First things first - I haven't written anything here in an age, but as I'm heading back overseas, I thought I'd better get into the habit of writing again. This is at the very least a good way of keeping track of this trip for myself. So, we'll see how it all goes, eh?

Georgetown: I feel like I should have memorised its history and read up on its founder, but in truth, I know very little. I'm still in a state of denial about going, though I've recently started thinking of it more as a trip a la the trek of 2003 than as moving. The only snag there is that on my trip I got to book into hostels online, and didn't have to worry about finding a permanent place to live, with the followup concerns of buying a bed and bedding, and wondering if I'll need to find myself some other furniture along the way. Nor did I feel particularly tempted by amazing pairs of shoes (when did I start channeling Carrie Bradshaw?) as I knew anything with a heel would be a waste when I was on the hoof carrying a backpack. So, "travel" or "move", this is a little different from anything I've done before.

The Party: I know that I'm not going to catch up with everyone before I go, and that I will wake up in Washington one day and think - "I wonder what x is up to!?" If x is you, I'm sorry. And it's less than a week now until the going away party, and 12 days till I'm on a plane, wishing UA served halfway decent food. I have to admit that whenever I think about it, I freak out - but I'm not going to have time to freak out when I get there, because I'll be throwing myself in the deep end.

Washington: I've heard the good and the bad. I'm still excited.