Room 435

Welcome to GabbySpace! There have been some requests for pictures of my room so here it is. 

This is my bed where I have spent most of my time so far. It is very comfortable and is great for sleeping, reading, and playing UNO with floor mates. The leopard finally has a name -- Pochi which is the standard Japanese name for dogs. My friend Sherry named him. 

This is my desk. Coffee maker is mostly for tea until we get some coffee. On the left is June's desk and on the right is the bookshelf with all of my French dictionaries and pretty dishes.

I-House Retreat

This weekend was the first I-House retreat at Valley of the Moon camp in Sonoma and it was so much fun! Campfire, smores, sparklers, glow sticks, a ropes course, great people all put together for a super good fun spectacular time. 

Good morning International House/Berkeley!

3:05am-- what? It's only 3am? I must be absorbing everyone else's jet lag...zzzzzz
6:42am-- ok I guess I can get up now. Why is it so dark?
7:05am-- how do I turn on the shower?
7:25am-- I'm kinda hungry... Grapefruit, potatoes, mint tea great!
8:02am-- now what?

^^^^^^^my morning thus far.

Can I just say I love the international house? I could care less about the size of the room; I some how managed to fit all my stuff in here (although attn mom: I did come up with a bunch of stuff I don't want. And the microwave is really awkward and I'm forgetting about trying to fit a mini fridge in here). But it's such an amazing building I feel like I'm in Hogwarts (sort of) and yes I did say that out loud yesterday while navigating dead end staircases. Maybe the Winchester house is more appropriate. But most of all the people are so amazing. I've only met a handful so far but everyone is really nice. My next door neighbor and I have already shared hand trucks and scissors. I ate breakfast with a girl from France, rode the elevator with a boy and girl from Italy, and my roommate hasn't even arrived yet. I'm getting more and more thrilled to be here by he second but I also have no idea what to do with myself. I think I'll go exploring in a bit. That always seems to be the best way to pass time anywhere.

To New Beginnings

One year, two months, and 15 days ago marked the end of my aupairship in France. A lot has happened since then. Sort of. I decided to go to Tulane... and then I didn't go. So then I ended up jumping back into my not-so-intresting life between city college and nothing. It was a bit of a rut for sure. I took really basic classes like intro to public speaking and us history and I hated myself every second as I tried and tried to figure my way out of this cowtown. In November I applied to "real colleges" again. This time just 3-- UCD as backup, UCLA as first choice, and Berkeley as long shot. Then I waited. And while I was waiting I took classes that actually interested me (linguistics, geography) and classes that challenged me (botany, Spanish) and I had my first internship with AmeriCorps NCCC (which was totally amazing!). In May, I graduated from Sac City with my AA in Social Sciences. To make a long story about the grueling UC admissions process short, I got into Berkeley   and I'm moving TOMORROW. I also turned 21, got glasses and had my first dentist appointment in 3 years with no new cavities, you know really important stuff.

Amazingly enough I think I'm more nervous for Berkeley than I was for France and I can't really explain why. I think maybe I feel like I'm under more pressure to do well and especially after France I think I expect myself to just be a stronger better more capable person than I was then but I don't know if that is even possible.

I suppose just like everything else in thus far in life I will just have to take everything in stride, shine as bright as I can and hope for the best.