Gearing Up

It was a long hard road to get into the Jerusalem study abroad program. My nerves were barely able to handle the stress of the lottery system which decided who was accepted into the program.
But here I am; I can only think that someone divine was looking out for me, knowing that this trip is what I needed in my life.


 The challenge I face now is packing... and trying to figure out what I will actually need over there. I need all new clothes, new shoes, and these odds and ends that will keep me going over there. I'm allotted one checked bag and two small carry-ons which seriously limits the amount of stuff a twenty year old girl like myself would wish to take. 
The trouble I'm having with that is that I don't actually know what I REALLY need. How do I know what stuff on the packing list is bogus and won't do anything for me except take up space in my one checked bag? 


I suppose the answers will come as I continue gearing up. Today, I'm exactly two months away from our departure date.  I hope I'll be ready to rumble by the time August 28th comes around! I've got a lot more prep work to do;

 But honestly, I'm loving every second of it.