I finally moved to Minneapolis. Marc and I left Chicago last Saturday. It was sucky to leave Chicago because I like Chicago. Priayda and Josh helped me loading boxes in the trailer. I was nervous about driving with trailer, but, actually, it was fine. I just drove very very slow (55mph) all the way to Minneapolis! It was kinda relaxing to drive slow because you don’t have to worry about other cars. When we got to the Minneapolis, it was hot. Seriously, hot. The first thing I smelled when I got into my new apt was smoke! The caretaker dude told me that the painters would come in next day to pain the walls. Marc suggested me that we should stay hotel for a night. It was great idea that we stayed at the hotel (Hampton Inn!) because my room doesn’t have the air, so it would be horrible!! When we checked out my apt next day, the painters were still working on my room. They told us that it was taking more than they thought, and they would have to come back Tuesday to do more painting. So, well, I had no choice but staying another night at hotel! So, basically, I got to Minneapolis on Sunday, but I actually didn’t start living my apt til Tuesday! I wish the management company would reimburse hotel charges! But, good thing is that all smell of smoke is gone, and the room looks and smell good!

I went to the kinesiology department on Tuesday. I had couple questions about assistantship and other things. So, I went in there and met several people including the professor I will be working for. My advisor will be gone for one semester, so I will be working with other professors in the department. I also had to go to the international office for document check. I thought I just had to show and make copies of my passport, I-20, and other documentations. But, noooooo!! I found out that I have to do TB testing and attend international student orientation! I already have enough orientation to go to (graduate student orientation and departmental orientation), so it was kind sucky I have to go to another orientation! I have been living here for almost 9 years, and I am not sure if I really need to attend orientation for international students! I do not like the international student orientation because office people are overly friendly and treat us like baby! Usually, they talk about stupid stuff such as how to open back account, how to obtain driver’s license, how to communicate with American students, etc etc. I guess that’s good for first timers, but well, not for me!

I have been living in Minneapolis for only four days, but I noticed that this city is very very veeerrrry white!! I hardly see minorities around the town. I live in the area called Uptown and I only see White people! Oh noooooooo!!! I went to Target today and I think I was the only Asian there! It is kinda scary!! I have never seen White mail men in Chicago, but, now I only see White mail men! Most of my friends are whity Whites, but well, I am not sure if I will like living in super white city! Maybe I should stop tanning.

I need couch really really bad!!

It is “back-to-school” season again! Yaaaaay! You gotta go to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Sears, and Value City to buy all new clothes, stationeries, laptop, ipod, and other tons of stuff!! Yaaaaay!! Seriously, what’s the fuck is about “back-to-school”!! I know American people love buying new stuff in every occasion they can find, but do you really have to spend so much money to just go back to school? I will pay tons of money on the text books, so I do not feel like buying anything before new semester. Ugh.

Speaking of new semester, it took me forever to register classes! I found out that my registration status was on hold. In order to remove holds, I had to make an appointment for TB testing which I thought ridiculous, had to go to the graduate school to explain why I didn’t graduate and signed the waver saying I will get MEd by next summer, and had to sign up for international student orientation. Of course, I had no idea which class to register, I needed to meet my advisor. But, I wanted to some ideas what kinda classes are available before the meeting with my advisor, I looked up online and checked several classes I am interested in taking. Well, I do not have broadband connection yet, so I was using dial-up connection to go online. I totally forgot how painful dial-up connection is!!! And it’s so slow!! I cannot believe I used to browse porn sites with dial-up connection!! I must be really patient!! Anyway, actually, my advisor liked the classes I picked, and I ended up registering three classes, foundation of kinesiology, advance biomechanics I, and of course, stats class. I might add reading class, but I am not sure yet.

After I registered classes, I drove back all the way to Chicago, and I am still staying at Marc’s place. I was singing all 7 hours straight because well, I could. I realized I tend to eat junk foods when I am driving, long driving. I could pick some health snack such as some kinda fruits, but I decided to eat chips and soda for lunch when I stopped for the gas. Well, there was Burger King next to the gas station, but I didn’t go in, so I think it was all good.

I had a lunch with Laura in this afternoon, and we went to Target after the lunch. I almost bought spongebob pen set, but I didn’t! Well, I think I will eventually buy it anyway though. I guess I didn’t buy anything because Laura got tons of stuff from there. Just watching her buying things made my “I wanna buy stuff” feeling cool down. Thanks to her! She was totally victim of “back-to-school” frenzy! I hope she enjoys her new printer and paper shredder!

I was assembling IKEA furniture pretty much all this afternoon. I do not like buying IKEA furniture because well, you get what you pay for!! But, since I am a poor graduate student, I cannot afford buying fancy expensive stuff (unless my dad buys me ones). Therefore, I ended up buying dresser and other stuff at IKEA. I was a little bit overwhelmed when I saw billions of pieces inside of the box. It was just simple dresser, but there were so many screws and other stuff I had no idea what for! I think it took me 2~3 hours to build the dresser! And even worse, the dresser wasn’t big enough for my clothes! Hmmmmmm. I guess I wont buy anymore clothes....just kidding!

