infinite

Years ago I discovered a book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Hana suggested it to me through a text and it has been my favorite book ever since. Nothing but 200 pages written on an eighth grade reading level, this book connects with anyone who reads it. 

Today I saw the film made after it and I cannot say anything but perfection. They captured the essence of the story, the vulnerability of the characters, the magic in the music, the innocence of humanity, and the frailty of life. Everything the book presents. 

I highly suggest you go and see it. : ) 

This weekend HoBro was on the go. Friday- Phoebe, Kayleigh, Emme, Paisley, and I, went to Berkley to curise around, met up with Kayleigh's boyfriend and Dennis (Kayleigh's friend,) hopped onto Bart (the subway system) and traveled to Oakland for an A's baseball game, and ended the night in Kayleigh's home town Brentwood for a sleepover. It was a fun little vacation from our vacation. Home cooked meals, a little sunshine, siblings, and hugs from a Mother were exactly what we needed. Also, Emme and Phoebe's American home experience and first baseball game were like watching little kids. Mostly, it made me homesick for my own family and home. Hmph. 

This week should be good. I have a final project due in fundamental's which I am excited to present. I am proud of my work and how far I have come in such a small amount of time. 

On Thursday, The Awful Truth is performing in an antique shop in the city. Now the cool thing about this band is that they are from Salt Lake City, just released their first album, AND i know them. They have circulated in the same group of friends as me. I know this is the ultimate hipster statement, but I saw them perform first at a small house show. I have seen them in three different venues since. The fact that I kind of got to watch to them grow and now they are on their first tour and I get to experience them outside of Salt Lake is exciting. I cannot wait to take photos! 

I hope you have an amazing night and a wonderful week! 

A little shout out to my good friend Cassie - her birthday was yesterday! Oh! And today is Connor's birthday! Woot! 

 

raggamuffin

"dear raggamuffin is one of the band
what you see is what you really need in the end
what you ever gonna gonna do I don't know

dear raggamuffin shall not fall down
cause she has the wisdom of a not fool around
what is a good sense under ground

you never had it easy I know
i still remember you and what we used to have so
this my song for you
you could only see that i, would never forget, anyways."

- Raggamuffin, Selah Sue

time is such a hungry beast

title: "waltz for pony" by boy

I write to you frustrated with the current situation my fellow students have present in a college setting. This last week we received an assignment in my Fundamentals of Photography class.

The assignment was simple: photograph a subject (that cannot move or be moved) in different ways, do not edit, change all to black and white, print a contact sheet with twenty of your best images, print one of those images, bring to next class to critique. There were no hidden rules, confusion in the details, or misleading statements. It was crystal clear. Elementary my dear. It was even printed word for word in full paragraphs on a hand out and in our syllabus received on the first day. No surprises.

Today in class, I was one out of five people in a classroom of twenty who did the assignment.

Out of those five people, I was the only one who followed the directions.

I sat there astonished as the excuses poured out of mouths around me.

“I did not understand it”

“I was busy.”

“I could not get my hands on the paper.”

Silently I answered them all in my head.

What did you not understand? If you were confused, you could have either called one of the numbers of the students in the class we exchanged on the first day, or you could have emailed our professor who stressed the importance of not being afraid to use his email and ask questions.

What exactly were you busy with for a whole week that you could not find the time to shoot at least twenty photographs of any object of your choice? I find this hard to believe because as beginners we are all in the same classes. I have the same workload as you. I had time to spare, even after doing homework for our other three classes, and spend a whole day walking from one bridge to the other. Did I mention I also had time to go to the movies?

I will agree, finding the paper was hard, but with an entire week, a cell phone, and Google, you could have found the paper is six different locations just on Main Street alone. If that wasn’t possible or maybe right now you cannot afford it, you could have dug up that contact sheet previously mentioned and asked a classmate where they got their paper or if you could borrow a few sheets. I know I would have said yes. Maybe you were too busy, that’s what happened wasn’t it?

Seriously, ladies?

We are in college. Not only are we in college, we are all adults. Legal adults. Adults who can take care of themselves, who know we have to pull our own weight, adults who can solve a problem when it comes up, an adult who knows what is expected of them and does what is expected.

