Today I went on a bike ride around san Francisco, and boy am I tired. I can’t believe how out of shape I am! I prolly biked less than 15 miles, but because it was hills, it was real real tiring. I took a whole bunch of pictures today, and I had a picnic that was absolutely beautiful. It overlooked the san Francisco bay, with the golden gate bridge in the background. It was awesome. I then biked along the ocean front, stopping at the beaches a couple of times, and walked up Lombard street, which is SUPER steep. Also, I went down mission street and market street and saw some really cool sights of street performers and some beautiful painted murals. On the ferry back I met a whole bunch of cool people- one guy who is a music producer and said if I’m ever back in town I should get in contact with him and he could probably hook me with gigs, and with people to play with. www.songwars.net <- he and a couple of friends made that sight. He knows all about the san-fran music scene. Music is a universal thing, I love it. all the people on the ferry had been riding on the same ferry for over 10 years, so they were like tight family, it was really interesting. Another guy told us that we could probably get tickets to Alcatraz Friday night if we show up, so I’m going to try and do that… It would be awesome. But the main thing that has impressed me with san Francisco, and azusa is not only how friendly people are, but more how happy and content they are with simply being alive. They love living here and working here, and are completely content with life. It amazes me, I think that that is a rare thing to try and find in the Chicago area. The music guy ( I cannot remember his name..) said, ‘ did I hear you’re from illinois?’ I said ‘yeah, northwest of chicago’ and he said ‘I’m sorry.’. lolz. The weather is still treating me pretty fantastically. Tomorrow I pick up Jordan from the airport! Yeah!

1/11/2009.
10AM: Sitting in the hotel lobby at the best western in route 66. This place is so beautiful. It’s about 70 degrees outside, and SUNNY. Don’t blame it on the sunshine, don’t blame it on the moonlight, don’t blame it on the good times. Just blame it on the boogie. Yeah! Serioiusly. So beautiful, I cannot really begin to describe it. we woke up around 4 am to drive down to the beach. We got to Huntington beach when it was still dark, around 6 am, and continued to drive along route 1, the pacific coast highway, until it was daylight- around 7:30 we got to Redondo beach and manhattan beach where we were able t access the beach. It was a little chipper, cold at that point, but still beautiful. I stuck my feet in the ocean, and got my pants wet by a big wave that I was not expecting. For now, I am thinking that if I get accepted here, I am definitely coming. It is so beautiful it’s hard for me to believe. Azusa is like 5 minutes away from the mountains, and angeles national forest. I’m looking at it right now.
I don’t have much time to write this- we are just about to leave to continue checking out azusa the campus, but in other news- Jordan is coming!! Yeah! I’m really excited :D
8 PM:
Yeah. Azua pacific university = amazing. I am so unbelievably impressed. Azusa fits me in absolutely every way. I sorta want to try to make a list of reasons that I like it. here it goes.
- it’s an hour from the beach so I could see the ocean and go surfing
- there are a whole lot of really cool west coast hipsters in the area
- the school is very globally minded, as am I.
- for my major they require you to go on 3 -5 study abroad trips.
- All the credits that won’t transfter from MCC to spring arbor will transfer to azusa pacific university
- I could get up to a full-tuition scholarship from music, without being a music major.
- All the guy students longboard all over the placea. Probably half of the guys own a longboard.
- There is a 4:1 female to male ratio on campus
- The school has an great number of students. About 4,000 undergrad, with 4,000 graduate students
- All the students are super friendly, and love it here
- Dorm living is only for freshman, so I wouldn’t be living in a dorm
- It’s still in the greater LA area, so there are all tons of little shops and restaurants in the area.
- Azusa is a city
- There are mountains in the background that are absolutely beautiful
- LA area produces lots of music, movies and TV shows.
- It’s litereally a five minute bike ride to the mountain
- The weather is summer, all year round
- The students are extremely passionate, with ambitious goals
- The students seem genuine
- The students are extremely active
- The area is a really nice and safe area, even though it is a part of the greater LA area
- Everything is really hip and groovy
- They have an excellent music program as well as international study programs
- The people who transferred who live around Chicago absolutely love it
- The school is a really good school
- Palm trees
- Oceans are amazing
- The area is very, so even when it gets really really hot it is not really all that hot
- Everyone absolutely loves the chapel
- They have a really fantastic art program
I dunno. These are a lot of reasons, but there are even more reasons. More or less, I feel like this is where I feel at home. It seemed like there are a ton of people around here that are very similarily oriented.
I talked with a girl from Pennsylvania who is looking at schools to transfer to from her community college. We talked about the lack of passion at community college, as well as the lack of connection with fellow students, and the overall apathy of the college students. It was interesting to have so much in common from such different backgrounds. I want to talk to Dylan, I think he would absolutely love it here. He could probably get a really good scholarship from playing guitar, too. I don’t know what his college plans are exactly, but I think that he would love it here. There are a couple other people who I wish could be here to see this who would really appreciate it, like erik, ron, and noemi. It’s so hip, seriously. Completely different from the expensive-ultra trendy area of san Francisco.
Right now we are driving back towards san Francisco from azusa. Oh yeah. Jake and Li-ing’s hospitality absolutely amazes me. I kept thinking about that this morning. I asked ling “so I’ve been talking to my girlfriend back at home, and she really wants to come out and visit” and she interrupted me by saying “not a problem” and continued to explain to me how we could make it work. That amazes me. Seriously. I look forward to Jordan coming, it’ll be so cool to have someone else here to appreciate everything.
We went to the beach this morning! It was so awesome!! We drove down from azusa to Newport beach, and then drove up the pacific coast highway through Huntington beach and laguna beach. We got there around 6 AM, but it was still dark outside! By the time it had gotten light we had swung around past long beach to the Redondo beach area that is southwest of downtown LA and stopped at a beach at manhattan beach. Absolutely beautiful.
It seems like downton LA is kinda gnarly, but all the outskirt cities are really pretty. All the beaches seem really nice, and all the cities bordering the mountains like Pasadena are gorgeous as well. Seriously, unbelievably pretty. There are snowcapped mountains in the background of azusa, but you can still see to the ocean if you go up a little bit. Ubelievable. Mind blowing. Blood rushing. Life changing. That’s what I’m going for, really. Hm. I feel like I’ve written a lot, I sorta wish that I could post this online right now, but I can’t as I am on the highway. Lol!
Another thing that I have noticed on this trip that is very bizarre is the ability to communicate with people hundreds and hundreds of miles away. Everyone back in the Chicago area is simply a phone call away, or a webcam cast away. It’s really cool knowing that I can be over here, and still sort of take a part in the mosaic community that I am leaving. I will certainly miss the people there greatly, as much as the dogs. I had a great time. Ace’s house of fun, lol! I’ll miss playing all the board games and staying up all night talking about deep topics and feelings. Its probably better that I am avoiding the alcohol, I think that I actually have a problem, but I am in the stage where I can stop it before it really starts. I realized there was somethinge weird at palfer’s lock-in when I had a soda and realized it was the first soda I had had in a while that did not have alcohol in it. heck, I might not have a problem, but better be safe than sorry. Stop it before it starts. Yeah.
I’m really excited to go somewhere with people so passionate. It shall be awesome. Alright. We’re stopping somewhere, and I’m sorta running out of things to say. I’m just rambling now, and noone wants to read that, including my future self ;)

