So I don't have a computer yet (mine broke before I left the states) and I've been pretty busy, so I'm trying to catch up on everything right now. I have already taking a ton of pictures and really want to upload them but the computers at the library won't let me install the uploading tool I need right now.
I'm living in the dorms here, which they call hostels, and my roommate is another exchange student. She hasn't arrived yet but I'm told she will be here today. I haven't really been in my room much anyways but I am excited for her to finally arrive. My first day I took care of all of my registration things -- paying fees, getting my welcome packet and all that. I sat down for lunch and met some other exchange students -- one from Boston, five from Italy, and two from France. We went to the mall together to get pillows, hangers, etc. It was fun hanging out with them and very comforting to find people to hang out with immediately. We spent a couple of hours at the mall, and as soon as I finished putting my things away when I got back to my room I fell asleep. I was hoping to fall asleep for a few hours so that I could go to the library when I woke up to use the computer, but I slept for almost 12 hours. I woke up once around 11 and tried to stay up for a little while but was very unsuccessful. I didn't have trouble staying alseep but it wasn't a very relaxing night. I had some crazy dreams and had a very hard time getting out of bed -- I literally could barely move my muscles or open my eyes, even when I forced myself.
When I finally did get up it was pretty early -- 6:00 in the morning. I explored campus for a while, which by the way, is gorgeous! There are palm trees, plants, and flowers everywhere. The buildings are very open and many of the hallways are outdoors. It rains here just about every day -- usually just a light sprinkle -- so most of the walkways are covered. I went to the orientation session and met some more students, then went back to the mall with some others to get a few things I missed yesterday.
Everyone here is very nice, and the exchange students are all very friendly. I've made quite a few friends so far and am really enoying it! We are all in the same boat here -- most people don't know anybody, and everyone is so new to the area and is open to anything! We all want to travel a lot, so we're hoping to get a class schedule that is open on Fridays so that we can travel every weekend.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Finally in Singapore!
Okay, so here I am, finally in Singapore!! This is my third day here and already SO MUCH has happened! I'll start with some details of my flight...
I left Madison on Sunday and drove with Angie to Chicago. I have really been wanting to see Umphrey's McGee in concert and they were playing a three-day New Year's / 10 year celebration show at the Aragon (which is such a beautiful venue, by the way!!). It was the most phenomonal thing I have ever seen. Even if you don't typically enjoy the type of music they play it is simply amazing to watch them interact and experience the visual and musical cues they use to play in such synchronization. But I digress.
After the concert we met up with Kristin at Leg Room. It was PACKED. We didn't stay for more than maybe an hour and went to another club on State or Rush. It was super fun. We got back to Kristin's around 3:30 or 4 and started to watch a movie. I was going to watch the movie for an hour or so, take a shower, then hop on the bus and catch the train to O'Hare. Um not a good plan.
Next thing I know I wake up and see lots of sunlight outside, so I frantically ask Angie what time is it. Oh, it's 8:30am. Yea, my flight is at 9:05. So bascially I am screwed. I grabbed my things and Angie and I ran to her car and drove to O'Hare as fast as humanly possible. I did manage to brush my teeth on the way, although Angie probably has some toothpaste stuck to the side now. (Sorry about that Angie.) Angie couldn't find her cell phone so we couldn't call the airport and ask them to hold the plane, although I'm quite certain there was no way they would do that anyways. I freaked out the whole way there and ran through the airport as fast as I could. THANK GOD there was a bit of fog and the plane had been delayed about 30 minutes, so I made it!! Phew. That was a very close call.
I flew to Detroit and had a very short layover, just enough time for me to grab an $8 sandwhich (that I only ate 1/4 of) while my name was called over the PA system to board the plane. From there I flew to Tokyo which took almost 14 hours.