Every time you show up to class unprepared you are not only throwing more than two hundred dollars out into the crisp wind, but you are wasting your time. Have you ever thought about how your lack of preparation affects my learning? Have you ever thought about how it makes Tim, your educator, feel that you do not take his class seriously or have the respect to follow through on little things he asks? Do you realize these projects and lectures and classes and textbook readings are not punishment or busy work, but actually have meaning that will help you in what is supposed to be your career choice?

I actually feel bad for you.

After brushing fifteen unprepared students to the side, I focused my attention on those who were prepared. They did the assignment; they deserved feedback, respect – just like I expected to receive in return. Critiques are the best way to learn and to grow. I learn from you, you learn from me. That is why I go to onsite classes and do not just sit home online in my pajamas and a bucket of ice cream.

The first to present set up her work. Her prints were in color. Her subject placed in different places around the yard. Her subject was in different positions. The only part that followed the instructions was that she printed out her work. The class responded to the colors of her work in excitement. They were drawn to it. As my teacher said “let’s pretend that it is in black and white and focus on the image and what she could do better” the next comment to follow was “I really like the colors of the garden and how it brings out her subject.” Did you really not just hear the words that came out of his mouth? He is done with the color. He wants to know about composition, about lighting, about anything other than the color that is not supposed to be there in the first place.

Let’s just say, we never got off the color wheel.

I presented mine next. I was eager to hear feedback. I wanted to know what I could do better, what did they notice that I didn’t, how did they feel, what parts they didn’t like. I put my simple contact sheet up next to my one black and white photo. The response was neither good nor bad. Nor was it helpful. No one said anything without exaggerated prompting from my professor. They commented on my model (good, she deserves to be complimented, she is beautiful.) They mentioned my good use of shadow, but did not know what parts were shadowed or why it was good. It wasn’t like they didn’t like it or they did – they were just dead in the eyes, not involved, not wanting to be there. I took down my photographs with no helpful hints except more variation, which was also a positive reaction to my work.

I did a full circle.

Although no one had anything to say about mine, I was still eager to see other people’s work and learn from their experience.

The pieces to follow were in color, some were moved subjects, some were edited on Photoshop to boost the contrast. None of them followed the instructions like we were asked.

I felt bad as my teacher causally said “did I not say to put them in black and white” or “it’s the first time so I can see why you would make that mistake.”

When confronted about their pieces mistakes, lies fled like rivers. “Is this natural lighting?” “Yeah, it’s outside. I did use a reflector, but that’s it.” I do not know much about using my camera to it’s full possibility yet, but I know that you cannot get flawless skin and backdrops with perfect white/black contrast in natural light in the middle of Union Square with a plastic reflector.

Tim knew this too, but he didn’t say a thing. How could he?

His class had played him.

They took his assignment, his tips, his time, and threw it in the bottom of their though pile.

I would hate to have been him, because I hated being in the class.

I know this is my chance to shine. Be the one who does it right, blah blah blah. That doesn’t matter if no one else can put any effort in.

I cannot imagine thinking how the students in my classes act. If you do not want this, then please do not waste my time. If you are unprepared, do not show up. Your money is getting deposited weather you are there warming a seat or you are home being “busy.” Please, do not come unless your attitude toward the class is positive and you want to be there. The school could care less if you showed up. We are no longer in high school. We pay to be here. We go to colleges and university not because we have to, but because we want to. If you do not want to put a little effort in, get out. It’s week three and you have already proven you do not have the motivation to succeed in this program. Stop wasting your parents money, stop wasting your professors energy, stop wasting my time.

Grow up or get out.

Wow.

I feel better.

Goodnight. 

touch me. i'm golden. wild as the wind blows. let's get lost.

I have not stopped smiling. This weekend was complete with too many laughs and too many photographs. 

Lazy days and long nights. 

Friends and strangers. 

Friday night.

Emme, Phoebe, Soli, and I went to the Red Bull DJ Mix Jam contest between two artists from our school and two from San Fran State University. The atmosphere was stuffy and the students that attended created a high school prom junior prom vibe in the classy club, but we still danced in the middle like we were alone in our beds with hair brushes as microphones. 

I don't know who won. We left early. But I am pretty sure the Academy doodled all over SF State. 

All over. 

Saturday. 

There are 5.2 miles between Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Five young ladies, all friends, carrying camera and wearing sunglasses and scarfs walked 5.2 miles all day Saturday is the cool heat of the Francisco sun. 