Journal Entries for California Trip of January 2010.

1/8/09. 11:52 AM, California time.

This is a lot of fun. I’m sitting on the airplane, and have been for several hours now. We should be arriving in about an hour and a half to san Francisco. For the longest time outside all you could see was clouds. Then the clouds slowly went away and then you could just see snow-covered ground. Then the flatness went away and all you could see were snow-capped mountains. I don’t know where we are, but it’s gorgeous. Based on the fact that the sun has been directly to the left of us most of this time, I’m guessing we are somewhere southwest of Chicago. Although, that would only make sense if going to san Francisco. Yeah. I’m guessing Colorado or Nevada or something like that. Now it’s just cloudy and gray. You can’t really see anything.
I love talking to people sitting next to you on airplanes. So interesting. The guy next to me was born in Alaska, then attended Berklee school of music, and is flying to San Francisco for a gig tomorrow night where he will be opening for Honey Boy Edwards, the real old guy that Dylan and I saw at Blues Fest. Pretty awesome stuff. I think that you have to be 21 to get into the show but even so, I am going to try and go. For surez. Well. Our descent has begun. We’re up so high. 32,000 feet or whatever. I can’t help but think of fight club when flying. Well, I’m done for now.

1/8/09: 9:33 PM
wow. What a first day. We got off of the plane and immediately walked out to shopping central. Within one point of view was an apple store, an Oakley store, a GAP, and an old navy. Pretty crazy. I’m absolutely loving this city. It is full of really trendy hipsters, and I love the hills as well as the small roads. Today I am completely exhausted from not really sleeping last night. It’s nice to be away from everything, but still really weird how small the world is. I’m just a phone call away from everyone, literally. Today, we saw china town, and went over the bay bridge for the first time. Chinatown was pretty dang awesome, it truly was like being in another country. Reminded me a lot of peru, just with asians. Lol. Also, it’s interesting to watch the trolly cars and electric buses on the streets. I can’t really imagine trying to drive with that sort of hazard.
Another fun rule about California: motorcyclists are allowed to drive between lanes between cars. Yeah. It’s pretty intense. So far, I love san Francisco. I am at ed and lings house, and talking with them reminds me how much I like them. They are really interesting people who work hard, and care about each other and their kids very much. I also feel like I am able to talk to them in away that I would never be able to with my parents. Huh. I also talked to Jake bakke today, he’s really excited that I am in California, as am I. he’s one of two people in the world that I promised we would see each other some day. The other is Barbara, in germany. It’s gonna happen. But anyways, so far everything is going awesomely, I’m just really really tired.
Tomorrows plans so far: golden gate park + a few museums tomorrow.
Future plans include Alcatraz, national parks, hiking, museums, wharves, dwarves, Los Angelos, Mountains, and really good asian food.