Countdown on, prep work commencing

So I picked up a travel planning guide, "The Rough Guide: First-Time Around the World" and am in love with it so much!!!  It has some great general advice, some tips on saving before you go and budgeting while abroad, words of wisdom for finding work, and ways to stay a little safer.  On my list of major things that I need to get I am down to a back-pack and an external hard drive, and I am getting a better and better idea of what needs to go in my pack.  I have an appointment to get my passport tomorrow and have started looking into flights.  Fortunately, the one channel that I get at home is an American channel broadcast for a Mexican audience so the commercials are helping me brush up a little on my Spanish and I am going to start watching my favorite English Language movies with the Spanish subtitles.  One of my favorite purchases so far: Old Navy's Techno Hoodie that has ear phones in the hoodie strings and runs down the zipper so that my ipod can be plugged in my pocket!  From here, I start looking at my vaccinations and get to planning an art auction!

New Year Big Plans

So I feel like I am a little in pressure mode now, as I officially have about six months left to plan and save.  I got some awesome stuff from my family for Christmas to start getting me ready.  My poppa hooked it up with a digital camera (checking off one of the technology investments that had been on my list), my sister Jill got me some self defense/survival stuff that fits in my pockets for easy travelability and access, and my mom got me some SWEET traveling clothes that are super comfy and roll down super small for the space-saving packing.  I have started making some connections with Couch Surfers (http://www.couchsurfing.org for explanations, GREAT non-profit) and may get a chance to do some hosting before I do some surfing, and will also start getting a chance to go to some local get-to-gathers to hear some surfing experience from others.  Count down is putting the pressure on, lets see if the pressure worked the same way it did when I had a paper due!!