Yup you read the title of this one right, but I'm fine with it actually. My first photo assignment that I did wrong the first time, well guess what...I did it wrong the second time around. Hahaha. I knew after I handed it in and we got to class that it was wrong but had no way to change it. But thankfully we get to re-shoot any assignment we didn't get an A on, sooo this weekend I will be working on that along with my four page paper and also I have three more photo assignments that are due by next Thursday, and mid-term in my cultural studies class. But some good new, we had to hand in our second photo assignment today and this one got critiqued in front of the class on a nice large screen, and mine went very well. She only said one thing about one of my twelve pictures, I had a little bit of flare in one of the corners! So hopefully I'll get a better grade on this one, if not I can always re-shoot it.
Anyway I should get to bed, have to go to the Getty tomorrow! Then off to Mandy's tomorrow night, we are going for Chinese Food!!!!!! And then the beach on Saturday (yes I will be writing my paper too) and a home cooked meal on Saturday night, I'm so excited.
Brian came by tonight and brought me leftover pizza, jalapeno and pineapple, sooo good. Thanks Brian!
Oh Dad, my camera is fine, and I didn't drop it again! I should probably get insurance for it soon huh?
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Not Good
Talk about a bad day! It all started when I set my alarm wrong last night so instead of waking up at 8:30 I woke up at 6:30. So figured I'm up, guess I should shower and get some reading done before I headed to campus to work on my photo assignment that is due by 4:00 today. Oh and my roommate moved out this morning, so I talked with her for a little bit and now who knows who is going to be living next to me, could be another chick could be some random guy...we'll see. So anyway, got to the lab around 11:30 to start my work and was a bit confused at first but a lady in my class came and ummmm "helped" me out, but really just confused me so much more. She was asking me tons of questions while I'm trying to figure this stuff out and I was nice and really patient, which most of you know isn't really me! I had to change some things a couple of times and had to type up my assessment of what I thought was the best picture, which one's RGB's were closest to 128, yadda yadda yadda. So I go to send it to my professor through Fetch, and well the server went down! Oh yes its now 2:00 and I have an hour and a half to get this to her and they don't know when it will be up and running. Can we say stressed out? Finally comes back up around 3:15 and I get it done (thank God it actually worked). So I figured, I could either hang out at campus until class at 6:15 or get out of this place and try and relax...I went for the relax part. So I went and waited for the bus, and oh my goodness I thought my day couldn't get any worse, but it did. I was waiting for about 10 minutes or so and then I see the bus coming so I get my back and go to pick up my camera bag and I'm not kidding, slow motion, out falls my wonderful, brand spankin new Nikon D70 to the ground! My eyes are filling with tears, and the bus driver is waiting for me, all I wanted to do was break down and cry and wish this day to be over.
So I get off the bus and call my dad, and thoughts are running through my head like, what if this doesn't work? What the heck am I going to do? How can I afford to buy a camera, I can barely afford food?! It took just about everything inside of me not to cry when talking to my dad. All I wanted to do was cry, scream, and go to bed, but couldn't because I had class in a couple of hours. So I went home, checked my camera out, only the filter is dented! Thank God for filters. I got some more reading and studying done and headed back out to class. Oh have you noticed the lack of eating in today's schedule? I had a half of a bagel with peanut butter this morning and a granola bar for lunch and that is it so far...it is now 9:27 at night here, I should probably eat something soon.
Class was good, she got my files just fine and actually let us out early tonight. We have another assignment due on Thursday. Its 12 head shots and another assessment. So it shouldn't be to bad. Then I have cultural studies tomorrow, I have some more reading to do for that class. Then on Friday a group of us are going to the Getty Museum for our class assignment which is a four page paper on a piece of art that is due on Monday. I got a 95 on my first paper for that class, thanks Sue for all your help!
