Passport - check. Anti-Malaria pills - check. Suncreen - check. Bug spray - check.

Here it is; departure day already. It seems like only days ago I received word that I would be spending my summer in Ghana. Yesterday I was graduating from my undergraduate degree, and today I'm sitting in an airport awaiting my first of three flights to take me to Accra.

Up until today I have felt surprisingly calm about this (probably the result of having so many last minute visits and grad events). Now, as I sit in the Halifax airport in front of my gate, I'm anxious and slightly nervous.

Pre-travel jitters can make or break the experience of travelling. For me, I often find I can't eat, but load up on caffeinated beverages. (This usually creates a secondary source of jitters itself.) In the past I can become so anxious about what's to come that I can become physically ill. But this has nothing to do with flying or a fear or being on my own; it's the unknown that creeps into my head. This generally fades the moment I make it through security, because at that point it's just annoying to back out. . .I mean I've come this far!

All in all, the pre-travel jitters are an essential part of travel. They build the anticipation and make arrival all the more exciting. Mind you, it's probably not the best to deal with them how I do, but I don't travel enough to cause me any great concern.

My advice to future passengers is to embrace whatever fears and anxieties you may have. Facing them is the best way to overcome them. If you can make it passed whatever point scares you most, you can do anything!