I just got home from watching Where the Wild Things Are.
This is how I spent my Saturday.
I stayed up until about 2 in the morning hanging out in the lounge with some friends. We were playing games and then just talking and whatnot, kicking it. I slept until about 8:30, and then sat around until 9ish. Got up. Did a whole bunch of nothing. Went to the library to work on my essay for about two hours-- I got my ideas out, sorted through how I wanted to work my sources into it. I didn't actually start the essay in depth yet. It's an interesting topic, but to write it will be so boring, and I'm just not interested enough to write it the way that Dr. Harvey expects it to be written. So, I have to write the entire thing tomorrow, which I know I can do. It's not the first time that I've spit a seven page synthesis out in one day, and I'm sure that it won't be the last. For about three hours, we had a skype party-- all of our friends united through the internet. It's weird thinking that we are all in different locations spread out on the west coast, but we're still able to, in a way, "hang out." Went to see Where the Wild Things Are with some other friends...
and now I'm here, waiting for Jessica DeTomasi to call me back...
At this moment, I am more homesick than I have felt the entire time, for every home that I have-- for Turlock and Tahoe and San Francisco and Sacramento. Right now I want to be everywhere that's not here. Of course I'm making friends, of course I'm liking Riverside better and better, but I wish I had some way to get out of here. I wish I could just bro up with one person and that would be the person that I could hang out with and talk to all the time, but it doesn't work like that. No one here is Sarah Boren and no one here is Jessica DeTomasi, and I would never want them to be, but I just wish that I had someone that I could be myself around all the time, someone I didn't have to worry about feeling annoying or stupid around. I need to find someone that I can just kick it with and not worry about anything, or someone that I can worry about everything with. Just one person.
Not having someone like that, I guess, does help me stay really close to everyone at home, but it just gets lonely, because I can't have everyone at home on the telephone all the time.
They seriously need to invent one of those Star Trek teleporters. I would disguise mine as a shower, or hide it in the back of the closet, like a superhero.
It's midnight, but I'm not very tired, so maybe I will check post secret and play some guitar and start working on my essay and write some poems. I think I'lll be up until about two, and I plan on waking up around nine, nine:thirty at the latest tomorrow. This essay isn't going to be phenomenal, but I will make it good enough to work.
I miss you guys. Lots of love.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Finally
Life here is getting easier.
I've finally started getting my footing on friendships. It was hard at first, but as I'm getting to know people, I've started finding people who actually want to hang out and do stuff. On Wednesday night, I went alone to a reggae concert at the Barn (which is like a bar/restaurant/venue on campus); I only stayed for one band, but it was pretty cool. There was a girl standing next to me who seemed like she was into it, but as they kept playing, I heard her saying, "This just doesn't make sense." A guy behind me asks, "What?" And she says, "I'm from Jamaica..." The singer faked a pretty good Jamaican accent though. On Thursday night, I went to the Barn again with my friend Hyun for the Student Musician's Association meeting-- I don't think I will be joining SMA. You can rent out rooms and equipment, make recordings, find people to jam with, and that's all fun, but the information meeting/concert did not turn me on to the idea. Hyun and I ended up leaving early to get our friend Jenny and go back to Hyun's dorm to play guitar and hang out. It was pretty cool, though.
Everyone here leaves on weekends, so it usually gets dead quiet in my hallway. You don't really see that many people. Friday afternoon, I went and bought chalk for the lounge. When I got home, my friend Asa and I proceeded to do some epic scenes: He drew a samurai fighting a giant praying mantis; I drew an alien turning a city into hamburgers, fries, and a milkshake. We spent the rest of the night just talking and watching Superman Doomsday and laughing and talking some more. It was fun. Saturday, Hyun and I played guitar for a while, attempting to write a song. We got the chorus and two verses down, but next we have to do a bridge, and possibly a third verse. We also played a bit of Super Smash Brothers, which he dominated at, considering the fact that I don't think I've ever played that game and I all around suck at videogames anyway. He got six consecutive wins before we quit. Jenny came and retrieved us and we went back to her dorms and watched a movie in their lounge. Around sixish, I went back to my rooms to find out the plan for the rest of the night.