I also had a fairly short layover in Tokyo. I had just enough time to stop at the Oragami musuem and take some pictures. (I'd love to post them right now but I'm having troubles uploading things using the library computers.) My flight to Singapore was about six and a half hours, and we had TV screens on the back of the chair in front of us so I watched movies (Into the Wild and The Beach) and slept the whole way.
After arriving in Singapore I met up with a taxi driver who took me onto campus. As soon as I walked out of the airport I was instantly reminded of Orlando -- palm trees everywhere and very humid weather. It took about 30 minutes to drive to the other side of the island onto campus. It was around 1:00am on 2 January when I arrived to meet up with my student buddy. I was pretty hungry so we went to the supermarket which is right on campus, then I went to sleep for about 6 hours.
I left Madison on Sunday and drove with Angie to Chicago. I have really been wanting to see Umphrey's McGee in concert and they were playing a three-day New Year's / 10 year celebration show at the Aragon (which is such a beautiful venue, by the way!!). It was the most phenomonal thing I have ever seen. Even if you don't typically enjoy the type of music they play it is simply amazing to watch them interact and experience the visual and musical cues they use to play in such synchronization. But I digress.
After the concert we met up with Kristin at Leg Room. It was PACKED. We didn't stay for more than maybe an hour and went to another club on State or Rush. It was super fun. We got back to Kristin's around 3:30 or 4 and started to watch a movie. I was going to watch the movie for an hour or so, take a shower, then hop on the bus and catch the train to O'Hare. Um not a good plan.
Next thing I know I wake up and see lots of sunlight outside, so I frantically ask Angie what time is it. Oh, it's 8:30am. Yea, my flight is at 9:05. So bascially I am screwed. I grabbed my things and Angie and I ran to her car and drove to O'Hare as fast as humanly possible. I did manage to brush my teeth on the way, although Angie probably has some toothpaste stuck to the side now. (Sorry about that Angie.) Angie couldn't find her cell phone so we couldn't call the airport and ask them to hold the plane, although I'm quite certain there was no way they would do that anyways. I freaked out the whole way there and ran through the airport as fast as I could. THANK GOD there was a bit of fog and the plane had been delayed about 30 minutes, so I made it!! Phew. That was a very close call.
I flew to Detroit and had a very short layover, just enough time for me to grab an $8 sandwhich (that I only ate 1/4 of) while my name was called over the PA system to board the plane. From there I flew to Tokyo which took almost 14 hours.
I also had a fairly short layover in Tokyo. I had just enough time to stop at the Oragami musuem and take some pictures. (I'd love to post them right now but I'm having troubles uploading things using the library computers.) My flight to Singapore was about six and a half hours, and we had TV screens on the back of the chair in front of us so I watched movies (Into the Wild and The Beach) and slept the whole way.
After arriving in Singapore I met up with a taxi driver who took me onto campus. As soon as I walked out of the airport I was instantly reminded of Orlando -- palm trees everywhere and very humid weather. It took about 30 minutes to drive to the other side of the island onto campus. It was around 1:00am on 2 January when I arrived to meet up with my student buddy. I was pretty hungry so we went to the supermarket which is right on campus, then I went to sleep for about 6 hours.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Jitters
I leave in about 20 minutes. For Angie's house, that is, then we're heading to Chicago to see a concert and hang out with Kristin. Ahh!!!
My Horoscope:
Whoa ....
Two things that freak me out about Singapore:
1. Drug trafficking (sp??) gets a mandatory death penalty.
2. Homosexuality is illegal.
Not that either of these things is really going to have much effect on me personally, but I don't like them.
Viva Singapura!!
My Horoscope:
Today is a 6 - You're starting to discover a new world of possibilities. Travel and/or higher education may be required. This is not a problem. You like having a good excuse to do either or both.
Whoa ....
Two things that freak me out about Singapore:
1. Drug trafficking (sp??) gets a mandatory death penalty.
2. Homosexuality is illegal.
Not that either of these things is really going to have much effect on me personally, but I don't like them.
Viva Singapura!!
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