Saturday night involved chai teas, narrated by Band of Horses, watching cute hipsters write papers on their Ipads. 

Sunday. 

Today we worked. I use the word "we" because all of us in room 501 and 502 cowered at our desks and worked. We borrowed each other for ideas, for photo shoots, for approval, for snacks. 

It was perfect. 

My class tomorrow was canceled due to my teacher having to fulfill her civic requirements at jury duty. Also, because the rescheduled class period is scheduled on top of my other class, I now have a one on one teaching session with Sadie on thursday morning. 

Cheers to the weekend. Can't wait for the week. 

Goodnight. 

Also, a little advertisment. I have ventured to the Tumblr world. It is an addicting place and there for I want to invite you into the fun. You can follow Verbaleudette and my photo documentation of the characters of San Francisco through my Species blog. Check out the links below. 

http://verbaledudette.tumblr.com/

http://sanfranciscospecies.tumblr.com/

history with an accent

I have never taken a history class without an accented professor. In 8th grade, Mrs. Nagata may have been Asian American, but she had a little chinese accent. Chaira was Italian. And now, I am learning photographic history from a French woman. She is simply adorable in her attempts to pronounce our American names, yet the French photographers and terms slide off her tongue like poetry. I usually do not really like history - i have a hard time remember dates and names, but after one three hour class with this woman, I think I might actually understand what I am learning and retain the information for more than a few hours. She is catering, slow, descriptive, and uses many ways to get you engaged. I even get to do a report on my favorite photographer Diane Arbus, because she noticed I wrote that on my "about me sheet" and made sure I was placed in the right group so I could do it. Special case. She did not do this for anyone else.

Now, I just need to get organized.

Goodnight/Goodmoring lovelies.

P.S. I got a Tumblr, my roommates are obsessed. Check out my page of random photographs and quotes and other tumbling things at http://verbaledudette.tumblr.com/

it's as simple as it should be

Good news, the internet is fixed and faster than it has been at HoBro for years. Who knew that loosing the Internet over the weekend after the first week of school could be so detrimental. Suddenly we were forced to get to know our surroundings, travel to foreign wifi spots, live in our city outside of the doors. Please, someone tell me why we were all complaining again?

Second week of school has been nothing but two days of excitement. We are actually starting projects now. We are actually doing photography. I am stoked.

In my digital photo class we learned how to shoot completly on maual. Now, give me some credit, I have experimented, but I never knew how to really control my camera on every level. Chaning aperature, shutter speed, and ISO all at the same time - even focusing! Our assignment was simple this week. We get to shoot three scenes that describe our lives at home, where we live, our environment. A total of nine shots will be turned in, because each image is bracketed. (For those of you who do not know what bracketing is, it is when you take an image with the correct lighting - the perfect exposure. Then you take the same image underexposed and over exposed.) So far, I have taken a photograph of my books all stacked with a camera on top and the view into the ally way from a window. My final photograph is going to be my three roommates. I am excited for critique.

Today I had fundamentals of photography (aka cute teacher class.) This is my favorite. The class is so lively and fun. It is small and creative. I actually enjoy waking up really early to go to this freezing class. The assignment is an on going project over four weeks. The idea is to take twenty photographs of the same object in different ways. From that we will choose our four best photographs. I love a challenge with open ends. You can do anything as long as your object never changes positions. I am thinking of documenting a dock down by the bridge. A few close ups, a few long exposures, the works. The whole assignments have to be in black and white - which is my favorite to shoot. Also it is all raw imaging - no edits, no photoshop. I love that.

I just had to catch you up quickly before I go back to studying. : )


xoxo

chilled and heart ached

Tonight San Fran is chilly and windy. Outside I can hear the chanting of what sounds like entire football team. I guess I should not call it chanting, for the sounds they are making are not words but fall more along the lines of animal noises. It is the weekend for me and my roommates now, so the room has a studious feel as we all work on the homework we let stack up over the passed week.

I met my film teacher today. For those of you who do not remember, he was missing in action last week because he was being a critic for the Toronto Film Festival. I absolutely love him. Jesse is his name and he is incredibly passionate about all films and what they have to give. You can see it in the way that he talks. He knows what he is saying. He is engaging as he walks through the large auditorium, attempting to make eye contact with each student. His presence makes you feel immediately involved and interested.  I think this class is going to be a lot of work, but I am really going to enjoy it. Really really enjoy it. Kayleigh (my roommate) just transferred into the class, so it was fun to have her with me. I made a new friend also. His name is Ed and he drives a motorcycle. He seems nice.