Christy, one of the staff members in my hallway, and Asa came over for about an hour and played cards and listening to music. At around 8 p.m. I went over to B-side (A and B are connected by a lounge) and listened to their awkward conversations, until it was time to go. A large group of us, twelve or thirteen or so, went to go see Couples Retreat; It was okay--average, in my opinion. Afterward, we all went to Denny's (at midnight!) and then walked back to the dorms around 1:30, where everyone stayed up talking in the hallway until about 2:30, before we all dispersed for bed. It was quite entertaining.
Today is my quiet day. The day that I need to complete all my readings for Monday and Tuesday and get any necessary work finished; I've been keeping on top of my homework very well, usually finishing it before I go out and do anything with anyone, so no need to worry that my social life is getting in the way of my academics. It's not, and it will not.
In anthropology, we're reading about human exhibitionism at world fairs throughout the past century and in the present-- Body Worlds counts. Anthropology is definitely changing my perspective even more on how to interact with people and evaluate what they're saying, and eliminating my idea of 'race'. I mean, I've long had the thought that "people are people" but this class is solidifying that belief for me. Dr. Harvey continues to be engaging, while the readings continue to be boring, but it's a balance. I know that when I'm done with the readings, he will find a clever way to explain everything that I have read that I need to know.
I actually need to go do the anthropology reading now, but that is a small synopsis of what has been happening (socially) in my life in the past couple of days.
Just because I'm starting to like it better here doesn't mean that I don't want to be at Home. If I could come Home every weekend, I would, and I'm jealous of everyone who gets to do so. But I'm learning to cope with it.
I've finally started getting my footing on friendships. It was hard at first, but as I'm getting to know people, I've started finding people who actually want to hang out and do stuff. On Wednesday night, I went alone to a reggae concert at the Barn (which is like a bar/restaurant/venue on campus); I only stayed for one band, but it was pretty cool. There was a girl standing next to me who seemed like she was into it, but as they kept playing, I heard her saying, "This just doesn't make sense." A guy behind me asks, "What?" And she says, "I'm from Jamaica..." The singer faked a pretty good Jamaican accent though. On Thursday night, I went to the Barn again with my friend Hyun for the Student Musician's Association meeting-- I don't think I will be joining SMA. You can rent out rooms and equipment, make recordings, find people to jam with, and that's all fun, but the information meeting/concert did not turn me on to the idea. Hyun and I ended up leaving early to get our friend Jenny and go back to Hyun's dorm to play guitar and hang out. It was pretty cool, though.
Everyone here leaves on weekends, so it usually gets dead quiet in my hallway. You don't really see that many people. Friday afternoon, I went and bought chalk for the lounge. When I got home, my friend Asa and I proceeded to do some epic scenes: He drew a samurai fighting a giant praying mantis; I drew an alien turning a city into hamburgers, fries, and a milkshake. We spent the rest of the night just talking and watching Superman Doomsday and laughing and talking some more. It was fun. Saturday, Hyun and I played guitar for a while, attempting to write a song. We got the chorus and two verses down, but next we have to do a bridge, and possibly a third verse. We also played a bit of Super Smash Brothers, which he dominated at, considering the fact that I don't think I've ever played that game and I all around suck at videogames anyway. He got six consecutive wins before we quit. Jenny came and retrieved us and we went back to her dorms and watched a movie in their lounge. Around sixish, I went back to my rooms to find out the plan for the rest of the night.
Christy, one of the staff members in my hallway, and Asa came over for about an hour and played cards and listening to music. At around 8 p.m. I went over to B-side (A and B are connected by a lounge) and listened to their awkward conversations, until it was time to go. A large group of us, twelve or thirteen or so, went to go see Couples Retreat; It was okay--average, in my opinion. Afterward, we all went to Denny's (at midnight!) and then walked back to the dorms around 1:30, where everyone stayed up talking in the hallway until about 2:30, before we all dispersed for bed. It was quite entertaining.
Today is my quiet day. The day that I need to complete all my readings for Monday and Tuesday and get any necessary work finished; I've been keeping on top of my homework very well, usually finishing it before I go out and do anything with anyone, so no need to worry that my social life is getting in the way of my academics. It's not, and it will not.