Guess I should get going and start reading and hopefully eat something. I'm craving Chinese food, and haven't found a good place yet, only thing I can really find it mall type Chinese food! =0(
So I get off the bus and call my dad, and thoughts are running through my head like, what if this doesn't work? What the heck am I going to do? How can I afford to buy a camera, I can barely afford food?! It took just about everything inside of me not to cry when talking to my dad. All I wanted to do was cry, scream, and go to bed, but couldn't because I had class in a couple of hours. So I went home, checked my camera out, only the filter is dented! Thank God for filters. I got some more reading and studying done and headed back out to class. Oh have you noticed the lack of eating in today's schedule? I had a half of a bagel with peanut butter this morning and a granola bar for lunch and that is it so far...it is now 9:27 at night here, I should probably eat something soon.
Class was good, she got my files just fine and actually let us out early tonight. We have another assignment due on Thursday. Its 12 head shots and another assessment. So it shouldn't be to bad. Then I have cultural studies tomorrow, I have some more reading to do for that class. Then on Friday a group of us are going to the Getty Museum for our class assignment which is a four page paper on a piece of art that is due on Monday. I got a 95 on my first paper for that class, thanks Sue for all your help!
Guess I should get going and start reading and hopefully eat something. I'm craving Chinese food, and haven't found a good place yet, only thing I can really find it mall type Chinese food! =0(
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Needed a break
I needed a break from studying/reading. Well I wrote my paper and turned it in, I read two out of the three chapters for my photo class, and one and a half out of the two for my cultural studies class.
Friday Holly and I were supposed to go and shoot our assignment but it was a bit cloudy, so we did it on Saturday which gave me all day on Friday to do other things for school, like read and write my paper. So Saturday afternoon we went out and before I could shoot I had to get my tri-pod, which I'm now on first name basis with the guy from the camera shop. So after that we went to the park and did out assignment and after we went to the labs at school to check them out and mine were so dark. I was venting out loud "What the heck is wrong?", "Why are mine so dark?", "What's up with my camera?". Anyways the student worker came over and checked it out and well, ya I shot it on the wrong shutter speeds! It was a rough day let me tell you. Good thing I can laugh at myself, because if not I would be going crazy and cussing up a storm. So we left the labs and went out and I re-shot my assignment. Now on Tuesday morning I have to go back and do all the other things for the assignment like, copyright it, put captions, and write my assessment. I would of gone back to do it on Saturday but I knew Sara and Jay were coming that night so I wanted to get some studying done. They were supposed to come around 8:00, but ended up coming early like around 6:30, so we went out for dinner and then went to play mini-golf at a place called, Golf and Stuff. We had so much fun. I stink at it, but it was a good time, Jay one. I'll post pictures for all of you to check out. And I'll update the other album with pictures that were taken when I moved in but Sara took my camera instead of hers.
Today we went to church and then had lunch and they headed home early, its about a 4 1/2 hour ride!
I guess I should get back to studying because this week is going to be busy especially tomorrow!
Friday Holly and I were supposed to go and shoot our assignment but it was a bit cloudy, so we did it on Saturday which gave me all day on Friday to do other things for school, like read and write my paper. So Saturday afternoon we went out and before I could shoot I had to get my tri-pod, which I'm now on first name basis with the guy from the camera shop. So after that we went to the park and did out assignment and after we went to the labs at school to check them out and mine were so dark. I was venting out loud "What the heck is wrong?", "Why are mine so dark?", "What's up with my camera?". Anyways the student worker came over and checked it out and well, ya I shot it on the wrong shutter speeds! It was a rough day let me tell you. Good thing I can laugh at myself, because if not I would be going crazy and cussing up a storm. So we left the labs and went out and I re-shot my assignment. Now on Tuesday morning I have to go back and do all the other things for the assignment like, copyright it, put captions, and write my assessment. I would of gone back to do it on Saturday but I knew Sara and Jay were coming that night so I wanted to get some studying done. They were supposed to come around 8:00, but ended up coming early like around 6:30, so we went out for dinner and then went to play mini-golf at a place called, Golf and Stuff. We had so much fun. I stink at it, but it was a good time, Jay one. I'll post pictures for all of you to check out. And I'll update the other album with pictures that were taken when I moved in but Sara took my camera instead of hers.
Today we went to church and then had lunch and they headed home early, its about a 4 1/2 hour ride!
I guess I should get back to studying because this week is going to be busy especially tomorrow!
Thursday, May 12, 2005
In-N-Out!!!