Dinner tonight was yummy, but also a little upsetting. It was crowded in the little café; most of the larger tables were taken. We (my roommates and I) sat in the back. The table next behind us was a four top. A lone boy sat there eating his dinner. He arrived about ten minutes after we got there. He was in the middle of eating a not even half empty plate of food when these two girls and their boyfriends approached the table. The one girl asked him to move so that her and her friends could all sit together. He collected his stuff and just left, throwing away all the food on his plate. I may be being overdramatic, but it kind of upset me that these people thought they had the right to make someone move just so they could all sit together. It upset me that he just walked out. How was he feeling or thinking about? I feel bad that I didn’t say something, invite him to our table, pull a chair over, but part of me was in astonishment and didn’t want to make a big deal and embarrass him even more. I had to tell that to you. It bothered me. I don’t know.

Hope you have a wonderful Thursday night. Happy Birthday to my dancing twin Audrey! xoxo

well, it was history

I am sure you are all dying to know how my history class went, the final of the four, the big tada, the lonely one left.

Well, it was history, but i think it might be a good history.

My original professor will not be teaching due to a medical emergency that is going to pull him out for the rest of the semester (I really hope he is okay) and the permeant substitute was ill today, so I had a substitute for my substitute. She was a little too excited and over joyed with odd humor - it made me appreciate that she would only be teaching for three hours of my historic class career.

 I do not really have much to say about it. The students were nothing exciting and the subject is rather interesting - but also rather boring. The history of photography isn't very long, so we are spending fifteen or so weeks going in depth of only a few decades. Currently I think it is too deep of a dive to have for one class, but oh well. I know I will learn something and that is what is important.

You have to know where you came from to know where you are going right?

This is brief, but I am really tired.

My final thought is a wish to one of my good friends in Salt Lake City: Happy Birthday Kramer!

xoxo

that awkward moment when your new friend turns out to be your teacher

I was walking to my first day of Fundamentals of Photography today. It is just around the corner and up the hill. According to Google maps it only takes three minutes, but I can do it in two. The XX's new album Coexist played through my gold (ballin') ear buds. I was feeling fly. I was feeling good. The air was cold and I was in a sweater. The wind was blowing and my hair was blowing in it. I did not stab myself with a make up brush earlier. I just knew it was going to be a good day.

Walking down the the hill coming from the other direction was this averagely cute looking boy dressed in kind of skinny slacks and a great plaid shirt. My first instinct was "he looks like someone I should get to know." He turned into the building I was heading to. I followed in shortly after to find him standing in the lobby checking the list to see what room the classes were in. I started to look for mine. The conversation that followed went something like this:

Boy: "What class are you looking for?"
Girl: "Fundamentals of Photography"
Boy: "Me too!. Ph100?"
Girl: "Yeah, I think it is in room 200."
Boy: "Sweet, Yeah, that looks like mine too. Well I will see you there!" (Big smile.)
Girl: "Sounds good" (Cute smile.. cause that is what I do."

I headed up to class and sat at a table in the second row with an empty seat next to me to ensure that not only did my new friend see me, but would have the opportunity to sit next to me where we would continue to converse in small talk and eventually become friends that hung out and go to movies and drink coffee and listen to hipster music while we talk about how much we love photography. I wasn't looking for a boyfriend. I just wanted a friend that didn't come with boobs and drama.

A few minutes later my friend showed up.

Instead of putting his bag on my table, he placed in on the desk in front of the room. You know, the desk meant for the professor. The words that came out of his mouth in the next second confirmed that this boy was actually a man. "

Hey, looks like everyone is here. Welcome to PH 100. My name is Tim."

This is Tim (and who I think might be his wife.) I
 apologize for the poor quality of images. Stalking does have  it's down sides. 

And that man was actually my teacher.

God. Don't you love Google. 

I probably let out the biggest smile possible.

 Of course my new friend would not be my friend but would be my fundamentally-knowledgeable-married-taco-eating-costa-rico-traveling-photography-teacher.

It was like that movie moment where the girl is sitting in class and the teacher comes in and she knows him from a past life moment and it is either incredibly awkward or really funny. Except it was not like that at all, but kind of. You get the point.

