When you have lived somewhere for four years it’s emotionally draining to say good-bye to friends and logistically exasperating to transport your life elsewhere.  But between canceling your cable service and buying International traveler’s insurance, make sure you enjoy your time in the US as much as possible before you go!  Five tips:

1.  Make a Bucket List

• I made a Google doc of all the things I had always wanted to do in New York but hadn’t made time for yet.  My friends went in and added their names next to activities they wanted to join me for so I got to see my friends and try new things!
• My list ranged from seeing a Broadway show (“Rock of Ages” to be specific. I’m still singing Here I Go Again and smiling to myself) to trekking to Harlem for the infamous Dinosaur BBQ (overrated!) to seeing my rockstar friend Sean Bradford perform his own show at Joe’s Pub (only in NY!)

2. Enlist men to help you move

• Perrin and I both had strong men load our stuff into SUVs and vans.  We’re no damsels in distress but mattresses are really heavy!
• I live on a six floor walk up with tight turns on the stairway.  Since I didn’t document my own move I’m sharing this strikingly similar experience from “Friends.” PIVOT!

3. Throw multiple good bye parties

• Coworkers, friends, family.  There are so many people to say good bye to, so have as many parties as possible!
• Great good-bye party idea: Each of my friends bought me a song on iTunes and wrote a note in a journal about which song they picked and why.  Now my ipod is stacked with tunes that will bring back memories from home. Example: Brigitte used to listen to this popular song in Italy when they won the World Cup four years ago.  Now it’s my turn! Seven Nation Army

"Maestro Bailey" -- the aptly titled journal my friends gave me with their song choices.

4.  Sample the culture of where you’re moving

• My last day I had long, leisurely brunch at an outdoor French restaurant in the West Village.   Handy practice for European dining!
• I sampled New York’s best gelato so I could adequately compare it to Italian gelato…

5.  Buy a sweet backpack

• Perrin spent TWO hours in REI looking for the perfect backpack!!  She asked every question imaginable — does the pack have alternative openings?  If she had a wet towel, was there a place where she could hang it outside the packback? Do you have the kind that swivel with your hips?  Because those are awesome.
• I sat on the ground and ate a sandwich, tried on a couple options, found one that fit alright and got out of there.  I have a shopping attention span of a 2-year old.
• Perrin got a Gregory Jade 60.  I got an REI Flash 65 — names that make me feel as if we just picked superhero personas.  Check back after our travels to see if Perrin’s methodic inquisition of the REI sales team trumped my intuitive grab.

Perrin and I are ready to jet set out of our parents' house! With that picture on the wall I feel like there's fire flaming out of my snazzy new pac!