Leaving in 11 hours

So I am officially leaving in 11 hours.
I've also just finished packing. Finally. My suitcase weighs 40 pounds, so I will be able to bring back an extra 10-ish pounds, since I will be leaving things in Oman as well, such as wind chimes (don't ask) with my host family.
We just found out that we will be visiting the Omani embassy in Washington DC while we're there, which is super exciting! We will be getting a weekly stipend (that is such a weird word) of about $31.25. This covers the occasional taxi cab rides and snacks.
We're also going to be visiting the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center in DC on one of the days. 
I'm really excited, and it doesn't feel real quite yet....

Also, FORZA AZZURRI!!!!
 

6 days! (and host gifts)

So I think I've finalized (finally) my host family gifts. I'm bringing

• A mix CD for my host buddy/family
• Windchimes
• A book of San Francisco (One with old pictures and such)
• A SF Giants baseball cap
• A scrapboook (that I have yet to make)

I'm really excited!! I still have some things that I need to pack, but other than that, I don't have much else to prepare for.
In less than 6 days, I will be leaving my home behind, and I will embark on an adventure to the other side of the world for 6-ish weeks.

BUT, before that, I still have alot of things to do here at home.
June 25th, 2012: Conference call at 4pm
June 28: Avicii Concert!!!!!!!!! It's my first concert, IM SO EXCITED. If you don't know who Avicii is, listen to this:

June 30th: I turn 17! I don't think I'm gonna feel much different from now...but it's still a birthday.
July 1st, 6:04am: I board a plane for Houston, and then from Houston I go to DC, where this all will start!

Those things^ combined with my internship and college essays...joy.
I CANT WAIT!

We're down to single digits

So it's official...we're down to single digits. That means I'm leaving in 9 days. At 6.04 am. I haven't started counting the hours...yet :D
Yesterday I got a wonderful package in the mail...dun dun dun IT'S MY ARABIC DICTIONARY!!!!
WOOOOOT
I'm excited. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but tonight I will. Right now, I am in the midst of packing my bag. I have most of the essentials, but I love procrastinating, so dear reader, be assured, I will be packing the night before I leave...oh well
I also finally sent in my wonderful "student profile" that we needed to fill out in order to be placed in a family accordingly. I really would love to know what my host family is like, but it is possible that we won't know until we are in Oman.

Gifts
I have started getting gifts together for my wonderful host family. So far I have a mix CD that I made last night (it has some French music, Spanish music, American music...a bit of everything), Baci Perugina (which my mother insisted I bring...) and perhaps wind chimes because I cannot think of anything else :P. I need to head downtown and get something San Francisco related though...I think they would enjoy that. To go on my non-existent to do list.

Packing
I am currently packing lightly. A bit too lightly. My mother is making me pack more.... -_-
Annoyedddddd. Oh well. Better more than less, no?
(Aside: I'm listening to the PERFECT station on Pandora. It's all of my favorite music :D )
Oh no now my room smells like sunscreen. I just opened the package with the sunscreen and now everything will be sunscreen smelly... :/ Oh well

Here is my luggage so far. These are most of my clothes...

Just need to put in all the essentials. Joy. Off to find floss, toothpaste and memory cards for my camera.

Also, I had my language test today, the OPI. The person called, and here is how the test went.
Him: "Hello, I will read you the instructions, then you can ask questions"
Me: "Ok!"
Me: (After the instructions were read) "So.....I don't speak any Arabic..."
Him: ".............None at all?"
Me: "None..."
Him: "Ok. Have a wonderful weekend!"

I think I successfully failed that one.
Oy vey.

Back to packing, my wonderful readers!

Oman Vlog #4

It's been a while, here you go!
Oh and I am flying with one girl (Cara) from Houston to DC! We're on the same flight, we think :P

Airports and destinations

Here are my final travel plans:
July 1st Home-->IAH (Houston, Texas)-->DCA (Washington DC)
July 3rd DCA (Washington DC)-->FRA (Frankfut, Germany)-->RUH (Riyahd, Saudi Arabia)-->MCT (Muscat, Oman)

Packing

HOORAY!
I now officially have 2 items of clothing for Oman.
I should probably get on that "purchasing clothing for Oman" things....sometime soon.
Also I desperately need ideas for host family gifts....I need to take a trip downtown and buy a lot of touristy items. And maybe start on a scrapbook. Yea. I'm going to go do that now.
18 days left!

Pre-Departure Guide

It's finally here. The packet/manual/manuscript I've been waiting for since April 20th.  The Pre-departure guide

I will make this super easy for you readers. A neat list :D

• For the first three weeks, we'll be living in hotel apartments with five beds, a kitchen area, wireless internet (!!!!!), living space, and a washing machine. Breakfast will be provided, lunch at the Amideast center, and dinner is our responsibility. (They trust us to feed ourselves, basically) Oh and there's a gym on the 5th floor. 
• For the last three weeks we'll be living in a host family, and we will know who we are placed with (probably) when we get to Oman
•   We are going to have to take a language pledge, in which we promise to only speak in Arabic (after the first week) during our stay in Oman...unless..you know, we're dying or something.
• School: We will be divided into beginners and advanced-beginners. Also, we will have to do community service, which consists of volunteering at the "English Language Camp" <---This to me is super exciting. Because we get to learn Arabic and Omani culture, but we also get to give back, as cheesy as that sounds
• Skype is blocked, but I've already ranted about this :P
• Internet is slower in Oman, but it's there

CLOTHESSSSS (finally...I was worried about that part being left out until the last minute)

• Jeans, khakis or linen pants
• Long skirts (ankle length or mid calf)
•  Sandals!
• Shoulders must be covered at all times
• Basically, dress modestly, because we (the girls going on this trip) are representing the US and we should respect their culture and customs.
• Cardigans to cover shoulders
• Scarvessssss. I shall bring my collection

Other random essentials

• Omani money is the riyal(OMR), and that is divided into 1000 baiza
• The exchange rate as of March 2012 was $1=0.385 OMR
• The omani workweek is Saturday to Wednesday, so they have Thursday and Friday off rather than Saturday and Sunday
• Friendships form quickly, and Omanis who view you as their friend often treat you as they would treat their Omani friends. 
• Eating/passing food is often and almost always done with ones right hand. 
• I'm bringing my laptop and camera, so expect pictures and updates to come!

That's about all...I'm super excited. It's so close, I just want to go and begin learning Arabic and such: :)