Anyways, other than befriending my teacher, I think I am really going to like this class. We actually get to print out our work and show it off. I feel like it is a really positive class and everyone is excited to  be there. It is all girls, except for one boy who wants to do mens fashion photography. (I think he has many best friends.. inside joke. Only few will laugh, sorry the rest of you are left out.)

All i can say is History of Photography - you better kill it hard tomorrow because the passed two days have kicked some serious ass in classes and teachers.

i don't want your cute cupcakes anyways

The sky outside is so clear tonight. Usually there is fog (which i love,) but tonight it is a dark, clear, blue. The only thing that could make it even more beautiful is if we could see the stars like we can back in Salt Lake.

I had a wonderful day.

It started out with breakfast with Phoebe, a quick walk to my class, and then the best class ever. I had my first day of digital photography.

Now I do not know much about the class at all, but what I do know is that my teacher is the coolest being to walk the earth of teacher land (Next to you Mama, of course.) This is her:

She takes photos of bar life and concerts, looks about twenty something, acts like a hipster, and is totally bad ass. ALSO, she knows what she is talking about and is excited to teach us.

The students in my class are odd. Like really. I am really curious about what kind of work they will produce.

After class, I had an interview with Cako Bakery - the cupcake bakery that I applied to work at. I sat down with the guy, a young Asian with a Dell Lap Top. He had a list of printed out questions, about fifteen. The questions included things like "what is customer service?" I answered with a great detail answer and he looked up from his computer, that I am pretty sure he was facebooking on, and he said "no, it's giving service to the customer." I gave a perfect interview and this guy could not make any eye contact with me, looked behind me and to the side the whole time, and answered his phone half way through. When he was done, he asked me for the times I am available. I was prepared and handed him a written sheet of my class schedule. He looked at it for a bit and said "I don't think we can work around this. Can you change your classes?" I just looked at him. Seriously dude? Do you know how much this school costs? I am not going to change me schedule to work for your little cup cake shop that you take too seriously. I said no nicely of course. But when it was done, I practically said that maybe this isn't the job for me. I said thank you for his time and it was nice to meet you. He waved his hand like shooing me away. So there. No cupcakes for me. No Audrey for them. (Thank you for letting me get that out of my system.)

Have a good night! xo

meal plan.

Oops. I forgot to add this detail. 

A lot of people (okay, just my Dad) have asked me how the food is at the Cafes and Restaurants here.

I call them fancy names because they are not like your usual school cafeterias. There are five or six different locations that you can go to, any meal plan works in all of them. 

mac and cheese, green beans,
and a mixed green salad
with light caesar dressing.

You walk in, and the "hostess" scans your i.d. card which allows you into food land. Each night (in the smaller ones, not the main) there is a specialty meal - usually with a theme. For example, tonight at the Pine Cafe, it was italian with different pastas and paninis. If you don't want this, or you want more than just this, you can order off the "grill menu" which is your typical burgers, chicken fingers, quesadillas, french fries, or club type sandwiches - the generics. There is always a large salad bar, fruit or some sort, pizza, toast, cereal, and a dessert that changes each night. Full line of sodas, juices, and water that has floating citrus in it. You are allowed to eat as much and whatever you want. 

The catch is that you cannot take any of it home, which is okay. My roommates have found away to sneak desserts (Phoebe always takes a cookie or brownie for the road,) strawberry cream cheese (Emme loves this. They do not have it in New Zealand and she thinks it's the best thing ever) and even a burger (Kayleigh stuffed it into a hand bag.) You do not really need to take anything home, it's just more of a challenge if you can. Ha. 

One thing that can be taken out is a box lunch. You can go online the night before and ordered a lunch that includes a sandwich, chips, fruit, and dessert. It is like a sac lunch for home for those busy days when you do not know when you will find time between classes for a meal. I love this idea. Such a classy school, let me tell you. 

The food itself is absolutely delicious and fresh. I have eaten incredibly healthy and felt satisfied after every meal. I have not had anything I did not like (except for this weird lettuce that was in my mixed greens salad... it had a sharp flavor - but i ate it anyway!) 

It is not nearly as good as your cooking Mother, Father, and Sister - but it is keeping me energized until I get to eat your wonderful home cooked meals when I get home. 

