Any idea? I'll be leaving the US for 9 months just a few days before the Kobo comes out here in the States. Would love to have something to accompany me on the road since books are hard to find/lugged around.

Pretty sure some members have gotten them shipped from Chapters in Canada...
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/ereading/devices/Kobo-eReader-Black/817866000033-item.html

It does not seem to let me ship to an U.S. address :/ I guess I'm stuck?

Think its that, or having it shipped wherever you are going, FROM the U.S. or Canada.

I guess you're not close to the Canada border to cross it and get a Kobo yourself, aren't you?

In that case don't think there's much you can do unless you've got time to trust some Canadian and have it shipped to their place first and then to yours

If you are not in rush wait for the Borders launch.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/borders-kobo-ereader-available-for-pre-order-ships-june-17th/

If you are not in rush wait for the Borders launch.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/borders-kobo-ereader-available-for-pre-order-ships-june-17th/

Even if you are in a rush, waiting for the Borders launch will probably give you the version 1.1 firmware, and you will avoid the worst of the annoying bugs you can read about in the Kobo forum.

I pre-ordered mine a week before official release and got it shipped to the US, but soon after the release I heard many people complain that chapters indigo stopped shipping internationally(including the US). I guess it's better to wait for border's release now.