't wait to be back on campus in January, but this is an opportunity too great to pass up! I hope Harlaxton is ready for me, because I am definitely ready for it.

This blog will be updated on Mondays and Thursdays (if I can stay on track) so check back soon to see how my flight went! 

xoxo Annie