Last week in Gainesville... omfg!

I've lived in Gainesville, FL since I was 3 and a half years old.  I went on to go to college here at UF.  The longest I have been away from home was 6 weeks one summer spent visiting my Dad and family in California (where I was born).  I'm not scared the  leave this town, in fact I can't wait, but staying here has always been what is most practical.  However, with my graduation date rapidly approaching (next year!), I find that my life experiences have been quite limited.  Up until now, risky for me has been running for a position in the American Marketing Association at UF that I wasn't sure I'd get, and stepping out of my comfort zone to meet new people.  AKA: not very risky.  So, with only 3 semesters left before I enter the real world, I've decided to go all out take the biggest leap I can imagine... live in a foreign country for 5.5 months, on a shoestring. 

I have been slowly purchasing necessities for the past 6 months, such as guide books, sweaters, and luggage.  Here is a picture of my roommate Alyssa and me in the midst of our coat hunting adventure at Burlington coat factory back in December... No, we didn't purchase these specific coats, but we did end up with matching black parkas.  I know we will be known as "those American girls with matching coats" but I swear they were the best in the store!

With only one week left to go, I've turned into predictable Tess, arming myself for my upcoming battle.  My weapon of choice?  Amazon.com.  I have become an amazon whore, obsessed over buying everything I will need that is the cheapest, lightest, most reliable, and adaptable... which is quite a task!  A couple weeks ago, I discovered the source of my compulsive tenancies as I watched my dad scower the web for consumer reviews on dish washers for the entire 10 days I spent visiting him.  Go figure...

This past Saturday I spent at the mall buying the last few items I must have to prepare myself for the harsh Vienna winter.  My Sunday was spent in my dining room squirting my perfume into travel sized atomizers and packaging all my liquids into plastic baggies.  This, I later realized, was sort of rediculous because I still have another week left of work and need to use my shampoo and body wash before I leave.  At least it makes me  feel better.  :)