Day 4

Today I woke up to an alarm around 5. Sounds horrible, but it was nice. It reminded me of home.

After breakfast I went to my first class of the day, product knowledge. This professor was Italian, Jewish, and grew up in the Bronx of New York. He was loud, fun, loved eating, drinking, and life. He believed you should live for the soul and the body, not one or the other. His passion and love for food touched all of us, he had his audience hanging off his every word.

After class I realized my schedule today gave me just enough time in between classes to go back to my dorm, wonder what to do, come up with an idea, and not have enough time to do it. Lunch was exquisite today. The company was fun and the food was unbelievable. I don't try to describe every meal I eat at school because I would never get done with such a daily blog, but this meal deserves credit. The main course was pork tenderloin- the juiciest I've ever had- marinated in tobasco and orange juice(?), chirizo bread stuffing, verde sauce, a light fluffy potato cake if you will (forgive me for terminology, remember I'm just starting), and and apple-like compote. It was the clear, crispy, green, sweet flesh that reminded me of an apple but our waitress informed us that it was actually a breed of tomato. All the flavors complimented each other perfectly and was an experience to eat.

My next class of the day was Mathematics. I can't stand math but this seems to be a class of simple conversion that thankfully I still remember from my sophomore year chemistry class. The most difficult part I think I face is memorizing what is equal to what- like how many ounces are in a cup. My professor though is young and very funny. He is a very hyperactive man who jokes about everything, very interesting, and never makes you stop smiling.

At the CIA, like any other college, you can transfer credits or clep out of a class. I had all the ability to not take writing, however-if you couldn't tell- I love writing and it was one of my classes I was most looking forward to. Unfortunately it was the most disappointing. Most of my group (you stick with the same group of people that take similar classes at similar times) had gotten out of writing. There might have been 12 people in our class, and although the teacher had a doctorates I felt I was back in high school. My first project is a collage, I love creativity but honestly that project has nothing to do with my writing abilities- its a "gimmie grade". We also played 2 games to get to know people around us and were given "home work passes". My AP teachers in high school were not as kind as to give me "home work passes".

After class I decided to go swimming- to try to establish a routine for myself and NOT gain the freshman 15. However several events occured. I got an invitation to dinner (which I latched on too, I'm trying to be as non non-social as I can be) and I remembered my goggles were in my car. The student parking lot is ridiculously far from the dorms. So I changed out of my professional dress, rode my bike uphill to my car (realizing half way that it mostly could have been down hill) in the rain, grabbed my goggles, rode my back up hill to my dorm (realizing half way that is mostly could have been down hill), and got a call from my dinner buddies they were ready for dinner. I threw my professional dress back on (you cannot eat in casual clothing) and dashed to Roth Hall. By the time I got their 3 out of my 4 friends had to go to class. Luckily I had at least one familiar face to dine with. After dinner I changed into my swim suit (also realizing that my lap suit was left back home and all I had was my social, two piece) and hiked to the gym. Swimming laps in a pool, in a two piece that is a little too big in the hips is a challenge- by the way. With every stroke I hooked my thumb under my waist band to hike up my shorts- so I wouldn't moon the poor lifeguard.

After swimming I had a missed call on my phone inviting me to a movie. Unfortunately I was completely, and utterly out of cash. I have 33 cents to my name. I had to decline until I got the same invitation by another person in the group- and I retold my story. I felt horrible but one of my friends offered to pay and I swore I would pay him back and that my pay check was on the way (which it is!). A group of 3 girls and 5 guys all went to see "Funny People" and I felt like I was getting the hang of this college thing.

Everything that happens here is so big and so new- but even the little things bring me joy here. The campus is breathtakingly beautiful, and completely covered in what I thought were orange lilies. One night I came back to my dorm late- but not dark, and the petals looked snow white. I thought it was astounding and I stopped to enjoy the view for a few minutes. The next morning (this morning) when I went to class early-the sun was not up- the flowers were closed. It reminded me that everything here is alive, pulsing. Even the plant life, lives and breathes its own routine.