In anthropology, we're reading about human exhibitionism at world fairs throughout the past century and in the present-- Body Worlds counts. Anthropology is definitely changing my perspective even more on how to interact with people and evaluate what they're saying, and eliminating my idea of 'race'. I mean, I've long had the thought that "people are people" but this class is solidifying that belief for me. Dr. Harvey continues to be engaging, while the readings continue to be boring, but it's a balance. I know that when I'm done with the readings, he will find a clever way to explain everything that I have read that I need to know.
I actually need to go do the anthropology reading now, but that is a small synopsis of what has been happening (socially) in my life in the past couple of days.
Just because I'm starting to like it better here doesn't mean that I don't want to be at Home. If I could come Home every weekend, I would, and I'm jealous of everyone who gets to do so. But I'm learning to cope with it.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Andy
This afternoon, I went to go see the 3-D Double Feature of Toy Story 1 and 2 with my friend Danny; it... was... AWESOME. I haven't seen that movie in so long, and seeing a movie from my childhood in a movie theater was super cool. I can't wait for Where the Wild Things Are, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Fantastic Mister Fox, and Alice in Wonderland. They're all going to be awesome.
I've been listening to music pretty much nonstop since Friday; on my playlist:
Silver Jews
Bon Iver
She & Him
Bon Iver
Built Like Alaska
Andrew Bird
Viva Voce
Conor Oberst (and)
Cat Stevens
I have yet to go to the garden and play my guitar, but that's my goal for the week (on top of classes, finding the post office, going to Raley's to buy juice/milk, etc). I also want to sleep outside in the "secret garden" which is the little lawn and patio area between A-wing and B-wing that we have access to. I probably won't because it's getting hecka cold, but if I can get a ton of people to sleep out there one weekend, that would be cool.
I wrote my first paper this weekend; it wasn't much of a paper, only a one page synthesis of reading notes, lectures, and discussions, but it was enough to keep me occupied. It wasn't too hard, except for that Dr. Harvey didn't really give us any guidelines on format, just what he expected; I guess I wasn't expecting him to. Luckily, I brought my notes from Mrs. Asgill and Mr. Huth's class and used information that I had shoved in my brain from back then, and so it went smoothly. I hope it's adequate; I have four more of these types of papers to write for Doctor Harvey, plus two longer (research?) papers; three to go in philosophy, and three to go in Islam as well.
We're getting past the introductions in the Qur'an and actually starting to read passages, and I'm surprised to see the differences between the cultures then and now; the suras are meant for the peoples of the culture in which it was delivered, so when people read it now, they apply it to their own culture and time and think that whatever the Qur'an says is what goes, but really, it's not supposed to be that way completely. I don't know; I still have a lot to learn. I was talking to one person in my class, a devout Muslim, and we got to the topic of how to follow the religion, and this is what he told me: "For instance, pork. I don't eat pork because the religion says not to; I don't eat pork because it's a filthy animal." I don't eat pork either, but I don't think it's filthy. A pig won't eat itself to death, but a goat will; why pigs? why not goats? Anyway, it was intense to see someone other than the Christians I am used to in Turlock express their way of life so passionately.
Philosophy is weird. My mind isn't really working for that class; I understand what's going on, but my questions keep leading me in circles. I kind of think that's the point; after all, in Euthyphro, that's how Socrates leads Euthyphro: in circles. I'm afraid of writing an essay for that class, though, because I am afraid it will get me nowhere. I'm sure once we move onto the next text and I finally have something to compare it to, it will be easier.
I still have my Anthropology reading to do for tomorrow, and I was thinking about starting my Islam reading for Thursday.
I've been embroidering a lot; a patch and Papou's jacket (it finally says "Gus" again!), and next is my plain black dress. I'm still deliberating whether or not the black dress should have a deep-sea diving theme (scary fish that you don't really see, like angler fish); cartoony under-the-sea (happy octopus, squid versus whale, etc), or constellations, or piracy. So, yeah, if you want to make a suggestion, please do. I'd like to start it soon, though, so I can actually wear it.
Ummm.... yeah. I haven't been taking pictures yet, but I'm going to start real soon (as in, tomorrow?). So, yeah, I guess I'll be posting those.