I also have this thing that comes with the meal plan called Knight Cash. This is like a credit card that works at the vending machines around campus, Arts Cafe (hosted by my school) which is like a coffee shop, but also many restaurants and cafes around the city accept it. I love this idea, because it gets you out in the city and you can go out and eat local. 

Now that I have made you hungry at midnight, I hope you sleep well and dream of tasty treats. 

i think i have gotten more inspirational and sappy over here.

Well well well. What a beautiful saturday in this lovely city today has turned out to be. I woke up naturally, took a shower, wore comfortable yet chic clothes, and walked down to the bay with my roomies (and across the hall homies.) I have not laughed so hard in a very long time. Dinner was delicious. We just finished the watching "It is kind of a funny story" which was adorable. I took a few photos while we were down at Pier 14, posted below. 

I love the buildings. they are simply inspiring. also, every time I look up while walking down a big city street I instantly hear "sweet disposition" by the Temper Trap. (For those of you who don't know, that song is practically the theme song for my favorite movie "500 Days of Summer" and is first introduced when the leading male is talking about architecture.) 

At the street fair. This man was making a ring. 

Above is a very talented charcoal artist. I love the characters this city has to provide. 

Roommates. Are they not beautiful? On the left is Savannah and Phoebe next to her. Below is Kayleigh. 

This is the bay bridge. Beautiful sail boats passed our way. 

(Yes, the carried beautiful sailor boys too, but my lens did not capture their beauty fast enough because I was too busy picking my jaw up off the dock.)

Meet Paisley. 

See lives across the hall from me. She is simply stylish and a class act with a non stop laughable humor. 

Also, her favorite book is Perks of Being a Wallflower, which gives her many extra points because that is also my favorite book.

I think this guy had a really hard night last night, or maybe even morning. He looked like he stepped on the dock to sort out lives problems and his only companion was a cigarette. 

He looked like he had a story to tell. 

Part of me wishes I had asked what it was. 

The dock lines. Nothing like symmetry right after lunch. 

Cute cute Phoebe. 

No matter how old you get, you still believe you can fly. 

Savannah throwing her arms in the air and the chair spud her around. 

This is exactly how our day was, carefree happiness. 

Sometimes, like all the time, I cannot believe that I actually live here and have the opportunities I do. 

the sleeping beauties of this city. 

This young boy, maybe ten years of age, carried the soul of a sixty year old jazz player. He tapped his foot to a rhythm, while his lips pursed against a black taped trumpet. 

I hope he makes it far. I would pay to see him perform. 

And finally: the ladies. 

Today was just simply sweet. Filled with good times and good people. 

My horoscope was right, things are looking up and I do have so much to be thankful for. 

xoxo

cloud nine

I have reached it. I have reached the point where I officially know that I have made the right choice in moving out here and pursuing my passion at this school.

I had my first class today in a large white building that I am guessing used to be a church (or a Roman Palace.. because you know hipster city San Fran had Romans before it was cool.) The sound of the professor's aids voices carried through the high chandelier lit ceilings with echos. The class was History of Film: Post World War Two and I can already tell I am going to enjoy it. After already being in three classes similar to this in my past studies, I know that it will captivate my attention and yet still be a challenege. I know I will walk away from it knowing more than i go in with, and to me, that is always important. We watched the beginning of a film and talked about why we love movies and a few of our favorites. I tried to make friends with three different people sitting around me and ALL of them moved to a different row during the break. I know it was not because I spelled funny (i spell like Victoria Secret,  who doesn't like that?) and It wasn't because I said something wrong (i held my tongue on my usual sarcastic remarks) but yet I was alone at the end. Hmph. These film majors are going to be a lot harder to crack than I thought.

After class I was still excited about the days to come, even though I was still friendless. I went to dinner by myself, waiting in a long line to get into the cafe. Once I got there, it was pretty crowded, with only a few extra seats avaiable. The lady at the front desk (who scans my card) asked if "it was okay if I sat with someone I did not know or would i like to wait for an empty table." I practically screamed "force me to sit with random people and maybe I will get friends!" And guess what, it worked. I sat down with two guys and a girl. Pretty soon their other friend showed up. They included me in every conversation possible  (except for the video game one... i had no clue what they were talking about.) They are pretty nerdy, but also pretty normal and were a lot of fun to be around. They even asked for my number at the end! I am proud to say that Robert, Nick, Kyle, and Cali are my new friends!

