Ithaca, I'm coming!
Finally, I have received the definitive admission to Cornell U. All the tension during the last weeks, fearfully opening my mailbox, waiting for calls or e-mails, convincing myself that everything will work out just fine etc. etc. -- it is over! Ithaca, I'm looking foward to spending a wonderful year at yours!
PS I have thought about setting up a "I'm going to America"-Blog for documenting my preparations and of course the stay there but I'm not sure yet (looking at the posting frequency in the air-pump world should teach me a lesson ...)