As I wait...

So it's been a few weeks since the orientation. The reason I did not blog about it was because it was uncomfortable, boring, and wasted about 4 hours of my life. 2 hours of it was just the right amount.
Any way, I've been counting down to the days I leave, currently, right now, I have 12 days, 2 hours and around 20 minutes till the day I depart for California, 14 days, 2 hours and 20 mins till the day I depart for the land of the rising sun. Of course where specifically, I DON'T know. I'm suppose to find out this week, I can call this weekend and next week, but they told us, most of you won't know till the day before you depart to Japan. (By this time I'll be in San Jose, basking in California weather, while the YFU orientation instructors stuff language stuff I'll mostly know, cultural stuff that most I will know, and 'Japanese' food.) But I'm suppose to bring gifts for my host family, and this has become a huge ongoing discussion for my mom and I.
What we have so far:

• My 50 state quarters set AND map
• Fridge Magnets
• Ker-plunk (a, quote "easy, non-language barrier game that we can bond over,")
• some stress cows
• a Amish Folding basket in the Shape of Wisconsin
• Door Country cherries
• Hand made socks from my mother
• peanut butter (1 large jar is for my host family, 2 are for my independent cravings, and one for someone else? I just know that I'm gonna start to miss Peanut butter)
• And a small bird doll made by moi, for my "best friend" over there, whoever that will be.
• oh, and LOTS of wrapping paper

Yeah, so, the wrapping of presents is a huge thing over there, I guess. But I can't get into the country unless they see EVERYTHING. So I get to pre-cut all the paper to the specific presents and, hide in the rare moments of quick privacy to wrap these gifts for my host family. YAY... :C

But, I DID get a new pink and shiny camera for my trip -excited-, I started taking pictures of my house, goofing with the video, and got a few pictures of the bunny in my yard. SO CUTE. I know all of you want a million pictures from when I get back, and I'll tell you, that thing will never be out my hands, well maybe when I'm taking a bath...

12 more days, 2 hours, 9 mins till the day I leave Madison!