Happy Hour

This evening a Happy Hour was organized by my school, I think that I drank an 36 oz of margarita (with Tequila, juices and crushed ice) for a very expensive $19. It was a really big glass! I decided to take the bus after (because it was dark outside and my roller blades and I could have some problems this evening!) ;)

It is official, I don't like my #8 bus (to return at home)! It is the second time that I have to wait for more than 40 minutes (this evening I waited for 1 hour 15 minutes) and I only took the bus 10 times during last month. Fortunately, I was a little bit drunk therefore time passed faster! Hehe

I realized something... in a short period of time, I'll be at home! Next Thursday, my sister will be there (during 5 days)! Now, I noticed that I only have 2 weeks left before my return and I think that time will pass more quickly! I am going to return home on October 16, 2010!!

I'm not a huge fan of going to the beach, but I definitively have to take care of my suntan before Quebec's winter!!!

Beach day to learn English!

Today was a really good day. Beach all our school's day! Fortunately, the weather was perfected this morning near the ocean (sunny, 26-28 degres Celsius). At the end of our school day, the sun disappeared! Perfect timing to return at home.
I'm really happy because I tried to surf (and it, for $0, I just borrowed the surfboard of another student)! "Try" is the perfect verb because that was very difficult! I can say one thing : the ocean's water is really salted!!! I didn't manage to get up on the surfboard! I crossed many big waves, but under the water! Hehe. Some waves took me by surprise! I drank a lot of the ocean water! I'm prepared to feel so-so in the afternoon/evening! ;)

I really liked this attempt but I think that will be enough for me... For the moment, I don't feel the need to pay 120$ for 2 hours. Excellent because I calculated that I'm going to be really short in my budget (but my To Do's list is realized)!

Berverly Hills

My Los Angeles visit couldn't be complete without a visit of Beverly Hills! As dreaded, there was so much poverty... It was so difficult to look without being able to change things! (Ok, more difficult because I wasn't able to afford a Gucci's purse) ;)
The Pretty Woman's city!



I'm a little surprised by the houses that I saw. The prettiest houses in Beverly Hills don't seem to have a big backyard? Every house is really near its neighbour. Maybe we are not able to see the backyard...


Also, I was surprised by the fact that the Guess store was really near of the prestigious brands (as Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vutton...). Maybe it will become a prestigious mark in a near future (it's already a bit expensive) ;)

Welcome to Las Vegas

To begin really well the weekend a beautiful Mazda 3 was considered as an economic car. I had to drive the round trip (2*4,5 hours) why I couldn't drive this magnificent model? Which was the same price than a Hyundai! ;) I'm really happy to have had this opportunity!

Upon our arrival in Las Vegas (it was 2 p.m. and the room was available only at 3:00 p.m.), we deciced to begin with the most difficult part...
Many hours spent in different stores (a majority of famous brands) to buy : a Tommy Hilfiger's sweater, 2 Polo Ralph Lauren's T-shirts, a Lacoste's T-shirt and some Fossil's accessories (all these things for $111,86!). Finally the torture wasn't so big (only for my purse!) ;)

During our first day, I was a little exhausted because I drove in the morning, we'd passed approximately 3 hours in the Las Vegas Premium Outlets and we decided to split the Las Vegas Center tour in two different days / nights. The Stratosphere's part up to the Sahara Hotel + dinner for the first night and the other part will be for day / night after.

The day after, we realized that the second part of Las Vegas Blvd was much bigger and more interesting! (The Bellagio, Ceasars Palace, MGM and more). During the day we walked to see all the essential!



As promised... I took a lot of photos! Everything is so beautiful! The famous world's cities are reproduced particularly well and it's so "magic"!


The weather in Las Vegas is really different from Santa Monica! All around 36 degres Celsius during the day without wind (it's the desert!) ;-). I have never drunk so much water! We walked about 4 hours in the second part of the Las Vegas Center during the day. After our walking-trip, I asked if I could make a little power nap... I'm older and I wanted to be in good shape to do the "Rumba" all night. ;)

After this siesta, we got dressed up and we decided to drink a cocktail and to gamble in the casino (a big $1!). At first, we went to the Stratosphere's buffet for dinner (the carrots cake was one of the best that I ever ate) and after I ordered two 10 000 calories cocktails (crushed ice - frozen, several rhum, with banana cream and blueberries flavor...). I presumed 10 000 calories, maybe more! Our drinks were so delicious! My dress wanted to explode after all these excesses!(hehe).



