First Day at school!

Yesterday it was time for the first day of school. And the school had said that it could be many students so we should take the buses instead of the car.... But that there would be traffic stop around my house I did't know! Every thing was a big mess, students running to school and cars standing still. (and I live 15 min walk from school) I was so glad that I was able to walk instead of taking the bus.

I found my first class at A119, Art 10c which dose't say you much do it? It's a class were I will be learning design on the computer in Photoshop and Illustrator. So I'm looking forward to see my new skills in the end of the semester.

Second class was English 1, it's the highest class for F-1 students so I'm proud of my placement there. The teacher is all about politics so I guess I will know allot about that when I'm done.

After that I went to the bookstore and bought my last book in Geography.... And I can't wait for my Art History Class on Friday!

I have made a movie about Santa Monica and my life here... not very good but there is pictures and you will be able to see how nice it is here.

Love Camilla

I don't have to live in a bag anymore!

Yesterday I moved in with my roommate!

We have almost all that we need already thanks to her aunt and uncle that had things that they did't need. I just need my bed from Ikea then we are all set and ready to start school which is next MONDAY!!!

BUT!, and it's a big BUT I don't have all 12 units, I still need 6 units to be okay with CSN. All classes are full, they are adding some today but if I don't get any there wont be anything els than becoming a teachers suck-up and ask for them to take me in to their class. and that sucks big time. It will be better to next semester then we are able to chose before the new students.

I have to go now and see if they have added any classes online that I so badly need!!

Camilla

This day turned out okay, little more than okay.

This morning I cheeked out from the hotel, left my bags at a friends place and then I was off to the bank to get a cashier cheek for my deposit of the apartment. Then of to the apartment place and I was really worried that I would't find a room mate.... But then they told me that there had been another girl looking for a roommate. I got her number, no one answered the phone. And then a few hours later she called me back. She said, "I have nobody that would call me but I got a feeling that I needed to switch on the phone and look"

We meet up and we have allot in common with each other, so thats good.
Tomorrow we are going to meet at 10 am to get the key's and then we are moving in.

The rest of the day I spent with my new friend, and we went home to her place.... And it was so much traffic that it took the double amount of time,,,,

While home we went on line, on FB!! what els?!

Went out for dinner and then we hit the pool and the jacuzzi.... and we meet some neighbors.

And then we finished the day with some Ben & Jerry's

Camilla

Info Seminar at SMC!

To day has been long, but so fun!

When I got to the bus stop I saw a girl that had a SMC map in her hand and I asked if she was going to the seminar to. And she was, to we talked on the bus all the way to school and then we tried to find "art 214" the school is not big but it is buildings every were and they are not connected to each other! We found our way and then we arrived among the first students. Expect our new friend he was there at 6.30am and the day started at 8.00 am.
We headed for the "Breakfast" table which was cookies, sweet bread (Winerbröd) coffee and tea... the only healthy was the bananas, to bad they were cut in half. ( I don't eat fruit that has been cut, Teresa taught me that.

Then we went on the Seminar and during the breaks we talked to the other students and soon we were a group of six, five Sweden and one Switzerland. So English all the time.

On the Seminar we had different people that were speakers. It was about the school, other students, students clubs, a tour around campus, insurance, the police and the international student center.

After the Seminar we went over Pico blvd to buy some frozen yogurt, nice and cold.

Then we split up some went home and I stayed with three other students from our group. And we ended up going to Hermosa Beach. We had dinner at Ruby's, and then went out on the pier where they filmed some of the O.C!!! The blue dinner with the yellow.

And then we drove back to Marina Del Rey!

Camilla

A day on the beach...

I started my day running to the bus. I had to be at school before 9.30 and you never know when the bus is going to show up.... at 8.45 I arrived at the school so that I could cheek-in and pay the seminar fee of $50 for tomorrow. Is that really necessary to pay all these fees all the time...

And then I'm not going to start with my hotel bill, not funny. I wise there would be a away for me to earn some money but is't the case these first 9 month. After that I could find a internship somewhere...

When I got back from the school I answered e-mails then I headed out for the pool, took a swim and then back in again... my conscience could't stand taking a chill while I don't have a roomie jet.

And then I meet up with Anna, we went to the beach and some shopping too of course :) Dinner and just hanging out, enjoying the company and the Swedish language....

Camilla

I went crazy.... and it was not for you, it was new shoes!! (and bags)

I thought that I needed a pair of new shoes... so I went to the shoe store and BANG there were shoes and bags!

Everything was a big mess yesterday, but to day has been perfect!

Okay, to update you all on my big trauma yesterday That made me feel so down ...
As you all know I got Together with Two Other Swedish girls and DECIDED to move in to an apartment at Marina Del Rey. We Were schedule to pick up the keys yesterday at 10 am. I could't get in touch with any of the girls so by 9.55 am I decided to take a cab to the apartment and see if they would be there. But no, our leasing consultant told me that one of the girls were sick and that they changed to pick up the keys on Monday.
I walked back to the hotel just to get some exercise for the day. I stopped at the supermarket to buy some fruit when one of the girls called me and told me that they did't want the apartment because they could't fit two queen (120 cm) beds in the bedroom.
That completely swept me off the ground, I have been so stressed out by finding somewhere to live and just the day before that was solved and then the other moment I had to start all over again.

I want to thank you all for being there for me, it meant so much!

