Testing! Testing!

Had my first test today. Talk about going back in time. Last time I had a test back in Holland was in August 2006. I'm not used to pumping factual information to my brain anymore. Maybe the other course will give me a more theoretical and conceptual approach this Monday. So yeah, reading papers and studying. That's basically it for now. And some weight lifting.

Finally stopped raining, might go shopping this weekend and get me that electric shaver. Maybe an extra pair of pants.

Live for nothing or die for something!

Went to the Rambo movie with this gang of bad ass mofo's today. It was teh bomb! The action scenes were just friggin awesome!

On further notice. I bought a digital camera (the Canon DS750) ! And so, I present to you the first pictures of my adventures in LA.

First visual confirmation that I'm still alive and well

You guessed correctly if you think I still haven't bought an electric shaver. Allow me to introduce both Rogier (my South African roomy) and Lauren (one of the most interesting and charming people I live with in the Co-Op). They're both great fun to hang out with, but merely the top of my social iceberg here in LA. I meet an average of 5 new people every day, which makes remembering names and occupations a daily chore.

Rediscovering cinema

Went to the Westwood Cinema yesterday to watch Cloverfield. Awesome movie. Really enjoyed it. But the entire experience was just so magical! Watching movies over here in the US is just a completely different ballgame. It's definitely something that I'm planning on doing more often!

And oh yeah, Happy Martin Luther King-day everybody!

Down to business

I've been completely submerged in my studies the passed few days. Finally got my own laserjetprinter (a Samsung) to print stuff out, cause printing at UCLA is quite expensive (10 cents a page). Now imagine two of my readers being completely digital (and me hating to read off my laptop screen) and existing of a total of about 1000 pages. Yep, guess that was a good investment huh?

Apart from diving into homework, I had my share of adventures. Went to some nice sportsbars, had some good times with my fellow Co-op inhabitants. A woman in one of my classes also offered me a job as a tutor for her two children, to teach them to type and work on the computer! I may haz job, hurrah!

Back to work now :)

Two wheels one Dutchie

Los Angeles just shrank in size. Big time! Riding a bike around here not only takes a thick skin against swearing drivers, but also a lot of balls. Bikers aren't loved around here, they stick together. I met the local bike affectionados at Helen's, the local bike repair shop. My chain actually broke today and they were so kind to fix it for free.

I love my bike :).

Private Persian Party. Choosing my words wisely.

Went to Beverly Hills yesterday. To a private party of some Persian girl who was heading over to Israel. It was in a big mansion somewhere in Beverly, filled with Persian boys and girls and some foreign exchange students. I think the best part was that I went there with four Italian blokes, which was just a lovely experience. I laughed my ass off to their quarrellings and jokes. The party itself was kind of dull, but the alcohol flowed richly and it was quite fun to hang out with all those spoiled Persian brats.

Healthy body = Healthy soul.

Went to the gym for the first time today. I got hooked again. Seems like there's about one athletic student for 20 lazy ones at UCLA. There sure are some beefcakes walking around at the gym though. It was packed today. According to Joe, my newly required Texan pal, most of them will give up on getting back in shape and leave. Can't wait to have the gym for myself!

Getting on with my homework is slow. I still don't have a stable access to the internet and printing is a large hassle while the one I ordered is on its way. Guess I'll have to work hard this weekend.

And tonight, I'm heading over to Bel Air for a party. Great Success!

Lectures by Spock. A dream come true

I just planned my first UCLA guest lecture in my agenda. Leonard Nemoy is heading over to UCLA on the end of january to talk about his latest book and photography work. Talk about big names coming to UCLA! I've heard that this is a normal thing around here. Say what?

Doing my happy dance right now.

The little boy from Holland

UCLA has completely changed my views on studying and academics. I skipped a class today to talk to one of my teachers about taking on an internship. It ended up in talking with her and some fellow students for more then five hours. We mostly discussed topics such as future goals and the importance of theory (and uni); learning to think. What an extraordinary experience that was. Teachers here at UCLA seem to take their time with students. Well, so they say. The pleasant thing about the entire encounter confirmed one of the discussion topics: a good teacher makes a course so much better.

