It will all be okay! I bet this will end up being one of the best things you ever did.

Don't forget some clothes. And a toothbrush.

It will be totally fine. Packing momentum, I find, tends to build on itself; it's often easier to do it all at once rather than dribbling it out over too much time.

Also, congratulations! Sounds like a great thing!

I just remembered that I actually already have one thing (well, two things) packed: a pair of shoes, along with a tube of shoe polish...

The lighter you pledge to travel, the less you need freak about packing.

Things are going to be better than alright.

THINGS ARE GONNA KICK SOME SERIOUS ASS.

And yeah, what occhiblu said about the packing. What I would do is just make a list. See what things I would need some time to acquire, get those done, and put them all in a spot where you won't lose them. If everything else appears to be easily attainable, don't worry about it.

So like, don't wait until the day of to get a visa, is what I'm saying here.

It's totally going to be alright. Some things you might want to be sure you have are vitamins/headache remedies (if you use them), clean underwear and socks (depending on where you're going/who you stay with; some cultures see it as a matter of respect), toiletries you use because no others will do (e.g. the right kind of soap). Don't worry about a lot of clothes; if it's cold you can layer and nobody's gonna stress that you show up in one of three outfits every time they see you. Pick up a bunch of little trinkets at a truck stop or mini-mart so you can give them to kids as necessary. Bring two pairs of work gloves; you never know when you'll need them, and if you actually do need them, giving whoever you're working with a new pair of work gloves is a great way to make a lifelong friend. If you play an instrument, think about bringing it. Music, smiles, soccer, and love are the international languages. You'll have a great time. Pack light. You're about to have a lotta fun.

If you stay up all night packing before you catch your plane, you'll sleep through the entire flight and be fresh when you arrive. Don't worry about a thing.

DC - my brother is in the second semester of his year abroad. Previously, he had never left the state of California. Now, he's planning on running with the freaking bulls in Pamplona.

In other words, don't worry about packing. If you forget sometime, you'll either be able to buy it there, or you'll find you didn't need it anyway (note: this does not apply to passports or visas, or toilet paper depending on the country).

By clean (underwear), I mean "brand new." Sounds strange, but if you're staying with, say, a host family in Japan, and they hang your gotch on the line, if it isn't pristine they'll feel shame.

Pack lighter than you think you should is my only advice.

I went abroad for three months with just one bag that was light enough to walk with, and decided that next time it was going to be light enough to walk with comfortably. :)

Of course, that was summer... so.

If you stay up all night packing before you catch your plane, you'll sleep through the entire flight and be fresh when you arrive.

Actually, I'm going by train. Then spend practically a whole day in Moscow (yes, I'm going to Russia) and take another train in the evening. Now, the question is, should I stay up the whole night before taking the train to Moscow, or should I stay awake all night during the trip to Moscow?

Sleep on your way to Moscow, you'll probably want to see the city when you get there. It can suck to be all bleary when you're somewhere you want to check out.

Another vote for packing light and for staying awake during the trip to Moscow.

Have fun! Everything will be fine!

Dude, let me tell you about the time I moved from New Zealand to the USA. FOREVER.

The day before I flew out, I hadn't started packing. I defended my thesis at 1pm, and passed. Then I met my friend at the pub.

Throughout the day, more people came.

I got home at 3am drunk off my ass with a 11am flight out of my country FOREVER and had to pack.

I did it, so can you.

It's not the packing I'm worried about. It's...everything else.

I've calmed down now, though, and am off to bed. Good night!

There is nothing you *need* that you cannot buy where you are going. If you cannot buy something where you're going, that means all the people who live there survive without it, so you probably will too :-D

That may be true about most stuff, TPS, but in some countries, things like vitamins and patent medicines can be pricey. But I don't know shit about Russiua.

I'm so jealous. I've always wanted to go to Russia. You'll be fine! I've never met one person in the whole of my life who ever regretted their travels.

Pack lighter than light cuz you will be picking up stuff all the time to bring back home. Unless of course you go somewhere that offers a premium price for american jeans.