Well I just got home from class and chowing down an In-N-Out burger! Oh my they are sooo good. This is one of the best things about living in Cali, that and Henry Weinhard's Rootbeer! Probably shouldn't eat this so late but I am starving, we got out of class late again tonight.
Ok enough food talk, lets talk school. Well my first week of classes are officially over!!! Yay, I made it so far. I have Cultural Studies and Basic Photojournalism this session, and so far so good, lots and lots of reading and writing and just plain out lots of work. They weren't kidding when they said this was an intense program, and it only gets harder as the weeks go on and you have your final portfolio due, or a seven page paper and art project all at the same time.
Here's how my schedule works: Monday/Wednesday 11:45-2:30 Cultural Studies (kind of a crappy time because its right in the middle of they day, but what can I do right?), then Tuesday/Thursday 6:15-9:00 (or 9:30 for the past two classes!) Basic Photojournalism. I have a two page paper due on Monday for my Cultural Studies class. I have 10 photos and assessment paper due on Tuesday for my Photo Journalism class, and also I have another project due on Thursday, not sure how many photos but I know its of head shots. Then I have a lecture on Wednesday night for my photo journalism class, which happens ever other Wednesday night for the next three years of my life! But in a way its cool because you get to hear and meet professional photographers, and last year Steve McCurry was here, so maybe he'll come back. They are always having photographers from National Geographic come and speak, so to me that's pretty exciting.
I started to learn Photoshop tonight, pretty cool program, but lots to learn. Although we can't really use many of the features for this class because we don't want to manipulate our photos. Think I might need to invest in it at some point (probably soon), so that way I can do most of my work from here instead of having to go to the campus and use the computers in the labs.
Went out today and bought some more supplies for class, still have to get a tripod and another lens, but I think I have just about everything else on the list, that is until next session comes and I need a light meter and all this other stuff. At some point I'm really going to need to get a job, just need to figure out how to work that in my schedule of school, assignments, reading, writing and oh ya eating and sleeping! During orientation they told us that on our "breaks" is when we will sleep and do laundry. I am starting to see what they are saying.
Sara and Jay are coming down this weekend! So excited to see them, feels like forever but really its only been about three weeks. Wow, I've been a Californian for a whole month now!!! But no tan to show it, I'll get there eventually.
Ohhh I had two quizzes in my photojournalism class (and yes we have only had class twice!), and got an A- on one and a 100 on the other! Oh I feel so smart. We'll see how I do on the next assignment. What's cool is if you don't do all that great, you have a week to re-shoot the assignment and hopefully you'll do better and get that grade and if not you'll keep the same grade you got the first time. I think the class that I am most nervous about is my Cultural Studies class, where I have to write tons of papers, and I just make myself sick about them.
Ahhhh no classes tomorrow but Holly and I are going to get together and do our project/assignment that is due on Tuesday. We have to use another student as a model. That way on Friday night I can write my paper for Monday, and finish that up or rework it on Saturday morning and read for both classes before Sara and Jay come. Then on Tuesday I can go to the labs at school and use the Photoshop to work on my pictures and submit them before 4:00, because Monday is just crazy, I have class and then right after that I have a financial aid meeting that I need to attend in order to receive my money. And then Monday night is home group. Sunday, Sara, Jay and I are going to go to church and then possibly the Strawberry Festival! Yummmm
Ok well I guess I am going to read some more, maybe start my paper, and eventually tonight go to sleep. Sorry for all the spelling errors, the spell check isn't working.
Ok enough food talk, lets talk school. Well my first week of classes are officially over!!! Yay, I made it so far. I have Cultural Studies and Basic Photojournalism this session, and so far so good, lots and lots of reading and writing and just plain out lots of work. They weren't kidding when they said this was an intense program, and it only gets harder as the weeks go on and you have your final portfolio due, or a seven page paper and art project all at the same time.
