A Thorough Cultural Education- September 1, 2013

One thing I'm really loving about LA is every single day is full of an adventure of some kind or other.

This morning, Jinny and I had to drag ourselves out of bed in order to meet Sneha and Astha for breakfast at 8:30. We got some food at Starbucks, since EVK wasn't open, then headed to the Metro station for the first time...

It wasn't actually that bad. The confusing part is just knowing what bus/line connects to where, and how to figure out which location/line/bus you need to get to. TAP cards make it pretty easy if you know about how much the trip is going to cost in general.

The Metro ride was pretty good, and when we got to our transition stop at Culver City, there was a really nice man who helped us find where we were supposed to be next. We probably would've gotten lost without him, so I'm happy it happened. The actual bus to Santa Monica Pier was crowded and much more exciting.

According to the gentleman sitting behind where I stood, Chinese food makes you hungry again in 15 minutes. The details of why are probably not appropriate for me to post here. I ended up in the conversation when he noticed me and Jinny absolutely busting up laughing. We weren't laughing at him!!! Just... about the conversation topic. It was so amusing just to listen to. My part in the conversation was just this:

"Hey there, young lady. When you eat Chinese food, how long is it 'til you're hungry again?"
Me- "I don't know!  I don't like Chinese food."
"Are you serious? You never eaten Chinese food?"
"I've eaten it, I just don't like it."
"And how long was it until you was hungry again after you eat it? Fifteen minutes?"
"Honestly, I don't remember! It was a while ago!"

I wish I could've given him an answer, but then he started asking every single person on the bus if his theory was true. It was so amusing and fun!!!

We got to the Pier, and I was immediately impressed. It reminded me so much of Santa Cruz! There were little souvenir shops, typical amusement park food, street performers, rides, and these amazing... almost finger-paint artists who almost tempted me into buying their artwork. We went on the roller coaster there instead, which was pretty fun since they let us ride it twice in a row! :)

Here's a few pictures:

After we got some lunch and explored a bit, we went down to the actual beach to eat and hang out in the sun. Well... Sneha and Astha did. Jinny and I spent a good hour or so down in the water. It was cold, but not nearly as cold as Santa Cruz, which was so fun!!! I even got to see a live sand dollar while we were playing around in the water!!

We sat out in the sun for a while after that, which is the point that I got both sunburned and dehydrated. I didn't bring enough water, and I didn't put on enough sunscreen soon enough.... if that makes sense. I had to awkwardly borrow a cup and some water from another group's cooler in order to stop feeling so sick sitting out there.

When we went back up to the pier, we did get some water and started to head back, but were stopped by parrots, snakes, and an iguana waiting at the top of the pier!!! The snakes were so fun to watch, but you had to pay to take pictures with them. The parrots were free. The owner literally walked up to people and put these tame, calm parrots right into their hands.

I was watching them, and texting my dad about how to get a hold of more water, when the man walked right up to me and plopped a little white guy, right on my shoulder. I say little, but I shouldn't. I had a parrot on my shoulder. It was awesome. I actually lifted him off my shoulder and onto my hand, but then he climbed right up my arm, about halfway, and pressed his little head right up against my chest. It was so cute!!!! His keeper said that he loved to cuddle, which makes sense, and the little parrot even lifted up a wing so he could be petted in his favorite spot. All four of us were petting him!!! We left a tip for the handler because of it. It was just so cool.

Sneha got some photos:

Isn't he cute?!?!

We made it back to campus just fine, and I did get more water in my water bottle. When we got back, it was about 4:15 in the afternoon, which meant I missed practice for one of the sports I was interested in (there wasn't room for me anyways, it turns out, so no loss!), but the other had just started practicing about an hour before... It was probably stupid of me, but I threw on some workout clothes and raced down to join them.

And then I played my first game of Quidditch.

In case you're not aware, Quidditch is the sport invented in the Harry Potter books. In the series, it's the sport at Hogwarts and in the Wizarding World where people fly around on brooms trying to get balls called Quaffles into the hoops to score points. Think... soccer, but flying. At the same time, there are players called Beaters trying to control balls called Bludgers. These balls fly around and aim themselves at people attempting to knock them out of line or, in dangerous cases, off their broomsticks. The Beaters manage these, trying to aim them toward their opponents to throw them off and give them an obstacle. And to top all that off, there's a very small, quick, golden ball called the Snitch that a player called the Seeker has to catch to end the game. Usually, whoever catches it wins, as it's worth quite a lot of points.

Well... we don't live in a Wizarding world, so instead, Muggle players (that is, those who are not wizards), run around the field with brooms between their legs. The Beaters hold Bludgers, trying to hit and tag other players with it in order to give them a disadvantage. Think... dodgeball or ultimate frisbee if you drop the frisbee. The Snitch is a track player wearing gold shorts. On these gold shorts is a velcro-attatched ball that the Seekers must pull off flag football-style to end the game.

I played a Chaser, who is, put simply, the one trying to score goals.

So Quidditch is, therefore, a game completely invented by J.K. Rowling that resembles soccer, ultimate Frisbee, dodgeball, track, and flag football all at the same time. Oh, and it's with one hand, since you're holding a broom between your legs, looking ridiculous.

It was so much fun.

And yet, much more tiring than I thought it would be, especially after a trip to Santa Monica! I'll be coming back to their free practices though. You only have to pay a fee if you want to actually compete against others or get a jersey. Otherwise, you can show up and play for fun, which I like.

I got cleaned up, and went to dinner then, where I met a new friend who absolutely schooled me in Disney knowledge/facts/trivia. Seriously. He knew every single date, character, cartoon, actor/actress, you name it. Being the competitive person I am, I'm slightly disappointed, but I'm still glad I met him. Maybe he can teach me more....

Ever since, I've been studying or at least attempting to study. I went to the Lounge to do so, and some guys came in after a while. I talked to some of them, but then too many showed up, so I'm calling studying quits for tonight. No school tomorrow, so I have all day tomorrow to get homework done and get all ready for my second week of college! Woo hoo!!

On an unrelated note... I need to watch my language: I'm finding I tend to over-exagerate facts and ideas when I relate them to other people. Simple little things too: "All of my friends" instead of "two of my friends" (in this case, about people posting similar things on Facebook), etc. That's not really being honest, and it's bugging me about myself. I'll work at changing this, and I'd like if you'd help keep me accountable.

What a great day. I learned about LA, sports, Disney, and people in my own dorm room. Looks like learning happens outside of the classroom too.
Learn on, and Fight on, friends.