Day 4, 22062008, San Francisco - Los Angeles

We left the hostel at 5 a.m. and took the airport shuttle to SFO for USD 12. Wanted to leave earlier 'cos we were afraid that'd be a looong queue for the Southwest Airline counter.

There was some expensive bakery at the airport and there was this very lovely cake on display.



At the waiting area after check-in. The Southwest seats are soooo cute! Like some kind of Sailor Moon feeling. HAHA. Sailor Moon.


I've never encountered such an air-conditioner before. This one was on the Southwest aircraft.

You screw/unscrew the small rings to adjust how much cold air you want.




The many cars at the parking areas near LAX.


It was quite a horrible story from LAX to our apartments. There were three locations we were going to, namely Landfair Apartments (Ivan & John), Westwood Chateau (CY, DJ and I), and Rieber Hall (Jessica, Elizabeth and Divya). We called for a shuttle to bring us there, and we just told the people that we were going to UCLA. So they got a driver, and we all got on the shuttle (which was actually a van). For USD 70+ altogether for the 8 of us if I'm not wrong.

When we got near our apartments the driver looked pissed off that we were actually going to three locations. In the end we had to pay USD 15 each and face a grumpy driver.

But who cares, we checked into our apartment.

I wasn't expecting much from the apartment la.

Just that. IT WAS SUCH A PLEASANT SURPRISE!

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

It's a two-room equivalent of the Singaporean HDB flat. Except that the sofa set is soooooo comfortable. And everywhere is carpeted except the toilet area.

This is quite worth the money actually. We had all sorts of appliances available too.

Once you step into the door, the dining table awaits you on the right side.


On the left, you see the kitchen. Those are the microwave and the dishwasher. And the sink.


And the ventilator (?) and the stove.


And of course the fridge!


Here's the sofa.


Two work tables in the living room, occupied by DJ and CY. And next to them is not exactly a window, it's a patio (or balcony) but it is cemented and there are cigarette stubs so we never really got about using it. However it provides good sunlight.


A mock fireplace that I don't know how to operate.


Done with the living room and kitchen. Now's the bathroom.

Bathtub, shower head and a toilet bowl.


Just by the door are the sink and mirror. We don't seem to lack anything!


And of course, the bedroom!

That's my bed and my work table.


The bunk beds for DJ (top) and CY (bottom).

And a chest for us to put our clothes.


That's all?? Noooo.

We have another chest of drawers to put MORE clothes (haha as if we have so many).

And a wardrobe!!! The doors are mirrors, so we have like two flaps of full-length wide mirrors.


You can check out the apartment sign-up here. I'm in Room #108.

Okay, enough of showing off.

...

Next we went out to get groceries and to eat lunch. Had lunch at El Pollo Loco (The Crazy Chicken if I'm not wrong) and it's not bad. Just that I'm not used to eating with tortilla.

Food is soo expensive in the US. I spend like nearly USD 10 on each meal if I eat out.


We can't find any pots nor pans, so we can't really cook for ourselves yet. We're actually still looking for cheap utensils that we can buy. Should've brought my own la. So expensive here.

In the evening we went for orientation at Rieber Hall. Orientation was like all talk and no games. Oh there was this UCLA cheer we had to learn. But I roughly forgot it now. I remember there are 8 claps somewhere. Ooops.

This is Rieber Hall. The difference between living in a hall and the off-campus apartment is that in hall you get to have meals but of course you pay more. However you have to share a common toilet and all you get for a room is...a room.

For us apartment people our trouble is more of with finding food. The people in hall have got 15 meals a week and I heard the food was good! But I don't mind trading food for space.


There were many people of different nationalities who are here for Summer Session A. (there's B and C) When the people in charge of the orientation asked who's from the US?? Then some people raised their hands. From Europe? Some cheers. From Middle East? More cheers. From Asia? RESOUNDING CHEERS.

HAHAHA. Really. I get to know more Asians and Egyptians here than getting to know more Americans.

Nearly all black-haired

When we went to the Whole Foods supermarket to get groceries we brought back some microwavable meals for dinner.

So we were going to have Spaghetti Bolognaise. Bolognese. Whatever.



And this marks the end of a new day. School starts tmr, but I don't take photos during class. So I don't really have any classroom shots to show you. Yet.