The Packing Challenge

One thing I recall from studying abroad in the past is that packing to study abroad is like spring cleaning for your life. My packing process progresses in stages: 1) what categories of clothing (based on predicted weather/activities) will I need? 2) of these categories, what clothing do I want to bring? 3) of these clothes, what am I certain I will actually wear? 4) or what is left, what is too big to fit in my suitcase?

I would, of course, also like to bring half my book collection. However my books shall be condensed down to my usual must-carry-them-with-me-everywhere collection, mostly comprised of spiritual reference guides, if you will, and certain beloved epics.

• Raven Kaldera and Galina Krasskova's Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practicioner
• Scott Cunningham's Magical Herbalism
• my Celtic tarot cards
• my runes
• Jesse Byock's translation of the Volsunga Saga
• Seamus Heaney's dual-language Beowulf
• the Mabinogion
• and, last but not least, Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (one of these things is not like the other...)
  

But then there are the maps and the reference books. I have crammed into corners of my suitcase my foldout map of Europe, my foldout regional map, my Netherlands-specific map, my Netherlands guidebook (accompanied by more maps, naturally), my Europe by Rail guidebook (complete with three foldout maps!), and my Dutch phrasebook. I am a walking AAA service for Netherlands travelers.

Alas, a less-cluttered existence seems to result in a rather cluttered suitcase. I haven't even put in some of the REAL essentials like clean underwear and socks and already it seems full. In addition, given that I will be living by the North Sea, my current challenge is SWEATERS.

SWEATERS VERSUS SUITCASE: ROUND 1 - The suitcase is winning. By next Wednesday, however, the sweaters will be victorious.

Departure Approaches

Next Wednesday, I leave for Europe! I will spend the next four months in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands. I will be taking courses on Gender Studies, International Human Rights, Theory of Political History, and Scandinavian Lit from 1900.

In real life, I play a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am a history major with a women's studies minor, hoping, as many of my idealistic peers do, to change the world for the better. I spent a lot of time last semester working on research and academic writing, so I'm hoping for a more relaxing semester, with more opportunities for creative writing and painting. And, just perhaps, a few more opportunities to get out of my room and go get to know Europe a bit!

I've had a lot of trouble recently actually managing to get any words on paper (or whatever medium), so I'm hoping I can at least use this as a means of getting the creative juices flowing, and getting myself used to writing again, in a non-academic context, at least. I've never been one for diaries, usually lacking the self-discipline for consistent entries, but sometimes, you need a little discipline!

And besides, my poor camera hasn't even been turned on in years. It's about time I put it to some good use (since a career in professional photography does not seem to be in my future).

For all those choosing to join me on my journey, welcome! Here's to hoping Mercury carries me safely to my many destinations!