After our weekend, I am really satisfied with my Las Vegas visit. I think that my 8 weeks journey of study in California wouldn't have been completed without this trip! I believe that I'll highly regard even more CSI - Las Vegas!


Nota : When we arrived to Las Vegas, Emeline and I began to speak only in English...

Las Vegas for the weekend

I have a new friend : Emeline! She's in my class since Tuesday and she's here only during two weeks! She lives in the Santa Monica's hostel for her stay (really near the school). I was there yesterday and I think that the place is huge and really beautiful (a lot of different people)! Nice place!

I think that our friendship is not necessarily the best because we generally speak in French, but I think that allow me a little break for my brain! I hope that it'll allow a better progress for the total immersion after its departure.

Yesterday we went to the Malibu Beach by bus (30-50 minutes). We were so jump the gun to have a lot of time on the beach where we didn't lunch before leaving. I asked to the driver where was the best place to stop in Malibu and he gave us a place where a lot of people goes. Upon our arrival, the place was a deserted place! Only kilometers of beach as far as the eye can see and no restaurant near! We found a restaurant to satisfy our hunger, but I ate a really fat sandwich with a lot of sauce. Heavy on my stomach!

I believe that yesterday wasn't the best day to make of the beach; a big breeze from the ocean was present in Malibu (not so strong in Santa Monica)! We carried our sweater until our return! Really nice for the suntan ;)

During our break today we booked a car for tomorrow morning until sunday. With this car, we are going to Las Vegas for the weekend!!! Youhou. No blog until my return but I'm going to take a lot of photos for you!

Some changes

At first, we didn't have surfing lessons on Monday, the waves were too high (too dangerous). I was really disappointed, I was wearing my swim suit! We are supposed to have the surf lessons on Thursday... I think that it will be difficult with the latest changes as we were 9 students in the class today! (5 new students). All must be interested in these surf lessons! :(

Among those 5 new students, 1 is from Paris (Emelin who speaks French) and another guy speaks; French, Spanish and learns English, the others are Spanish. I realize many persons are at the California School of Language (CSL) during a really short period of time (2 or 3 weeks). Difficult to make many friends to travel with!

Secondly, Gene (the school's manager) announced me (on Monday) that I was going to change of private lesson's teacher! Heuuu?! I never complained against Kyle and Gene knew that I appreciated Kyle's teaching... I shall thus change Kyle for Leah. Leah is actually a full-time teacher and Kyle a part-time and she needs to work... OK, I have to try and I shall see. My first private lesson was this afternoon. Generally, I don't like very much changes when I don't ask for them! I'm rather conservative but maybe that could help me get ahead.

At present, I am satisfied with my private lessons. I spoke a lot and she corrected my faults, we worked on the 2nd conditional (at my request) and at the end, we looked at my mistakes... I think that it will be a good thing after all. Once again, the teacher is younger than me (25 this time). ;)

Half of my trip done

I spent 1 week without a decent internet connection! The reason why my blog wasn't updated since then! Viva el' Starbucks Coffee and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf!


My last weekend was really nice. Last Saturday I went to the Citadel Outlets with Klarà (the Czech Republican girl that I mentioned in my first school day). It was really great (cheap prices for famous brands) but the trip took maybe 2 hours in bus transportation just to get there (which doesn't include the return)! This long period of time was good because we made many Californian friends and spoke with them. I'm really more friendly here!!! Maybe it's due because I often need help! Californian people are so nice, they always wants to help!

Last week, I asked to be changed of class. I learned that I was in an intermediate group (with Katelyn). The intermediary beginner is better than I thought with my first day tests... This week I was moved in another class. Monday was really difficult because my class was really good! Fortunately, we went to the Californian Courtyard (again for me) to see a fraud affair! We spoke to a Culver City Police Department's detective. He was really friendly and explained us all the details about the case. A woman accountant was stoling many many dollars from a rich doctor during several years and he discovered the fraud... Really interesting.