Here's how my schedule works: Monday/Wednesday 11:45-2:30 Cultural Studies (kind of a crappy time because its right in the middle of they day, but what can I do right?), then Tuesday/Thursday 6:15-9:00 (or 9:30 for the past two classes!) Basic Photojournalism. I have a two page paper due on Monday for my Cultural Studies class. I have 10 photos and assessment paper due on Tuesday for my Photo Journalism class, and also I have another project due on Thursday, not sure how many photos but I know its of head shots. Then I have a lecture on Wednesday night for my photo journalism class, which happens ever other Wednesday night for the next three years of my life! But in a way its cool because you get to hear and meet professional photographers, and last year Steve McCurry was here, so maybe he'll come back. They are always having photographers from National Geographic come and speak, so to me that's pretty exciting.
I started to learn Photoshop tonight, pretty cool program, but lots to learn. Although we can't really use many of the features for this class because we don't want to manipulate our photos. Think I might need to invest in it at some point (probably soon), so that way I can do most of my work from here instead of having to go to the campus and use the computers in the labs.
Went out today and bought some more supplies for class, still have to get a tripod and another lens, but I think I have just about everything else on the list, that is until next session comes and I need a light meter and all this other stuff. At some point I'm really going to need to get a job, just need to figure out how to work that in my schedule of school, assignments, reading, writing and oh ya eating and sleeping! During orientation they told us that on our "breaks" is when we will sleep and do laundry. I am starting to see what they are saying.
Sara and Jay are coming down this weekend! So excited to see them, feels like forever but really its only been about three weeks. Wow, I've been a Californian for a whole month now!!! But no tan to show it, I'll get there eventually.
Ohhh I had two quizzes in my photojournalism class (and yes we have only had class twice!), and got an A- on one and a 100 on the other! Oh I feel so smart. We'll see how I do on the next assignment. What's cool is if you don't do all that great, you have a week to re-shoot the assignment and hopefully you'll do better and get that grade and if not you'll keep the same grade you got the first time. I think the class that I am most nervous about is my Cultural Studies class, where I have to write tons of papers, and I just make myself sick about them.
Ahhhh no classes tomorrow but Holly and I are going to get together and do our project/assignment that is due on Tuesday. We have to use another student as a model. That way on Friday night I can write my paper for Monday, and finish that up or rework it on Saturday morning and read for both classes before Sara and Jay come. Then on Tuesday I can go to the labs at school and use the Photoshop to work on my pictures and submit them before 4:00, because Monday is just crazy, I have class and then right after that I have a financial aid meeting that I need to attend in order to receive my money. And then Monday night is home group. Sunday, Sara, Jay and I are going to go to church and then possibly the Strawberry Festival! Yummmm
Ok well I guess I am going to read some more, maybe start my paper, and eventually tonight go to sleep. Sorry for all the spelling errors, the spell check isn't working.
Monday, May 09, 2005
First Day of Class
Well I finally started school!!! Friday during the last day of orientation we got to register for our classes and you have one GenEd and one Core course every eight weeks, so I registered for Cultural Studies 1 and Basic Photojournalism. Lucky me, seven of my classes transferred in so I only have 10 GenEd's left! So when we registered they gave us the syllabus for the courses, and I immediately got nervous, I have to write papers...and lots of them. So over the weekend I'm all stressed out on having to write papers and I haven't even sat in the first class yet. So I went this morning and I'm not as stressed out or nervous, I have five papers to write for my Cultural Studies class...so I'm just going to take them one at a time. The class was pretty good, the professor, Ron is a cool guy. We have three "field trips" for the class, The Getty Museum and LACMA and we have to go to a live performance, which could be anything we would like, hmmmm. I have my first photo class tomorrow night, I can't wait.
Recap of the weekend: Friday night I went to the College group with Mandy and met a ton more people. Then we talked for a while and met up with some more friends of hers at In-N-Out Burger, but by the time we got there it was about midnight and everyone was leaving, so her friend Ben, her and I went to the beach to swing on the swings and then ended up back at her place and just stayed up and talked til 5 in the morning! Then my phone rang really early (7:30) on Saturday morning but seeing as it was only two hours after I went to bed, I didn't pick up, and ended up getting out of bed around 9:00 to do laundry and just hung out and did nothing for the rest of the day. Went to church on Sunday and came home and watched a DVD and read, seeing as everyone else was with their moms. I got the chance to talk to my mom, step mom, my grandmother and Mrs. Sparks, and it was so nice to talk to all of them.
