Preparation Butterflies

**originally posted Tuesday, August 18, 2009**

I leave Friday! It's really hard to wrap my brain around the fact that next week, I'll be half-way around the world.

Almost all my time right now revolves around saying good-byes and getting ready to leave. Clothes, toiletries, gifts for my host family; everything is being located and laid out to be put into my suitcase. In my room are two door hangers that hold the clothes I'm bringing. I won't need too many, as most of the time I'll be in my uniform. The dress code is very strict. Here are some samplings from the school rules (specially translated for international students):

• "Wearing the Uniform skirt too short (appropriate length of the skirt in under-the-knee length) is the violation of School Dress Code and would disgrace the school."
• "Stockings are allowed to be worn during winter (November-March) and the summer period during which the air conditioning is on. Wear only Hadairo or the color similar to your skin to avoid being fashionable, which does not mach the school uniform. *Wearing black tights is also allowed during winter. Do not wear socks when wearing black tights.
• "Too fashionable a hair style which school regards as inappropriate for an OGSHS student is not allowed."
• "Do not change your hair color by any means. (Do not blow dry your hair too much since it would deteriorate your hair color. Pay attention to your conditioner use for the some reason.)"

That's only a little bit of ten pages of rules and regulations. Needless to say, I'm a bit nervous about messing up.

One source of comfort is the fact that I have been assigned a host family and have swapped emails and photos with them. In their family is the eldest daughter, Riho, who is sixteen; The father; the younger daughter, who is twelve; and the mother. I'll help them with English while I stay with them, and they'll help me with Japanese.

I'm really nervous, but so, so excited! I'm going to miss people very much. I'm not completely ready (and I doubt I ever will be), but at the I same time, I can't wait!