I'm preparing myself for a journey of a lifetime, and how exactly can one do that? I have learned a couple of things that have helped me to relax, to gain a fresh perspective, and most importantly… breathe! First, you can't focus only on what is soon to come. Belgium, Australia, or Thailand can't be the only thing on your mind. You will miss out on some very special times with your friends and family. You will gain too many expectations of what your exchange will be like expectations that will surely lead to disappointment and hardships later on (or so I'm told). Second, if you find yourself overwhelmed, see if you can delegate a few tasks to a parent, and go have some fun. Take a friend to the beach, go to the movies with your cousin, or bake a cake for your friend's party. These will be memories that you'll cherish. Third, just relax! The odds are with you that everything will go relatively well. You will be off of the plane and hugging your new host family before you know it, and it will be fine. Not to say that it's easy, but thousands of kids do this every year. These are just a few small tips that are helping me survive until August. Choke Dee Khrap! (Good Luck!).