Guess that's it for now, gotta go and get ready for the home group tonight. I'll let you know how tomorrow nights class goes...
Recap of the weekend: Friday night I went to the College group with Mandy and met a ton more people. Then we talked for a while and met up with some more friends of hers at In-N-Out Burger, but by the time we got there it was about midnight and everyone was leaving, so her friend Ben, her and I went to the beach to swing on the swings and then ended up back at her place and just stayed up and talked til 5 in the morning! Then my phone rang really early (7:30) on Saturday morning but seeing as it was only two hours after I went to bed, I didn't pick up, and ended up getting out of bed around 9:00 to do laundry and just hung out and did nothing for the rest of the day. Went to church on Sunday and came home and watched a DVD and read, seeing as everyone else was with their moms. I got the chance to talk to my mom, step mom, my grandmother and Mrs. Sparks, and it was so nice to talk to all of them.
Guess that's it for now, gotta go and get ready for the home group tonight. I'll let you know how tomorrow nights class goes...
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Orientation Week
Orientation started yesterday and ends tomorrow afternoon. This is three days of information overload. It's a bit overwhelming so I'm still trying to process everything, so sorry if this is kind of short and vague.
Yesterday I had orientation from 2:00-4:00. We had a big information session with the provost, academic offices, financial aid, and student management, some of the admission reps were there, but mine wasn't. Basically its a tough program and its going to be really hard for the next three years, but it will be worth it!
After orientation I went to the Wednesday night service at church with Brian and Rumundo (sp?) and met a ton of other people so that was pretty cool. Can't really remember everyone's names but that's ok.
Today we had orientation today from 9:00-4:00, talk about a long day of more information that hasn't completely soaked in. We had an over view of our individual programs, mine being visual journalism and what the next three years will be like. So far so good with that, but we'll see how everything looks after classes actually start next week. The VJ program is a good size (well compared to the others starting this term) and there are some pretty cool people in my class.
Well I guess that's it for now.
Yesterday I had orientation from 2:00-4:00. We had a big information session with the provost, academic offices, financial aid, and student management, some of the admission reps were there, but mine wasn't. Basically its a tough program and its going to be really hard for the next three years, but it will be worth it!
After orientation I went to the Wednesday night service at church with Brian and Rumundo (sp?) and met a ton of other people so that was pretty cool. Can't really remember everyone's names but that's ok.
Today we had orientation today from 9:00-4:00, talk about a long day of more information that hasn't completely soaked in. We had an over view of our individual programs, mine being visual journalism and what the next three years will be like. So far so good with that, but we'll see how everything looks after classes actually start next week. The VJ program is a good size (well compared to the others starting this term) and there are some pretty cool people in my class.
Well I guess that's it for now.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
One last day of rest
Ok, so today was my last day of rest and doing nothing because after tomorrow its full speed ahead with school. I'm so excited and have to say, not really nervous about it at all. I think my excitement has over powered any bit of nervousness or fear. We'll see how it goes after tomorrow. I can't believe its finally here...I finally get to start doing what I love to do, wow. I get to live and fulfill my dream.
When Sara and Jay helped me move down here we went to Calvary Chapel of Oxnard, and I really liked it but well with out having a car its hard to get to. So Sara, the good sister that she is, found an info card about a home group here in Ventura that meets on Monday nights and she said I should give them a call. So last week I did and I didn't hear back from them for a couple of days but everything worked out and I went last night. It was awesome, the people were so great and welcoming. I met tons of people (ok about 16 or so, but for me that's a ton seeing as for the past week I don't know anyone!). And some of them live closer to me so they said I can ride with them to church and stuff...I'm just so excited. I'm start to feel like I actually belong here, and I know its just going to get better. They were all pretty amazed that I just moved out here on my own with out knowing anyone and not really having any family around. They were all like, you are so brave for doing something like that. And all last week, I didn't feel brave at all, I felt like a scared little child just dying to get back on a plane and go home. What was I thinking coming all the way out here and knowing nothing of the area, the people, etc. All I wanted was to go home, where life was comfortable, not great or amazing but it was what I knew, it was home. But I know that if I did get on that plane and headed back east, I would regret that for the rest of my life. That I didn't have enough faith in myself or God to get me through this. I mean come on now, I went to China for three months not knowing anyone, not knowing the language or really what to expect once I was there, but the point is I did it,I survived, I was stretched outside of my normal everyday comfort zone and became stronger. So now here I am in California, living a dream that I didn't think was possible a few years ago, and this all started with a graduation present, faith in me from family and friends and the constant support and encouragement. All I can think is..."Wow, this is going to be hard but so amazing. I am going to grow even more out here than I ever thought possible." I get the chance to see amazing things and meet amazing people, what more could I be asking for?
