Hey guys!

So I've been living on UCSD campus (in the International House) for almost 2 weeks now and thought I should tell you a bit about my crazy time here.

Where to start?!

My apartment and housemates...well I-House is split into 3 main areas: Asante (wooo hoo-its my one), Cuzco and Katmandu. My apartment sits on the fourth floor, sporting an awesome ocean view and great spot to gaze upon the gleaming oranges of the sunsets. (Have yet to be awake for sunrise but will have to be done soon). I share my gorgeous apartment - oh yes, this place makes James college ensuites look like holes!- with 3 other girls. Two Americans: Jen and Kirsten who are both ultra lovely and friendly and Yuka, whos Japanese, and is also lovely although I haven's spent as much time with her yet. I think I will have to take pics of the apartment and post them as seriously guys its luxury!

Ive almost almost finished lavishly decorating my room with uni, summer, travel, collage memorabilia. It's filled to the rafters with colour, flowers and momentos from home. (Again will take pics-am a tad proud of my creation!)Oh oh oh, I even have a walk in wardrobe in room!!!!

So you may be wondering what I-House is actually like....

...LOVELY!

Theres heaps of friendly people and loads of stuff going on ALL the time.
The I-House is completely its own unique community, (representd by over 30 countries), almost like seperate to the uni. Its really great. Everyone (mostly) is super friendly and you get to know so many people so fast. Its lovely walking around, coming back from somewhere and saying hello to so many poeple. Has very homely feel.

I'm off to the I-House newspaper meeting later tonight, may write a few articles about travelling perhaps. Then theres the 'fireside gathering' for a few hours. Not quite sure what this entails as is first of term but sounds cool. Lots of music (theres a piano there and many people play instruments) and general merriment. Although sadly sans alcohol! Yes this has been quite a culture shock. No legal drinking anywhere for me for another few months until I turn 21. Urgh. Feel like a little kid again! The drinking and smoking rules in general are far stricter over here. Like you have to be 20 metres away from a uni building to smoke, and you can't walk down the street with an open bottle/can of alcohol.

You may have seen a few pics of the bonfire and sandcastle competition down in La Jolla Shores. That was cool. Beaches are pretty much intrinsic to daily life here (for now anyhoo when its still very much tanning weather!). Theres a beach close by to the uni called Blacks. Its lovely! very au naturelle, with its pelicans flying and diving for fish, porpoises and dolphins frolicking around, and the biggest waves ever! Although you do get the occasional fright at getting a full view of very naked (and mostly overwight and old) men wandering around, riding bikes and playing volleyball! Yes some of it is a gay nudist beach. But is still so lovely down there. It's gorgeous diving under the towering waves, lying sundrenched on the sand (oh yes no rocks and pebbles for me anymore!) and chatting with mates down there.

So what else can I tell you...

I signed up for a camping trip, theres 35 of us I-Housers going, its to Joshua Tree National Park (U2 albulm name), which should be really cool, on 7-8th October. Very excited!

I'm going to start beginners ballet soon with Gemma and Kate, and also get back into Ashtanga yoga which is really exciting. I want some flexibility back!

As for classes, Im only doing 3 this term (most do four) as Ive signed up to a lab class which consists of 12 hours a week! Itll be really cool though, I went to meet the postgrads doing it (the class is mostly for seniors or masters students) and they are really nice and Ill get heaps of responsibility and freedom with it.

Basically at the mo theyre looking into how the brain structure changes from 0-3 in relation to social and cognitive development. Have you ever seen those little hats they put on kids with electrodes stuck on them-thats what Ill use! (Sorry am being very basic as youre not all psych sudents!) Really exciting and very daunting!!! Think my labs start next week-wish me luck! (Hoping to do 6 hour slot on Monday then two 3 hour slots theough afternoons like Tues and Thiurs, to keep Friday totally free, which would be great.)

Another of my classes is intro to social. The lecturer was lovely and the assessment of the class is perfect for me. Basically no coursework, all exam. Theres 2 midterms and one final, all worth a third of my grade. Each exam is only based on that section of the course and not everything youve studied, so like my final will only be based on 2 weeks work, not 10! A far cry from York!!!

My other class is a cognitive neuroscience one. Looks amazing and am really really excited about it!!! Its taught by Dr Ramachandran, an amazing professor who wrote 'Phantoms in the Brain', an extraordinary book. Think this will be my favourite class of the year! My first lecture in it is on Wednesday.

Ummm.... what else?

I'm still planning on going to Hawaii for spring break (woo hoo!) from March 25th-April 1st if anyone has some spare cash and wants to join me?! Think therell be a good few I-Housers going so will be a great week.

Ok I think Ive inundated you with enough info for now!

Hope youre all still having a great summer, enjoy freshers week and keep in touch,

missing you all,

G xxx