Tonight was supposed to be some "Fashion Night Out" thing at H&M, but it was kind of a dud. So here I am, relaxing in my hip dorm room, practically high on life.

I have no classes until monday, so the weekend starts tomorrow. Phoebe and I have planned a lunch date which will turn into shopping because we both have want little slippers to wear around the dorm and just because shopping (even if it's just looking) is fun. : )

I hope you had as wonderful of a day as I did. Good night and pleasant dreams.

I came here to do art, not make friends.. right?

I feel like a little kid on the eve of her first day of real big kid school. My mind is racing in thousand directions. I have read the first line Lolita twenty eight times, and have not made it to the second because my brain will not focus. I have the same song repeating in my ear phones and I don't know the name or artist or where I even got it from. My face is heated, but the air in my room is stuffy and cold. 

Tonight I went to the soccer game with three girls from New Zealand: Phoebe (my roommate,) Emme (the girl across the hall) and Kristy (friends of the two listed above.) After riding a large, spacious, AAU bus for twenty or so minutes we arrived at a foggy little field. Only one side of the stadium was crowed - that was our side. We set ourselves in the masses after receiving a free AAU Urban Knights tee shirt. The student body is interesting, or as my grandmother would say "different." So many odd looks, so many unusual beauties, so many languages. There is no one here that I look like I should connect with. You know what I mean? You have a look and others look kind of just like you, someone who looks like your friends at home. No one looks like that here to me. This is both scary and refreshing. The feeling crosses over me as I sit quietly, ease dropping of my "eh" sayers, that I will not find friends, that I will be a loner, that I will graduate as a non popular human being. Then I figuratively slapped my self in the face and gave myself a pep talk about getting out there and making friends with the most odd balls in this school and who cares is I am a loner. I came here to do art, not make friends. This is not a girl scout camp. And all of this is crossing my mind as I see our cute soccer team remove their layers and prepare of the game. We (me and the Kiwi's) only stayed for twenty minutes because they got cold. But in those twenty minutes our team was ahead. By one point. But it was a glorious one point. 

We took the bus ride home, which seemed much longer due to my growling stomach who needed to be fed.  After checking at one cafe, which was closed, we decided to trek up to another about two hills up from the current location. We arrived twenty minutes before closing, just in time for a delicious dinner. Mom, you would be proud I ate all my broccoli and salad. I didn't even spill on myself! 

Now I am home, winding down (haha.. read the first paragraph to know how big of a lie that is.) 

That is all I really have to say. I know it was not really an exciting post, but I just needed to talk to someone. Have a goodnight. xo

Nothing like a toned graphic designer if you ask me.

My room would not look nearly as beautiful if I did not have the help of my Mother, Father, and Sister. Thank you so much.

This is a doorway view of my desk, in the corner. It is an easel desk, adjustable for any angle. I also have a work lamp that is all artsy and cool. 

This is my close up light from China Town. So beautiful. 

My magnetic hanging picture strings. 

My already crowded wire basket holder of everything school and non school related. 

My bed is the bottom bunk. 

And most importantly, this is my window outside of my desk. Here is where I can see the streets below, the Metropolitan Women's Club straight across the street, and my fire escape. 

I am not allowed to go out there, but i love the idea of having one. Isn't it beautiful?

And that is my part of the dorm! 

Today was orientation. This being my third freshman orientation in the passed year, I will have to say that it was the best. Seriously very inspiring and I feel excited to start classes. Also incredibly nervous because every single one of the people who held a mic today said it would be hard and by the eighth week everyone starts to crumble. But do you know what I say to that? GAME ON. Let's do this. 

I had dinner with my lovely friend Leeza tonight and it was fun to connect with her now that we are living in the same city. 

The whole bonding with the roommates is still rocky. It is hard being the girl who came into the group a week late. Oh well. 

Tomorrow is my last day of "freedom." There is a kick off soccer game to start the season tomorrow night, which I plan to attend. I have already seen the entire soccer team and I can tell you right now that soccer is my new favorite sport. Oh goodness those are some good looking men. Mmmhmmm. And they are  artists! WIN WIN. "Be artist. Be athlete." - I am starting to like this saying more and more each day. Nothing like a toned graphic designer if you ask me. 

Anyways, I hope you have a great night. xoxo