I am not leaving for another 6 months! I am off school/work (yeah, teacher) for winter break and am using the time to get things organized, so I'm getting really excited even though its a ways in the future. I got the shots my doctor had, and he gave me the number for the travel clinic where I can get the rest. Set up an appointent for Monday with them. Mailed off application for visa to Washington DC embassy (and $100 fee, not $50-ouch). It felt terrible to put my passport in an envelope and send it away, but I guess that's the way it's done. I've been posting almost daily on my FB page about my trip, so by the time I actually go my friends will already be sick of hearing about it! :O) I think the hardest thing is going to be missing my pets for a whole month. Well, I HOPE that's the hardest thing!