Guess I haven't been really updating much on what's been happening in the 2 wks I've been in LA and in school. There's an ice cream social and a meeting of all the residents in about 2h time so I should blog real quick and put this in before I forget all this stuff in my head!
Had an orientation for international students from the 17th-20th. Was quite informative, there as information on bus services, attractions, academic services blah blah blah, everything an orientation should have. A trip to the Santa Monica Beach and 3rd St Promenade which is like the shopping district at the beach hahaha. All these stuff, minus the "get into groups and do funny things and cheer madly" stuff. Which was just excellent. Think the 2 singaporean girls I was with made quite a few friends, and they got quite chummy with this brazilian girl, who's name is Tassia, and she had quite a few friends, her suite mates, her brazilian guy friends, and others, so our group gradually got a little bit bigger and a little more interesting. Its always interesting to be with a huge group of international students. Its a cliche, but you really get to experience all kinds of different cultures. Its quite funny though, I think I am one of the older ones here on exchange, or even at school, judging from the people I've asked. Hahaha, don't look that old though, as compared to the french chicks and their ray bans and stuff. WHAHAHAHAH. Still I ain't the most social person, so, just been doing the hi-bye stuff with the ppl the girls have been meeting.
And 20th was the big day where we moved out from our ultra comfortable hotel to move into our halls. My dorm is like an apartment, where its 1 room in this hugeeeeee house. It's got quite an old school charm to it. Its a huge room, for 3 ppl. My roommates are pretty cool. One's a german from potsdam (potsdam conference!) and the other is an american who's a transfer student from another college. Best thing is all of us are pretty easy going, and we've hit it off ok, so I don foresee any problems. And having an american around makes it easier cos there's someone to bring me out. hahahaha. Although I get the idea that they tend to find silences uncomfortable? We talk and talk, and then it gets a little stale, but its never easy to resolve our conversations? I find it weird, unlike back home where I usually don't engage in small banter at all? But still its all good, I guess an experience where I've gotta come out of my comfort zone.
After orientation, you would think that isn't it time for Kenneth to finally start school yet? but NO it ain't! There's still welcome week for new students. Amazing. I went to a Welcome Picnic at the recreation center in school, and it was fun. Good food, babes in the bikinis, ppl playing beach volleyball, ppl swimming...There was this informal soccer thing that just got organised, and I joined in for some gd fun. Even though football is the American thing, but we know what gets the REST of the world going don't you? heh. At night there was a Bruin Bash. I went for a concert and the guest performer in the house was T.I. the rapper and it was held in our Tennis Center. After that there was either dance, or clubbing in the Pauley Pavillion, which is like comparable to the Indoor Stadium, except half the size? or we could catch a sneak preview of the movie "The Kingdom", starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. How cool was that? Wanted to watch the movie cos clubbing ain't my thing, but some screw ups ensured that the queue for the movie and the bash all became too darn long, and i totally hate queues especially if I'm far behind. But still, I appreciated the idea how much was being done to welcome new students, or freshmen that were 18 for that matter, whereas it never felt like there was such a magnitude of events back home in NUS.
School's starting Thursday, and the few days before Thursday are some settling of admin like checking in with the International Center and the EAP Office, and also attending some Visa workshops and Department talks. Its all tiring, but fulfilling. And I do hope I'll have enough time soon to start heading out to downtown LA to catch the sights and stuff!
And did I mention my window is overlooking a sorority house?
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