living the college life!

Waking up on Saturday morning knowing I was headed towards Oakland to hop on a plane to leave the state for the first time in my life made my stomach feel like it was on a knot. However, I would have to say that for being my first time on a plane is was okay in terms of the takeoff and the landing which were the parts I was most concerned about (I also got to sit next to a nine month old baby!!). I expected it to be worse, but as things turned out I actually enjoyed myself. Having experienced this I now have a larger knowledge of how to roam about and find my way through an airport. Also the city is not so bad because there is so much to take in!

The first night in New York, we stayed in a wonderful hotel called the Marriot and the only thing I have to say is that I slept like a baby. The pillows felt like you were sleeping on a bunch of feathers. After leaving our belongings in our rooms we headed out to explore the Big City. I was actually suprised by how many different languages and people I have seen on the streets in the Big Apple. There were people from England, France, different parts of Asia, and other places from all over the world.

I also had the opportunity to witness a gay parade like the ones that take place in San Francisco. I have made the comparison and I have come to the conclusion that the San Francisco parade is way better just because it's more lively and way more colorful. However, I enjoyed the parade just because it's New York!!

Finally at Columbia and loving every second of it!! Today we finally checked into our rooms and I have to say that they are pretty awesome! Seeing the dorms in person give me a perspective of a college lifestyle and see how everyone has to live together as a community. We got together with our RAs and suitemates to go over the rules and they have made it very clear that everyone should be in their assigned suite by eleven P.M which is about nine P.M back home. Let me talk about how much I love the way the suites are set up. First of all, the suites have an apartment style to it which includes a bunch of rooms, a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen (I will definitely be cooking something on that stove. Maybe.)

Well, tomorrow we will be receiving our class schedules and a second orientation for the class that we will take. I hope I pass this course and fortunately meet new people throughout this whole process.