Oxy
For the first few minutes upon arriving in LA, the last thing I wanted was to breathe there for four years. The air was thick, smelly, like the city was a stuffy little closet that hadn’t been opened in decades. But either that was just a bad time and place or I acclimate very well, because now I barely notice the smog.
Occidental is gorgeous. It looks like a verdant little Mediterranean village, and the hilliness appeals to me. The dorms are dorms, small but pleasant. The students are friendly and quirky, more than willing to help the confused high school girl get into dorm buildings or exit the library (no, really, I could not find my way out.)While the food is hardly spectacular, it is edible, and the smoothies are delicious.
The classes…don’t all measure up. Economics 101 bored me, and I enjoy economics. Spanish 202 was ok but not terrific, and I really enjoy languages. However, I also took two terrific classes: “Race, Gender, and Gay Rights in the Obama Era” (wherein students create their own blogs, which is awesome) and “Controlling the Spread of Weapons.”
Public transportation is…interesting. We got to Downtown Pasadena easily, had delicious Thai food and took dorky pictures, and then spent over an hour waiting for the bus back. Of course it showed up exactly as the person called for a ride came around.
Currently, my host and her friends are at a toga party. I am not going because, despite the beauty of the fabric that would have been for my toga, dressing like a pseudo-Grecian prostitute and dancing with drunk college kids doesn't sound like my idea of a good time.
Definitely a great place. Didn’t blow me away like Yale did, but then I went into Yale with the bias that I’d hate it.
I hope that doesn't mean bad things for my visit to Pomona...