Alright. I guess it's time to start my reading. I still miss Home, and can't stop that jealous feeling everytime I hear someone say, "I'm going home for the weekend," but it's getting easier to live here. Even though there is nothing to do. It's like Turlock (without cows and rivers), but five times bigger. =P
I've been listening to music pretty much nonstop since Friday; on my playlist:
Silver Jews
Bon Iver
She & Him
Bon Iver
Built Like Alaska
Andrew Bird
Viva Voce
Conor Oberst (and)
Cat Stevens
I have yet to go to the garden and play my guitar, but that's my goal for the week (on top of classes, finding the post office, going to Raley's to buy juice/milk, etc). I also want to sleep outside in the "secret garden" which is the little lawn and patio area between A-wing and B-wing that we have access to. I probably won't because it's getting hecka cold, but if I can get a ton of people to sleep out there one weekend, that would be cool.
I wrote my first paper this weekend; it wasn't much of a paper, only a one page synthesis of reading notes, lectures, and discussions, but it was enough to keep me occupied. It wasn't too hard, except for that Dr. Harvey didn't really give us any guidelines on format, just what he expected; I guess I wasn't expecting him to. Luckily, I brought my notes from Mrs. Asgill and Mr. Huth's class and used information that I had shoved in my brain from back then, and so it went smoothly. I hope it's adequate; I have four more of these types of papers to write for Doctor Harvey, plus two longer (research?) papers; three to go in philosophy, and three to go in Islam as well.
We're getting past the introductions in the Qur'an and actually starting to read passages, and I'm surprised to see the differences between the cultures then and now; the suras are meant for the peoples of the culture in which it was delivered, so when people read it now, they apply it to their own culture and time and think that whatever the Qur'an says is what goes, but really, it's not supposed to be that way completely. I don't know; I still have a lot to learn. I was talking to one person in my class, a devout Muslim, and we got to the topic of how to follow the religion, and this is what he told me: "For instance, pork. I don't eat pork because the religion says not to; I don't eat pork because it's a filthy animal." I don't eat pork either, but I don't think it's filthy. A pig won't eat itself to death, but a goat will; why pigs? why not goats? Anyway, it was intense to see someone other than the Christians I am used to in Turlock express their way of life so passionately.
Philosophy is weird. My mind isn't really working for that class; I understand what's going on, but my questions keep leading me in circles. I kind of think that's the point; after all, in Euthyphro, that's how Socrates leads Euthyphro: in circles. I'm afraid of writing an essay for that class, though, because I am afraid it will get me nowhere. I'm sure once we move onto the next text and I finally have something to compare it to, it will be easier.
I still have my Anthropology reading to do for tomorrow, and I was thinking about starting my Islam reading for Thursday.
I've been embroidering a lot; a patch and Papou's jacket (it finally says "Gus" again!), and next is my plain black dress. I'm still deliberating whether or not the black dress should have a deep-sea diving theme (scary fish that you don't really see, like angler fish); cartoony under-the-sea (happy octopus, squid versus whale, etc), or constellations, or piracy. So, yeah, if you want to make a suggestion, please do. I'd like to start it soon, though, so I can actually wear it.
Ummm.... yeah. I haven't been taking pictures yet, but I'm going to start real soon (as in, tomorrow?). So, yeah, I guess I'll be posting those.
Alright. I guess it's time to start my reading. I still miss Home, and can't stop that jealous feeling everytime I hear someone say, "I'm going home for the weekend," but it's getting easier to live here. Even though there is nothing to do. It's like Turlock (without cows and rivers), but five times bigger. =P
Monday, September 28, 2009
Fu Inle'
It has been surprisingly chilly these past two days; yesterday, in the morning, and today, most of the day. I suppose it's nearly 80 degrees now, but that's still colder than normal. Summer is officially over, and I am not looking forward to the coming of Winter, even though it is a season away. Eventually, the leaves will fall and it will start to rain. I mean, I hope it rains and I hope it snows, but I just wish that it didn't have to rain in order for the land to be healthier; on either spectrum, there are positives and negatives.