Once again, I'm not stepping into details. I'm trying to share my experiences, not what I had for diner or bought at a shop.

What this post basically comes down to, is that today made me think about the value of theory and practice. Students back at home seem not to realize that theory is key, but practice makes perfect. At the same time, many studies do not promote any kind of practical activity. Even internships get shoved aside or never get mentioned.

I'm getting myself an internship here. Great thing is, UCLA students end up in Hollywood.

Yep. I'm going for it.

Breaking the paradox

Work won.

After meeting with my teachers, I remembered what I was actually here for. Booze and babes are nice, but you don't need to be applying for UCLA for those specific reasons. Its the people. All I have to do now, is get my life sorted out. I still need to get so much stuff to finally have a feeling that I've settled down, but Westwood Village (the closest shopping district) doesn't offer an extensive and easy access to every basic human need. You need to take the bus for that and I'm honestly not ready to take up such a commitment yet.

I'm not going into the details of what I'm up to, specifically cause my life here is still such a mess and not sorted out yet. I can say that I've recently had quite the epiphany and am going to try to get the best out of my stay here.

Did you know communication studies students down here usually end up in some of the best jobs the movie and music industry has to offer? Now you do.

The pleasure/work paradox

Had my first classes yesterday. Then it suddenly hit me: I'm here to work. Crap. Keeping up work is going to be a fight against every thinkable temptation my student life at UCLA can offer. I'd better get started on my homework soon!

Completely Californicated

It's only been four days and I already feel completely at home here. Westwood (the neighbourhood around UCLA) got ravaged by rain non-stop the past few days. The houses around here clearly weren't built for that kind of pouring. It did ease my personal transition to the current sunny Californian weather though.

What did you miss the past few days? Tons, so let me sum it up for you, dear reader.

How to make friends - step 1
It didn't take me long to build up a group of interesting and sympathetic people around me. It just happened, like a snap of a finger. Americans are not at all as I thought they would be. I haven't had one dull conversation yet!

Hmmm, pancakes
The food served here at the Co-op is quite good. It's basically prepared by the residents who are accompanied by one of the Co-op cooks. I love the American breakfast, though I am feeling a substantial lack of fiber annoying my intestins. I'll need to do something about that ASAP.

Flirtmeister
The women around here are just, wow. I'm just flabbergasted. New objective set: flirt with at least 5 girls a day and get at least 1 to date you.

Academic aspirations
This morning started with an abrupt resentment against any kind of academic work. After having my first lecture, this lack of interest kind of dissolved on its own. Now I just need to find myself a laser printer for all the tons of texts they want me to read...

Blegh. This isn't interesting at all is it? I need to buff up my writing skills a bit.

And now for some lunch...

Good morning. Good evening

Getting over here was quite the adventure I wasn't suspecting. The longness of the trip didn't really get to me, since I was lucky to meet some interesting people next to me in the airplane. There's nothing more unpleasant in flying, then doing it alone.

I don't understand why people keep complaining about stuff like checking in, getting frisked or flying. Bagage collection is by far the worst part of it all. You just stand there, waiting, HOPING the next bag that falls down on the conveyor belt is yours.

The shit hit the fan when I wasn't the only one not seeing their bag appear after a 30 minute wait. Seems it got on another plain, destined to arrive at LA airport 3 hours later. And so, the real adventure of LA began. "LA is a ZOO," a lady from Chicago told me.

What I saw in my first three hours in LA? The airport, loads of people and cars. Luckily, I had a book with me about two women living in the States. I finished it there and then, only to find out it totally sucked.

I'm happy though. Happy the ride was bumpier then expected. Why? Because I've already met a handful of Americans in the entire process and am already falling in love with their ways. These people are so full of stories. And I love stories.

Good night and good luck.

Back in time. GMT -8 style.

Damn. The past few days haven't been the more relaxing ones. I guess the tons of preparations, last minute arrangements and other packing just make the departure a hell of a lot sweeter.

I'll be touching down in LA this Thursday at diner time. I'm still contemplating which burger joint will have the honor of giving me my first taste of all-American grease.

That's all for now. Back to memorizing 'California Love'.