Early Study Abroad Thoughts

I feel like I've been getting ready for this trip for ten years. It's only been a little less than a year, but I am already so anxious to leave! Anxioius about leaving home for such a long time, anxious to go completely alone, anxious about my Spanish (AH!), and just about every other feeling that I had as an incoming freshman into IWU. I've been corresponding with my dear friend Rynne who is studying in Spain this semester, and I know without a doubt that this study abroad thing is right for me too. Hopefully I come out with some great stories like hers!!
I'm a little nervous about my host family. I hope that they are nice and forgiving about my "nervous" Spanish, as I like to call it. I think I know more than I let myself realize, but I freeze up when it comes to native speakers because I feel like such a poser trying to speak their language and I'm so awful at it. I guess that is what I am most nervous about...
I AM excited, ecstatic really, about the time I will have to WRITE. I need to make sure that through all of the hullabaloo that I sit down with my journal and really get the ballpoint rolling. (har har har) I'll be sure to share any inspirational or not so inspirational thoughts with you as I go along.
Signing off for now --- more pre-departure thoughts to come!!

~Amanda