Although I was in Chicago for two weeks, I already want to go back! I guess I miss my friends and my boy. The night before I came back here, Priyada, Josh, Mike, Michelle, Marc, and I had a dinner together. Hmmm, actually, it was triple date!!! It was sad to not be able to see them for a while, but I guess that’s alright. Life keeps moving...maybe!

My orientation week is starting from tomorrow! I have a graduate school orientation 9:30am till 7:30pm. Before the orientation, I have to go to the health center for follow up of TB testing which I took yesterday. At least, I can get free food, I guess it’s alright. Well, the university has already charged mandatory orientation fee of $40 to my bursar account, so I guess I am not getting free foods! If it’s buffet style, I am going to grab as much as foods I can!

Oink oink!

Today was the graduate school orientation day. The orientation was from 9:30am, but I had to go to the health center for TB testing. Of course, the result was negative. Well, the nurse said, “well, I think it’s negative.” I was thinking that what did her mean her think it was negative! Anyway, I am pretty sure I am negative because I haven’t been exposed to TB people.

Before I checked in, I went to the bathroom to do some pooing action. When I sat down, the first thing I saw was the ads for rape. I mean ads for where you can contact when you become a victim of rape. Hmmmm, interesting ads to put in the men’s bathroom, I say. The ads was explaining that if you want to make a police report, you should save your clothes and do not take a shower, and it has to be done within 72 hours. Hmmmmm. Well, you never know who will rape you, so I guess it’s good to know.

The orientation was incredibly long and boring. I was so glad that I brought a magazine to read. I hope the departmental orientation is more interesting than this... But, I am pretty sure international student orientation will be more boring than today’s orientation. Lucky me.

I am free, I am freeeeee!! My PC is now wired free. Well, at least network cable free. I installed wireless network card and set up the wireless network router in this afternoon. I bought both at BestBuy cos they were on sale! Also, I wanted to make my PC wireless because I wanted to move my computer desk from living room to dinning area. Since my room only has one cable outlet, there is no way I would buy super long cable and hook up my pc to the network! The installation went pretty smoothly, but I was trying to figure out why the signal is not as strong as I was hoping for. I think my apt is so not wireless friendly cos the building is super bricky brick!!

I was checking out sofa at various furniture stores yesterday. There was one sofa I really liked at Marshall Field’s, but it costs $700. Considering sales tax and delivering fee, it will cos around $800 which is a lot of money! But, I really really really really want to get that sofa so bad. So, I called my dad and asked him if I could buy it. I could hear in the background, my mom was saying “just buy him sofa!!” But, of course, my dad told me to wait for a week. So, I guess I have to wait for a week to hear back from him. Even if he allows me to buy the soda, it will take 4 weeks to get it. Hmmmmm. But, I must buy non-Ikea sofa. Also, I realized I must get cable tv. I must see adultswim and foodnetwork!!

I had to go to one more (last!) orientation today. I had departmental orientation in this week and well, the international student orientation was the last one I had to go to before I start actual class. I wasn’t really looking forward to go to today’s orientation because from my experience, the international student orientation is incredibly boring. I am sure it is good for people who come to the States for the first time, but this is my ninth year living in the U.S., so well, I think I don’t have to worry about culture shock (unless I move to the south). I get culture shock when I go back to Japan though! So, why did I go? Well, I had to. Unless I go the orientation, the university put a hold on my registration, so I wont be able to register classes in the future. Ugh. My plan for today was that just show up for couple hours and leave before the lunch. However, I guess the international office people recognize students like me. I couldn’t leave the orientation because we had to sign the statement and turn in after the orientation! Although they already knew I showed up (thanks for the fabulous name tag which printed along my home country name), they would not remove the hold until I signed the statement and give it back to them. So lame. Of course, I had to do stupid “mixer” thing with other students in the beginning of the orientation. Seriously, I do not care where you are from or how many languages you can speak! But, I was very entertained by the guy sitting next to me. His name tag said he is from Malaysia, so I guess that makes him Malaysian. Funny thing about this guy is that as soon as he sat down, he opened his notebook and started chatting. He did not care he was supposed to “socialize” with other students, he just wanted to chat. It was quite amusing because we were sitting right in front of everyone, and he was obviously releasing the “I am a shy asian guy and I cannot talk to you unless you talk to me” aura. I am just glad I don’t have to go through this crap anymore!!

I actually do have lots of readings to do over the weekend (even before the school starts). Why? Because the professor I am going to work for as a research assistant gave me a book and 70 pages paper, so we can discuss stuff next Friday. It must be love.