So now here I go, living the life a poor college student, as someone last night pointed out to me "Wow, you're going to Brooks. It's expensive there, you'll be on the Brooks Diet soon." She was telling me her ex-husband went to brooks and well seeing as you are paying so much for the school you can't afford food! I already agree with her.
Well tomorrow is the start of this new journey...I'll be sure to update this tomorrow night when I get home.
(Orientation Schedule: Wednesday: 2:00-6:00. Thursday: 9:00-4:00. Friday: 10:00-3:00)
When Sara and Jay helped me move down here we went to Calvary Chapel of Oxnard, and I really liked it but well with out having a car its hard to get to. So Sara, the good sister that she is, found an info card about a home group here in Ventura that meets on Monday nights and she said I should give them a call. So last week I did and I didn't hear back from them for a couple of days but everything worked out and I went last night. It was awesome, the people were so great and welcoming. I met tons of people (ok about 16 or so, but for me that's a ton seeing as for the past week I don't know anyone!). And some of them live closer to me so they said I can ride with them to church and stuff...I'm just so excited. I'm start to feel like I actually belong here, and I know its just going to get better. They were all pretty amazed that I just moved out here on my own with out knowing anyone and not really having any family around. They were all like, you are so brave for doing something like that. And all last week, I didn't feel brave at all, I felt like a scared little child just dying to get back on a plane and go home. What was I thinking coming all the way out here and knowing nothing of the area, the people, etc. All I wanted was to go home, where life was comfortable, not great or amazing but it was what I knew, it was home. But I know that if I did get on that plane and headed back east, I would regret that for the rest of my life. That I didn't have enough faith in myself or God to get me through this. I mean come on now, I went to China for three months not knowing anyone, not knowing the language or really what to expect once I was there, but the point is I did it,I survived, I was stretched outside of my normal everyday comfort zone and became stronger. So now here I am in California, living a dream that I didn't think was possible a few years ago, and this all started with a graduation present, faith in me from family and friends and the constant support and encouragement. All I can think is..."Wow, this is going to be hard but so amazing. I am going to grow even more out here than I ever thought possible." I get the chance to see amazing things and meet amazing people, what more could I be asking for?
So now here I go, living the life a poor college student, as someone last night pointed out to me "Wow, you're going to Brooks. It's expensive there, you'll be on the Brooks Diet soon." She was telling me her ex-husband went to brooks and well seeing as you are paying so much for the school you can't afford food! I already agree with her.
Well tomorrow is the start of this new journey...I'll be sure to update this tomorrow night when I get home.
(Orientation Schedule: Wednesday: 2:00-6:00. Thursday: 9:00-4:00. Friday: 10:00-3:00)
Sunday, May 01, 2005
A Good Day
Well yesterday, nothing really happened, just another tough day. But seeing as its the weekend I was able to talk to people because it didn't use up my minutes. So I talked to Meighan, my parents and grand parents, so that was really good!
Today was pretty good. I figured I would go to the mall and return a pair of pants I got from Old Navy that had a rip in them. So I wondered around the mall for a while, just window-shopping and people watching. I grab something cheap in the food court and this guy with two girls was in front of me checking out just about every female that walked by, and just kind of made me laugh a little. So I sat down and they ended up sitting near me and he still continued to check people out and finally one of the little girls said "Daddy...why do you keep staring at all these people like that?" He had no response. Just funny how it was so obvious what he was doing that his little daughter that couldn't of been more than 8 or 9 picked up on it!
