Cali @ First Glance

It really takes an effort to maintain my blog over here. But since I promised, it makes it easier to get to doing it;)
Oh yay. IM in CALI! haha.. things are pretty different here. I wouldnt say that I have gotten used to it? But its kinda like some sort of surface acceptance I guess. Gotta learn to open to people who are different from me, talk different, look different. Nah. i guess i'll get used to it with abit of time.
Took a 16hr flight (counting in-flight time only) and finally reaching LA. I guess there is not much of a jet lag because I followed instructions from the school to eat when they serve and sleep when they off the lights. so that adaptation on the plane itself. The people here in Cali are rather friendly. Unlike what people might portray as distance or discrimination for that matter, I don't really feel any of that around here.
Some interesting facts:
1) THERE ARE CROWS IN THE USA TOO!! haha.. i found that kinda amusing when i arrived at the LA airport. Its like such a Singapore thing to see crows. But NO, they are here too.
2) A Taiwanese working at the LA Airport actually came up and chat? He went 'Konichiwa'. I went 'Im not Jap'. I guess a normal chat couldnt hurt though. Apparently people in Cali generally think of Japan first when they see Asians.
3) ... And then people at downtown asked if we are Vietnamese. ... its Japanese and then Vietnamese. Hell. Another person told me I look Japanese. And im starting to wonder if they know how to differentiate Asians or not. Not that im complaing=) *heh. Japs and Viets are known to be pretty right?*
4) The embarrassing moment: I used to wonder, what is it with Westerners not understanding "Having here or Take away". And so, what goes around comes around. "Its for here or to go?" 'WHAT?!' "Its- for- here- or - to- go?" *BLANK* "Are you going to have it here or to go?" 'OH~ its for HERE'.
5) This should be pretty well known. Branded goods here are cheap. I got a Levis for 16USD. The coach bag was 170USD after 50% off. But I decided not to splurge YET.
6) Got stopped by the traffic police at downtown. thats like whoa. haha.. there were people crossing a CAR-LESS road. We followed. And this police just drove his motorcycle right out of the corner where he must be hiding and went "Hey Ladies" I thought I was going to get a fine or something. But he said "are u visitors? well, you are supposed to cross at the crossings at all times. You know the crossing?" Well, there are times when its good to be able to look blur and keep your mouth to yourself. So yup. Nod your head and open your eyes wide and try to look lost. *Sorry* "Nah, its ok. just remember to cross at the crossing next time." and he smiled at us.
7) Store owners greet their customers as they enter or leave the shop. "How's it going?" and you are to reply "GREAT~ GOOD~AWESOME~" haha.. this is really funny because just about everything is AWESOME~ and you know how they say it? with all the ups-downs tone variation. =D Im learning.
8) The beds here are so high. I guess its to suit the height of the people here. But yea. I can choose between a small JUMP or a little CLIMB to get up MY bed.
9) The sun can be scorching hot. The skies are clear in the day and clouds are rare. Its a dry climate. But the moment you step into the shade, its cool all over again. The winds are chilling. Seriously. I wish i can teleport my jacket on and off me.
10) Chinese/Taiwanese generally think that Singaporeans speak English. Westerners think that Singaporeans speak Chinese. Well, no one really knows the language over here. A couple who have visited Sinagpore would have heard of Singlish=D Thats neither here nor there since I don't know other countries well as well. Thats why im here right?
11) the cars here looks really interesting. they have those with leopard prints and what have you. and the cars look like they have a big nose or something along that line I guess.
12) water taste incredibly powdery due to the calcium content. takes some getting used to though.
13) toilet doors have fine gaps that can be peeped into if anyone had wanted to. and the partitions do not extend to the ground. Minor shock at the LA airport.
14) the size of the 5 cents coins is bigger than that of a dime(10cents). Even the American cashier went "yea. I know it doesnt make sense but.."
15) Raffle! means luckydraw.

From the LA airport, i went to the Tom Bradley Airport to hunt for food. Had Bagel with sour cream. Now. What is a bagel?? Its like bread shaped like a donut. But I guess they do not use self-raising flour because its really compact. Board the Airbus which is really more comfortable then the plane. Couldnt help but fall asleep somewhere along the way. The route to the Goleta stop was really an impressive trip. The Santa Barbara beach is seriously AWESOME. The water sparkles under the sunlight. Its even nicer than the one that I posted a Video on facebook. We shared a cab with a girl from the Neatherlands. The short 1mile journey to our temporary residence, Santa Cruz, cost 20USD! The meter jumps by 30cents for a distance like that between two street lamps! Its freaking expensive! After checking in, we went to Isla Vista, a nearby neighbourhood for dinner. Pasta. I think it tastes better than the ones in Singapore. But we look weird sharing food though.
Pingponged and jogged on the 2nd morning. whoa. its so cold initially until I got warmed up. Its a good start I guess, to healthier lifestyle. But im not sure how long ist going to last. Students here bike/skateboard to school. But since I don't want to endanger to lives of the UCSB students, I have decided not to go ahead with getting a bike. Its expensive anyway. Went to downtown. Food here are all americanized. Chinese at Panda Express serves 'CHOW MEIN' and 'EGG FLOWER SOUP'. Just do a direct translation and you'll get what it means.
Got to meet people form different culture, the japanese, taiwanese, hong kongers, chinese, koreans.. and of course people from england, spain, italy, australia, france, turkey, canada, germany.. its like 'ich vesteche nicht?' 'oh yea!' 'Ohaiyo' 'oh, you know japanese?' I guess they are all really nice. I have to be more pro-active though.
Oh. the 3rd day was spent exploring the school. First exposure to the way people tip at restaurants since Lawr's brother drove us out to Calle Real for dinner. Its Americanized Jap.. and MY! Are the portions large?! Its huge, gigantic! That was a treat. Thanks alot!! You are not as stern as what Lawr made you sound like. Thanks for being nice!
The weather here is nice, the people are nice, the surroundings are nice. I guess, when you are abroad, its alot about trying to be yourself in a different environment. Its takes effort and courage (at least for me) to start a conversation with people who are just different. But after I tried today. cool. they are as curious about me as I am about them. But I guess all of us are a little bit reserved. Its like the I-want-to-talk-to-her-but-im-not-sure-if-she-wants-to kinda thing. but its both ways. PHEW~~Hermits belong in a shell. So im going to promise myself that i'll be hermits no more. Thats how its going to be.
Will be shifting to my apartment tomorrow. Hope everything goes well. Right. My personal motto again: Its just going to get better.
Friends, take care. I will too.