I am getting to like UCR a bit more now that I am getting more used to it, though I still am trying to find ways to transfer to a northern California school, preferably San Francisco State or UC Berkeley. Yesterday, I got a reply email from San Francisco informing me that, because of budget cuts, their school was no longer accepting transfers for undergrads or for students with less than 60 transferable credits; by the end of the year, with the units that I have planned to take, I will only have 53 units. That's seven short. I was thinking that I could compensate by taking at least 7 units in summer school, but at the moment, I am unsure of what to do. I will have to do some more thinking and planning and figure it out. I have not yet recieved any information from Berkeley regarding their transfer program. I don't understand why it's so hard to transfer, especially from a UC to a UC, as long as I were able to get into the school, from a UC to a CSU, which I already got into and declined to attend.
My classes are going well. My favourite class so far has got to be Cultural Anthropology; the professor, Dr. Harvey, is very lively, and makes everything seem so interesting, which it is. But he manipulates it somehow to make it even more interesting, if you can understand that. I'm not really sure how I would go about describing what he does and says to make it so fun; it's almost a "you had to be there" situation. Islam is also a very good class, although the progression is slower than I was hoping. I don't feel as though I've learned much yet, in any of my classes, really, but I know that this is just an introduction, basics before we get into the heavier information, so I am focusing and getting all my homework done when it is assigned. However, one of my books has not yet arrived, and so I have to go to the library whenever Dr. Ali posts a new reading from that book; luckily, he hasn't posted any major readings, just an introduction, and I have nothing much to worry about yet. Philosophy is good too. Not really much to say about that. We're reading Euthyphro and focusing now on the question, "Are things pious because they are loved by the gods, or are they loved by the gods because they are pious?" I finished reading the text this morning, but I have to go back and read the second half over again; there's something I'm missing.
A few days ago, I went to an LGBT meeting to learn about how I can become part of the Allies program, which is a group of students who support LGBT people and feel that they deserve the same human rights that, are, well, human rights. Yeah. You get it. Anyway, the seminar that I would have to attend to become an Ally happens to conflict with one of my classes, by an hour (it's a three hour seminar), and I would not be able to arrive late. I was told that I could talk to my RA and that if we can find ten people who are willing to go through seminar, that they would hold another seminar for any ten people who were willing to be there. I'm going to talk to Dani (our RA) soon and see what I can do. Tomorrow, I'm going to a meeting for the HOST program, which is a program where college students have a highschool student interesting in coming to UCR shadow them to classes and stay the night in their dormroom; where you talk to them about all of the opportunities available at UCR, different organizations they can join, classes they can take, etc. I think it would be a neat opportunity, so I have signed up, and in order to complete the sign-up process, I also have to go to that meeting.
I also bought a ticket to go see Maya Angelou speak on October 22nd here at UCR, which is going to be AWESOME.
I have been making new friends, and have been talking to people easier, though I still have a hard time falling asleep at night and staying asleep throughout the night. I'm not sure it will get easier; sleeping on a bed is strange, even though it is an uncomfortable bed (which I enjoy).
And now, for a story:
I had been in my friend Jason's room, discussing Islam readings and homework, and just talking about where we're from, giving one another tours of our hometowns on google maps. I decided that I should probably go do the homework that I had forgotten to do, and so I went back to my room and walked to the bed... but before I sat down, I noticed something strange. "It smells like burning in here." "It's just my hair straightener; I have to clean it," my roommate answered calmly. No more than thirty seconds later, the fire alarm went off. Everyone in the hallway began to file out of the hallway into the stairwell, where we noticed that the four floors above us as well as B-wing were also filing out. As we got outside, we noticed that the F-wing of East Lo was also leaving their building. EVERYONE was evacuating. My roommate and I were both dreading the possibility that the hair straightener had caused the alarm to go off and 12 floors of students to be evacuated from rooms. So, we're all standing outside, listening to everyone complaining (I bet B-side burned another cookie; I was doing laundry; etc...), waiting for them to announce the reason that the fire alarm went off. After ten or fifteen minutes, a woman comes out with a megaphone: "Attention. Attention! Good job guys. Just so you know, this was a drill! You all did excellently. You can go back to your rooms now." Thank goodness; just a drill. STILL. What a coincidence.
And yes; that is the most excitement that I have had in the past week. I'm sure more exciting things will happen as the week(s) progress, but for now, this is all.