So as I was on my way to the mall, the lady I live with, Debbie drove by and told me about a Reggae band that was playing at this cafe/club called The Underground, which is across from the mall. She gave me a ride to show me where it was exactly so after the mall, I went over to check it out. They were pretty good, not your typical "Reggae" type of guys, no dreads or anything like that, but it wasn't bad. I guess this weekend in Ventura there was a big Art Walk on main street (had no clue, guess thats what I get for hanging around the house), so they had some artist work on display at this place to. Some paintings and a photographer was there, so I talked with him for a bit and ends up, he went to Brooks! He had all good things to say about it, so that made me feel a bit better.
Yesterday I was checking out the Brooks website and came across this link: http://www.elsol.brooks.edu/. It really encouraged me to see work of students at Brooks, and eventually in my program I will have to do at least one, if not two of these trips/documentaries, I'm so excited.
My little sister called me today in tears because she misses me and I quote "I miss having a big sissy to come home to". I knew a call like this would be coming soon. She is so cute, and when shes really sleepy she starts to miss things even more and comes up with some really funny things some times, but for me it was China and white rice. My dad's birthday was on Tuesday and she has soccer practice that night so after that they went to eat at The Happy Garden, and she broke down in tears because she missed me and there was white rice and a Chinese resturant. You gotta love eight year olds. So I got to talk to her for about a half hour tonight, I felt so bad I couldn't be there to actually hug her, but I do what I can.
So finally only a couple more days until I can actualy start at Brooks.
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Today was pretty good. I figured I would go to the mall and return a pair of pants I got from Old Navy that had a rip in them. So I wondered around the mall for a while, just window-shopping and people watching. I grab something cheap in the food court and this guy with two girls was in front of me checking out just about every female that walked by, and just kind of made me laugh a little. So I sat down and they ended up sitting near me and he still continued to check people out and finally one of the little girls said "Daddy...why do you keep staring at all these people like that?" He had no response. Just funny how it was so obvious what he was doing that his little daughter that couldn't of been more than 8 or 9 picked up on it!
So as I was on my way to the mall, the lady I live with, Debbie drove by and told me about a Reggae band that was playing at this cafe/club called The Underground, which is across from the mall. She gave me a ride to show me where it was exactly so after the mall, I went over to check it out. They were pretty good, not your typical "Reggae" type of guys, no dreads or anything like that, but it wasn't bad. I guess this weekend in Ventura there was a big Art Walk on main street (had no clue, guess thats what I get for hanging around the house), so they had some artist work on display at this place to. Some paintings and a photographer was there, so I talked with him for a bit and ends up, he went to Brooks! He had all good things to say about it, so that made me feel a bit better.
Yesterday I was checking out the Brooks website and came across this link: http://www.elsol.brooks.edu/. It really encouraged me to see work of students at Brooks, and eventually in my program I will have to do at least one, if not two of these trips/documentaries, I'm so excited.
My little sister called me today in tears because she misses me and I quote "I miss having a big sissy to come home to". I knew a call like this would be coming soon. She is so cute, and when shes really sleepy she starts to miss things even more and comes up with some really funny things some times, but for me it was China and white rice. My dad's birthday was on Tuesday and she has soccer practice that night so after that they went to eat at The Happy Garden, and she broke down in tears because she missed me and there was white rice and a Chinese resturant. You gotta love eight year olds. So I got to talk to her for about a half hour tonight, I felt so bad I couldn't be there to actually hug her, but I do what I can.
So finally only a couple more days until I can actualy start at Brooks.
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Friday, April 29, 2005
Rough Day
Well I have been here for exactly a week in my new place...room. Today was really rough, I'm bored, lonely, homesick and all that stuff you really don't ever want to admit. I can't wait for school to start next week, is driving me crazy being here and not really meeting people. I feel more alone here than I did in China, pretty sad huh? But in China people were expecting me and were kind of assigned to show me around. Happy my sister is still kind of close, and we can talk on the phone for free so she calls just about every day to check up on me. Its funny how close we have grown over the years. You would never of expected us to have this kind of relationship and friendship 8 years or so ago. We couldn't stand each other, things were pretty bad between us for many years. But now I can't imagine not having her to talk to and share things with. Shes just been so much more than a big sister to me, and I don't think I could ever thank her enough. And to top it off she married one of the best guys I know so now I have an awesome brother-in-law to.
