Guide to Traveling in a Country the Author has Never Visited

How do you prepare for 2/3 of a year in a country you've never been to, where you don't know anyone, and where you don't speak the language?  Now it's easy!  Follow this simple, step-by-step guide:

1. Don't panic
2. Pack everything you could possibly ever need.  It's okay if you need seven suitcases to do this
3. Unpack
4. Repack only the bare minimum of professional clothing, casual clothing, and winter clothing.  Don't use more than one suitcase
5. Fit as much floss as you can in the suitcase (floss can be exPENsive abroad)
6. In a small carry-on suitcase, pack comforting things, including but not limited to:
1. yummy tea
2. yummy chocolate
3. a good book
4. knitting
5. sweatpants
6. favorite blanket
7. pecan pie
8. mom
9. Therese Gould
7. Pace distractedly
8. Spend at least four hours locating, disentangling, and assembling all necessary electronic accessories (chargers, cords, etc.) and stuff them into one of the bags
9. Make a list of the awesome things you want to do while there, including but not limited to:
1. taking dance classes
2. working at the embassy
3. volunteering at a local orphanage
4. studying the local cooking
5. running for mayor
6. finding cures for all major diseases
10. Hold a ceremonial good-bye with stuffed animals, bed, and snack cupboard
11. Go into last-minute denial and knit five hats
12. Make a list of all the family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, acquaintances, and passers-by that you'll miss.  Send them all loving facebook messages before you'll have to be sending them facebook messages from a different country.
13. Have a last-hurrah-night-out with your friends!  Dance so hard that your soreness will distract you from the discomfort of the plane seats, and tire yourself enough that you'll be asleep before take-off (but hopefully after getting onto the plane)

For more information on packing techniques, please refer to the insightful Jenna Marbles (I apologize for the swearing: while not necessary for successful packing, some people find it very instrumental).

So that's about where I'm at right now, with 5 days to take-off.  Turns out that an old friend from middle/high school will be coming with me which is very comforting.  At least I'll have someone on my side if the American English Center turns out to be a branch of the Ukrainian mafia.  Not that that's a real concern, but it will be nice to have a friend in the same country at least.  Hopefully my next post will be from Kiev!