I am getting to like UCR a bit more now that I am getting more used to it, though I still am trying to find ways to transfer to a northern California school, preferably San Francisco State or UC Berkeley. Yesterday, I got a reply email from San Francisco informing me that, because of budget cuts, their school was no longer accepting transfers for undergrads or for students with less than 60 transferable credits; by the end of the year, with the units that I have planned to take, I will only have 53 units. That's seven short. I was thinking that I could compensate by taking at least 7 units in summer school, but at the moment, I am unsure of what to do. I will have to do some more thinking and planning and figure it out. I have not yet recieved any information from Berkeley regarding their transfer program. I don't understand why it's so hard to transfer, especially from a UC to a UC, as long as I were able to get into the school, from a UC to a CSU, which I already got into and declined to attend.
My classes are going well. My favourite class so far has got to be Cultural Anthropology; the professor, Dr. Harvey, is very lively, and makes everything seem so interesting, which it is. But he manipulates it somehow to make it even more interesting, if you can understand that. I'm not really sure how I would go about describing what he does and says to make it so fun; it's almost a "you had to be there" situation. Islam is also a very good class, although the progression is slower than I was hoping. I don't feel as though I've learned much yet, in any of my classes, really, but I know that this is just an introduction, basics before we get into the heavier information, so I am focusing and getting all my homework done when it is assigned. However, one of my books has not yet arrived, and so I have to go to the library whenever Dr. Ali posts a new reading from that book; luckily, he hasn't posted any major readings, just an introduction, and I have nothing much to worry about yet. Philosophy is good too. Not really much to say about that. We're reading Euthyphro and focusing now on the question, "Are things pious because they are loved by the gods, or are they loved by the gods because they are pious?" I finished reading the text this morning, but I have to go back and read the second half over again; there's something I'm missing.
A few days ago, I went to an LGBT meeting to learn about how I can become part of the Allies program, which is a group of students who support LGBT people and feel that they deserve the same human rights that, are, well, human rights. Yeah. You get it. Anyway, the seminar that I would have to attend to become an Ally happens to conflict with one of my classes, by an hour (it's a three hour seminar), and I would not be able to arrive late. I was told that I could talk to my RA and that if we can find ten people who are willing to go through seminar, that they would hold another seminar for any ten people who were willing to be there. I'm going to talk to Dani (our RA) soon and see what I can do. Tomorrow, I'm going to a meeting for the HOST program, which is a program where college students have a highschool student interesting in coming to UCR shadow them to classes and stay the night in their dormroom; where you talk to them about all of the opportunities available at UCR, different organizations they can join, classes they can take, etc. I think it would be a neat opportunity, so I have signed up, and in order to complete the sign-up process, I also have to go to that meeting.
I also bought a ticket to go see Maya Angelou speak on October 22nd here at UCR, which is going to be AWESOME.
I have been making new friends, and have been talking to people easier, though I still have a hard time falling asleep at night and staying asleep throughout the night. I'm not sure it will get easier; sleeping on a bed is strange, even though it is an uncomfortable bed (which I enjoy).
And now, for a story:
I had been in my friend Jason's room, discussing Islam readings and homework, and just talking about where we're from, giving one another tours of our hometowns on google maps. I decided that I should probably go do the homework that I had forgotten to do, and so I went back to my room and walked to the bed... but before I sat down, I noticed something strange. "It smells like burning in here." "It's just my hair straightener; I have to clean it," my roommate answered calmly. No more than thirty seconds later, the fire alarm went off. Everyone in the hallway began to file out of the hallway into the stairwell, where we noticed that the four floors above us as well as B-wing were also filing out. As we got outside, we noticed that the F-wing of East Lo was also leaving their building. EVERYONE was evacuating. My roommate and I were both dreading the possibility that the hair straightener had caused the alarm to go off and 12 floors of students to be evacuated from rooms. So, we're all standing outside, listening to everyone complaining (I bet B-side burned another cookie; I was doing laundry; etc...), waiting for them to announce the reason that the fire alarm went off. After ten or fifteen minutes, a woman comes out with a megaphone: "Attention. Attention! Good job guys. Just so you know, this was a drill! You all did excellently. You can go back to your rooms now." Thank goodness; just a drill. STILL. What a coincidence.
