Arduous Tasks

Today I employed one of my best friends to aid me in the horrendous task that is packing for 9 months. The worst thing about packing for nine months is that you never know what the weather will be like, or the conditions you'll be in at any given moment. As you root around your room, different scenarios spring to mind that force you to pack extra things.

At first you start with the basics: Underwear, socks, tshirts, pants, shorts and sweaters. Then you remember pajamas. Then you remember workout gear. Then you remember scarves, hats, bags, tank tops, and other "essentials." After more rummaging through the endless cavern that is your closet you find those big bulky sweatpants that you haven't worn in 6 months that you just can't live without.. Although you've been without them for a while... But really you can't bare to leave them behind. So you stuff them in there.

After you manage to stuff all of these so-called "necessary" bits and pieces into your suitcase and you think that you are queen of the world for having done it in a mere 6 hours, you realize that one really must wear shoes whilst traveling abroad. And that means another suitcase. Oh, and what about your toothbrush, makeup, hairbrush and other toiletries. Another step in the stressful process.

I've found, as I add more and more to the ever-growing pile that is mounting on the floor beside my suitcase, that I seem to have developed an emotional attachment to my clothes. So even the ones that I haven't worn in ages worm their way into the mess.

Packing, my friends, is no small feat.

Good luck to my future classmates. I can only hope they're all a bit more organized and well-off in their suitcase-stuffing.

Yours in Dysfunctional French,

-L