Yesterday, I came home and this was in my email:

Subject: Australia Program is Confirmed! Pack your bags!

Hello Australia Participants,

I'm very pleased to announce that the Australia program in Melbourne and the Kimberley Range is confirmed as going! You are receiving this email because you are enrolled in the program and a place has been reserved for you.

Um, excuse me for just one moment. Brief intermission. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll be right back...

*ahem* SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm back. Whew!

That email included the syllabus for the class and the itinerary for the trip. I think my head is about to explode, I'm so freaking excited! It was one of those moments where I felt like calling everyone and saying, "I'm going to Australia!" Except, everyone would have been all, "Yeah, uh, we know. Thanks for rubbing it in!!" Heh! But you see, what people don't know is that I have been fretting, feeling slightly scared every time the words, "I'm going to Australia this summer," left my mouth, because up until now, there was a possibility the trip could be cancelled by the school. If there weren't enough participants enrolled for some reason, the trip was off. And now, I know for sure - It's ON, and we are GOING, and I AM going to Australia this summer!!! HOLY CRAP!

You'll have to excuse me if I'm all bouncy and excited and crazy as I prepare over the next few months. I'm tripping out. If anyone has any cool Australia travel info they'd like to share with me, feel free to send it my way!

I've already purchased two of my school books from amazon. I hope they arrive soon! The school will be giving me one, a course reader. And then I have to buy like four more! Including a Field Guide for Australian birds! Dude, we're going to have lectures on the evolution of Australian mammals! And plants! And we're going to be in class only in the mornings Monday-Thursday. And we're taking lots of field trips. And a plane ride! And a boat ride! And, andandand... Aaaahhh!! This is going to be AWESOME. I love that I finally feel free to get excited! It's like not only regular excitement, but pent up excitement that's just been waiting to burst out of me like a can of snakes!

I am sure I will be writing more as I prepare for the trip and learn more and stuff. There will probably be more squee-ing involved.

Um. So, that's really it. I mean, I don't really- okayonelasttime (for now) --

I'M GOING TO AUSTRALIA!!!!!! Yaaay!