Ten days to go.

In ten days' time I will be at Sydney International Airport with my family, kissing them goodbye as I embark on what I hope to be the 'Trip of a Lifetime'.

It's been years in the planning and finally all those dreams are about to be put into motion.

Of course I am excited, but it's starting to sink in that I won't see my immediate family for a really long time - the longest yet for me. When I did my foreign exchange to France in 2005 (I was 15) I found that tough. I'll be away for a lot longer than that!

I will spend my first week staying with my grandparents in Oxfordshire, and visiting friends and relatives, before leaving for Geneva on the 1st December.

From there, a coach ride will take me to Tignes, where I will begin my ski season as a chalet girl working in a lovely hotel.

I really have no clue what to expect once I arrive in Tignes. What will the people I'm working for be like? I literally know nobody. Will we become instant best friends, or will there be conflicts? Will we go out drinking on our first night? ? And if we do, are they going to drink me under the table? If we play 'Never Ever', should I be honest? So many questions.

The unknown can be exciting. For me, it is. But it is also a scenario wherein I have little control. And I like to be in control. I like to know what to expect. I like to be mentally prepared for the situation.

I think that this year away will be good for me. I'll have to go with the flow, take everything as it comes, and lower my expectations so I don't get disappointed when things don't go as I've planned.

Do you have any tips about traveling and backpacking? How would you cope with living away (for me, it will be for five months as a chalet girl) not knowing anyone?

I'm making my final arrangements and beginning to pack. The moment I'm looking forward to is when I am sitting on that plane, with everything sorted, reflecting on my 21st birthday (which will be held two days prior) and looking into the future.

Note: The above photo is from http://startlinemtb.com/index.php?p=1_4_Tignes and is taken of Tignes, where I'll be living and working during my ski season.