And yes; that is the most excitement that I have had in the past week. I'm sure more exciting things will happen as the week(s) progress, but for now, this is all.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ground control to major tom.
I am finally settled into UC Riverside. I know how to get to all my classes, I have found the closest grocery store and Bank of America (walking distance-- a long walk); nearly all my books are ordered, with the exception of my anthropology books and one of my Islam books. I am set.
I arrived Sunday morning. My roommate was already here and her side of the room was already all cleaned up. My side of the room is... far from organized. It will be, but here is why I have yet to complete the organization process: my bed is too low. My dresser doesn't fit under my bed. Because my dresser doesn't fit under the bed right now, it's just sitting in the middle of the room, waiting for it's turn to be put away, just like everything else in my room. I have had to start a little pile of things in my closet on top of my trunk/chest (which will be going under the bed later, for easier access). It's all quite a mess. I would adjust it myself, but I was told that there is a $500 fine for doing so, so I believe I will just wait for housing to respond to my request, no matter how long that may be.
I have made a few friends, two or three in my hallway, three or four from different dorms, and one that lives off campus. I have been taking long walks everyday. Today, Josh and James [two people that I met last night at the West Lothian (that's my dorm) ice cream social] and I all took a walk in the botanical gardens. I didn't realize how large the garden was until we reached a point where we could see the entire campus below and the valley beyond. It's really nice in the garden, and I'm thinking about doing a lot of my studying there. It's peaceful and quiet, and the people that I've talked to that work there are all very nice.
Tomorrow is my first day of class: I have Philosophy at 9 - 10:30 in the morning, and one of my Islam classes, or it could possibly be the Islam partner class, sort of like a CHASS (College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences) intro class maybe? I'm not sure what it's going to be, but I have it in the early afternoon sometime. Friday, I only have two classes: Anthropology and another of my Islam/CHASS classes-- then it's my first weekend of of studying and assignments.
So, that's a brief update. Nothing too exciting. Dancing Dave Burtch gave me 8 gigs of music, and it's ALL good, so I'm pretty stoked-- I've been listening to it a lot, and trying to write some stories. Maybe I'll try to post some when they're done. They're sort of just practice-- I'm inspired and I have ideas, but the words just won't come out the way I was hoping they would, so I'll keep drafting and forming until it's right, and even then it might not be right. We'll see what happens.
And that's it for now, I suppose. I miss everyone!
I arrived Sunday morning. My roommate was already here and her side of the room was already all cleaned up. My side of the room is... far from organized. It will be, but here is why I have yet to complete the organization process: my bed is too low. My dresser doesn't fit under my bed. Because my dresser doesn't fit under the bed right now, it's just sitting in the middle of the room, waiting for it's turn to be put away, just like everything else in my room. I have had to start a little pile of things in my closet on top of my trunk/chest (which will be going under the bed later, for easier access). It's all quite a mess. I would adjust it myself, but I was told that there is a $500 fine for doing so, so I believe I will just wait for housing to respond to my request, no matter how long that may be.
I have made a few friends, two or three in my hallway, three or four from different dorms, and one that lives off campus. I have been taking long walks everyday. Today, Josh and James [two people that I met last night at the West Lothian (that's my dorm) ice cream social] and I all took a walk in the botanical gardens. I didn't realize how large the garden was until we reached a point where we could see the entire campus below and the valley beyond. It's really nice in the garden, and I'm thinking about doing a lot of my studying there. It's peaceful and quiet, and the people that I've talked to that work there are all very nice.
Tomorrow is my first day of class: I have Philosophy at 9 - 10:30 in the morning, and one of my Islam classes, or it could possibly be the Islam partner class, sort of like a CHASS (College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences) intro class maybe? I'm not sure what it's going to be, but I have it in the early afternoon sometime. Friday, I only have two classes: Anthropology and another of my Islam/CHASS classes-- then it's my first weekend of of studying and assignments.