To day is another day and as I woke up I decided to start looking for an apartment. And I don't think it took more than 15 min until I found my new apartment at Pico Lanai. I called them right away and the woman I spoke to said that there were one left. She said that I could come and look at it. So 40 min later I started my tour and it was really nice and a $1000 less than the other place! It's a 1bed/1bath unfurnished place with a Gated Community, two sparkling pools, Fitness center, Courtyards with BBQ grills, Stainless steel appliances and the best of all is that it is so FRESH EVERY WERE!!!

On my way home I took another walk... I like to walk around the neighborhood and streets. It's so much to look at! I also found a lovely store named Fabric Planet all earth friendly fabrics! I will up lode a photo on what I bought and later you can see what I will make out off it!

Love Camilla

Bye the way

I've changed so that is so much easier to leave comments now. Down in the bottom of each insertion and it's marked in LIMEGREEN so that it will be easier for all international friends and family to find it, true this is a Swedish site from the beginning.

Camilla

Archstone Marina Del Rey is going to be my new home!

So, after days... and it has been DAYS with trying to find some were to live. I'm moving in tomorrow in a apartment with two other Swedish girls. I thing that we are going to have a great time together... If the weather is nice and the sun is shining we could hang-out by the pool.

And finally I have someone to talk to, it has been so frustrating to not talk to anyone that are in the same situation as I am.

Now we are just waiting for the other girl to be done with her spa, then we are going to buy bed and stuff for the apartment Whiii.

Have a good one!

Camilla

My First Day in Santa Monica

I woke up and went down for breakfast at the hotel, Ohh if I had forgotten how awful the American breakfast is, white bread, sugar cheerios, sweet bread, jam... do I have to go on?!Off I went ready to find my school in the big city, I walked by foot. On the map it looked just like a few blocks but no, it took me an hour. 1.8 miles (2.9 km) Traffic lights takes looooong time you know. And on my way to Santa Monica College (SMC) I saw this sign on Santa Monica Blvd, a part of Route 66!

While at SMC, I went to the international student center. Looking for a place to live, with no luck at all. So I went for a walk to the beach and in to Down Town. And I had lunch at my beloved Panera Bread. Chicken Noodels soup in a bread bowl... My friends and Family in Sweden know how much I missed this food! I will add a pict soon! So good, Yummy yummy in my tummy!

Then I looked up radioshak and bought my BlackBerry cell phone.

Then back to the hotel.

I must also say thank you all nice and patient American people I've meet so far!

Camilla

My long trip to Santa Monica 081010

1.30 am, Camilla it's time to get up. Ollie woke me up, me, my dad, and Ollie had a late/early breakfast in the kitchen before me and my dad took off to the airport.

I had sleept for an hour and then it was time to get up... We drove for 2h with one short break.

At 3.26 am we arrived at Landvettern Airport. It was almost empty at that time. And we had our second breakfast. You can bet that I was tired, and that I had butterflys in my tummy.

Then it was time for my big green bag to leave me, I hope that I will see it safe and sound in L.A.

At 5.30 am I hugged my dad goodbye and went true the security control.

6.20 am I got on the airplane that took me to Heathrow (London) as I sat down on my seat I discovered that there wasn't many who sat down around me and when the plane took off I saw that almost all of the passengers wear sitting in the back end of the plane. And then I discovered that I bought my ticket in Economy Extra. Thats soo nice!

8.06 (London time) The airplane landed safe on British ground. Off the plane and true the first security control, then a long long long line to the next one where they started to ask where I was going and why. And if I packed my bags by my self and on.... forever! Then when I came true and stood in line for my next boarding card I saw that I had lost my old one, so now they could't track my bag at all! They told me to go to the gate and before that I had a quick lunch. At the gate they told me to board the plan last so that they could see if my bag would turn up in time for take off. And lucky me it did turn up. But I had to go down to the luggage to confirm that the big GREEN bag was mine :) On the plane I had just one person next to me, which was so nice. The Plane was a big one, with 9 seats in each row.
I saw a movie, had a meal, saw a movie, had a meal .... on and on and on... and all the time I was keeping an eye on LA time... so I wondered why we had a meal all the time... Then the last hour of 10h which it took from London I got it, Snack, Lunch, Snack, Dinner and on...
The movies I saw was :

• The Ghost Writer
• Shrek forever after...
• Turn off the screw
• Last song

4.10 pm we landed at LAX in Los Angeles. Now it was time, I was so nervous did I have all the papers with me or have I forgotten one at home in Sweden?! It's so much paper that need to be ready for a VISA. But they let me in :) SO HAPPY!

After I picked up my BIG GREEN bag, I had to go true a security control again and the man asked me if I had any money or food in my bags... No I don't!

I took a cab to my hotel and then I took a walk around a few blocks. And then went to bed 6.30 pm (LA time) So Tired!

Camilla

Packing my one and only bag!

This is so hard! I really have to chose what to bring and what stays home. I put my bag on the scale and it's around 16 kg of 20 kg! So I have more space left. It would be worse if it would be the other way around.
To day I really have to focus on what to do! And nothing els like blog, facebook.... Well good luck to me!

Yesterday I meet with Sandra and here family to say good bye, I had quality time with my grandmother and then I stopped by my aunt and her family. Thank you all for the time yesterday!

Back to my bag!

Milla

My Visa!!!

I went to Maxi to pickup my passport with my visa in it! So now I have visa until 2015.

The days are going so fast now, 7 days before take-off! And my check list is long!

Math
Cleaning my car and get it sold
I need to buy a bag
Pack my bags

My last work day tomorrow so I'm off to bed!

Love Camilla