Hey Alex, good to hear from you!! Nice going with your girl. I think you should try to put yourself in her shoes when you see her next. She obviously wants to get to know you or you both wouldn't be talking on MSN over break everyday. This is great!! Help her get to know you....
On the side of getting drunk to overcome shyness....bad move. This helps at times, but you will find you will want to rely on it. You can not be drunk all the time. The way to get over shyness is to do it sober and find a way to relax and taking the pressure off of yourself in social situations. Drinking is fun, but does not solve problems...
Good luck!!