So, that's a brief update. Nothing too exciting. Dancing Dave Burtch gave me 8 gigs of music, and it's ALL good, so I'm pretty stoked-- I've been listening to it a lot, and trying to write some stories. Maybe I'll try to post some when they're done. They're sort of just practice-- I'm inspired and I have ideas, but the words just won't come out the way I was hoping they would, so I'll keep drafting and forming until it's right, and even then it might not be right. We'll see what happens.
And that's it for now, I suppose. I miss everyone!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
i wake up alone knock loud i'm home
I am at a loss of what to say. It's Thursday. I have two more days at home, two more days to say goodbye to everyone. Two more days to check and sort the mail. Two more days to build my nest on the living room floor and sleep with Pancho curled up on my pillow. Two more days to hang out with my best Budda. Two more days. That' s it.
I've had three and a half months to build up to this point, and what a good three and a half months it has been. I have had so many new experiences: I gave blood twice, I watched two three-d movies, I played two shows (successfully and not), I have sung and played my songs for my favourite singers and songwriters, I got a tattoo. I have seen my moma more these past nine months than I have seen her in the past three years put together, and I am most grateful for that. I have had to say goodbye to my comrades and say hello to new friends.
But I still can't believe I'm only home for two more days. It doesn't really feel like I'm going to be leaving, and I suppose I'm not really leaving. I think of it more as an expedition or an adventure, and when I come home I will have learned so many new concepts and lessons, and I will have new ideas. Family will still be Family. Friends will still be friends. I am what I love, not what loves me back. I could never really leave Home.
So, I guess will finish packing and saying my farewells, I'll check the mail, and Pancho Villa and I will go for a walk. I'll run some errands and I'll ride my bike around for a little while.
And then it will be time to migrate. I've seen gaggles of geese flying off in their v-formations, but they'll come back to hatch their goslings at CSUS and Donnelly when the weather gets better. And I'll be coming home, too. It's not forever. It never really is.
I've had three and a half months to build up to this point, and what a good three and a half months it has been. I have had so many new experiences: I gave blood twice, I watched two three-d movies, I played two shows (successfully and not), I have sung and played my songs for my favourite singers and songwriters, I got a tattoo. I have seen my moma more these past nine months than I have seen her in the past three years put together, and I am most grateful for that. I have had to say goodbye to my comrades and say hello to new friends.
But I still can't believe I'm only home for two more days. It doesn't really feel like I'm going to be leaving, and I suppose I'm not really leaving. I think of it more as an expedition or an adventure, and when I come home I will have learned so many new concepts and lessons, and I will have new ideas. Family will still be Family. Friends will still be friends. I am what I love, not what loves me back. I could never really leave Home.
So, I guess will finish packing and saying my farewells, I'll check the mail, and Pancho Villa and I will go for a walk. I'll run some errands and I'll ride my bike around for a little while.
And then it will be time to migrate. I've seen gaggles of geese flying off in their v-formations, but they'll come back to hatch their goslings at CSUS and Donnelly when the weather gets better. And I'll be coming home, too. It's not forever. It never really is.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
the test begins
So, this is what it comes down to: a blog.
I never thought I would have a "real" blog, but after much contemplation, I figured it would be an important element in keeping my friends and family up-to-date on the goings-on of my life as I embark on this great adventure, what I have deemed:
"The Experiment; The Expansion; The Louisiana Purchase of My Life"
In these short eighteen years, I have had experiences that I will never forget, good and bad; I have made friends that I will never part with; I have found Family...
...but this is no time to dwell on Peter Pan sentiments. I will say what he neglected to; "To live will be an awfully big adventure." All fledglings learn to fly, and now it's my turn to leave the nest, but I'll always follow the migratory patterns ingrained in me. I will always be able to find Home.
I never thought I would have a "real" blog, but after much contemplation, I figured it would be an important element in keeping my friends and family up-to-date on the goings-on of my life as I embark on this great adventure, what I have deemed:
"The Experiment; The Expansion; The Louisiana Purchase of My Life"
In these short eighteen years, I have had experiences that I will never forget, good and bad; I have made friends that I will never part with; I have found Family...
...but this is no time to dwell on Peter Pan sentiments. I will say what he neglected to; "To live will be an awfully big adventure." All fledglings learn to fly, and now it's my turn to leave the nest, but I'll always follow the migratory patterns ingrained in me. I will always be able to find Home.
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