I'm sure some of these feelings will fade a bit once school starts and I get in to the swing of things.
I don't know...its just a rough day, going to go and watch a dvd and eat some popcorn.
I'm sure some of these feelings will fade a bit once school starts and I get in to the swing of things.
I don't know...its just a rough day, going to go and watch a dvd and eat some popcorn.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Boring Day
Well not much is really going on around here. School doesn't start for another week, well orientation starts next week, so I've just been haning out catching up on some reading and what not. Trying not to do too much exploring because most things around here cost money and well I'm trying to save what little I have left so I've been going for walks alot.
On Tuesday my roommate, a friend of hers and I went to Santa Barbara for a little bit...they wanted to show me around, which was really nice of them. She likes to go dancing at the night clubs there on State Street...Salsa dancing to be exact. State Street reminds me of Boston a bit, with all the cool stores and coffee shops. Then we came back to Ventura and had lunch at a Thai resturant (not as good as Thai Cha Da!) and walked around a bit. I found a cool little hippieish/Brattleboro Vermont kind of store and made me feel at home. She invited me to go to a Cuban festival on Sunday with her and some friends...I'm sure I have nothing going on so I'll probably end up going...only problem, un lingual!
On the way to Santa Barbara we drove past La Conchita where the mudslides happend. It was weird and amazing to see first hand the effects of a mudslied...and I'm sure seeing it happen first hand is completely different. Along some of the highway you could see people still cleaning up from it, and the remains of some houses, and also how close other houses are/were to being destroyed. Some houses we drove past, I'm sure if you looked out their back windows all you would see is a huge mountain of mud, what a scary thought and place to live after all that. Don't worry everyone, I'm not that close to any mountains or hills.
I was feeling a bit homesick (yes I admit it) tonight so I figured I would watch a dvd, and what dvd could make me smile at a time like this? Good old, Never Been Kissed! Meig it's not the same watching it with out you but still funny as all get out. "Whats your name?" "Jjjosie" "JOSE?", "Josie Geller". "Yes you are a guy, quite a guy, oh my that rhymed. Yikes! Bikes!" "Are you in special ed?" "No, really are you?"
Well I guess that is is for now, I'm going to go and read some more and probably head to bed...exciting life huh?
On Tuesday my roommate, a friend of hers and I went to Santa Barbara for a little bit...they wanted to show me around, which was really nice of them. She likes to go dancing at the night clubs there on State Street...Salsa dancing to be exact. State Street reminds me of Boston a bit, with all the cool stores and coffee shops. Then we came back to Ventura and had lunch at a Thai resturant (not as good as Thai Cha Da!) and walked around a bit. I found a cool little hippieish/Brattleboro Vermont kind of store and made me feel at home. She invited me to go to a Cuban festival on Sunday with her and some friends...I'm sure I have nothing going on so I'll probably end up going...only problem, un lingual!
On the way to Santa Barbara we drove past La Conchita where the mudslides happend. It was weird and amazing to see first hand the effects of a mudslied...and I'm sure seeing it happen first hand is completely different. Along some of the highway you could see people still cleaning up from it, and the remains of some houses, and also how close other houses are/were to being destroyed. Some houses we drove past, I'm sure if you looked out their back windows all you would see is a huge mountain of mud, what a scary thought and place to live after all that. Don't worry everyone, I'm not that close to any mountains or hills.
I was feeling a bit homesick (yes I admit it) tonight so I figured I would watch a dvd, and what dvd could make me smile at a time like this? Good old, Never Been Kissed! Meig it's not the same watching it with out you but still funny as all get out. "Whats your name?" "Jjjosie" "JOSE?", "Josie Geller". "Yes you are a guy, quite a guy, oh my that rhymed. Yikes! Bikes!" "Are you in special ed?" "No, really are you?"
Well I guess that is is for now, I'm going to go and read some more and probably head to bed...exciting life huh?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)