On Tuesday, the strongest part of the group was moved because a teacher was absent on Monday. Thus the class was easier; we spoke in English, did some english exercises and watched "Girl, interrupted". Actually, I don’t like very much my new teacher (Gene - the school's manager) and I’m with 6 other Spanish people (I have so much difficulty understanding Spanish people who try to speak English)! Furthermore, my first private lesson was terrible. I wasn't in a good mood (again). Thanks to my perfect boyfriend who has to support my mood fluctuations! ;) 

Next Monday, I'm going to have surf lessons for 30 dollars during my two school hours (not 120$ as with a surf school)! Gene surfs and is a teacher, why couldn't he teach us surf? I'm really proud because a negotiated it for my class! Youhou! After that next Thuesday people will be moved (some will leave, others will arrive) my class is going to be different.

The second half of my week is actually better! My second private lesson was really funny and I had time to go : shopping on Third Street Promenade, to the beach, to watch a movie (for a lighter movie this time!) and eat some meals, all this, with Klarà… She’s really nice but regrettably she’s going to leave this evening! Snif, snif. 

Scoop : "Little Fockers" movie will be in theater for Christmas :)

Actually... about the Santa Monica weather... Gene described it like this (the news too) :  "Thick Marine Layer". Unfortunately, since some time, half of the week looks like that... 

He also admitted that we had the worst summer since several years...

In the morning, near of the 32nd St (far from ocean...)

But... I'm happy to announce that my sister will come to visit me from October 7 to October 12 (the weather has time to change)!!!

"... and then there was light." Bible

What a better day! I did roller blades to go at school this morning, the weather was hot and sunny, we learned some english rules in my group's lesson and after the break we did a rally and we played volleyball. My private lesson was funny. I always find a way of making my professor laugh. My "Quebecer trying to speak English prononciation" is certainly my fatal weapon! Also, my teacher gave me A LOT of documents (but I ask at him to have rules on different subjects). He did his homework and now I have mine!

After my commisson at "99¢ only store" (I think it's my favorite place because you can find everything - organic things, meals, fruits, vegetables, chocolate, candies, useless gadgets and more for 99¢!), I was walking until my residence and a old man returned towards me and said that he found me really beautiful that I did his day. A smile appeared. I really like Californian people ;) Hihi

Note: Thanks to each of you who read my blog, send me e-mail and leave comment on my events. I really appreciate your support, your efforts and your participation in all this adventure :)

In a weird mood...

The kind of day, where all is "yeurk" and where I feel sad. No Las Vegas for the next weekend (not enough subscription). The weather is cloudy, we didn't see the sun since a few days (ok, just 2). I'm always hungry. Maybe I have to eat to compensate for the last two weeks that I didn't eat a lot. My lessons annoy me this week... In brief, I don't really like this kind of mood... Maybe the proximity of my periods don't help at all.

Yesterday, I spoke with Kyle (my private lessons' teacher) and he told me that I have to ask to change class if I want. He encourages me to do it, maybe that could help me making progress. Also, a different kind of teaching can help. This week, I'm due for a change. After my break, I spoke with Jane (the school's manager) and next week I will be in a new class... The other half of my classmates leaves at the end of the week. New start for me, I presume!

I think I need to look forward for some interesting activities if I don't want to go throught a difficult time. Maybe I can begin tomorrow with shopping! That always helps! Hehe

Note : Big thanks sister! :)

Week 3 in process

As usual the real day began between 10:30 - 11:00 a.m., before this time they always had a fog on ocean... but later, the day began to be sunny and hot! This morning I decided to make roller blades. In fact, this activity was the fundamental reason of my stay here. Making roller blades near of the ocean... Wow! But I didn't realize that could be a little problem for my bearings ;)

Day after my Power Yoga lesson, I really had pains everywhere! Also today.. but I think that it's partially due by my Power Yoga lesson, but more because I have no desk in my room and I have to make computer on my bed...)! I will survive...

Week 3 of my stay! It will be a short week (on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)! And maybe Las Vegas for the next weekend?! We need 3 more inscriptions. I'll see tomorrow morning.

I know that my parents are worried for me and because I don't have enough opportunity to practise my english... but almost everyone whom I crossed in my residence or at my school are with their friends and speak German or Spanish (not enough in English!). I'm not in host family (I don't believe that I have to regret, that was my decision...). Things have time to change over the next 5 weeks......

Power Yoga

As yesterday, I went back to bed this morning, but my day began earlier. I took my roller blades and I went to Farmer's market near of Third Street Promenade. 

After my Farmer's market tour, I walked up to beach. As usually (since some days), a big fog was present on ocean.

It was perfect... Power Yoga is on my "To Do List" and a lesson began at noon on 2nd St! What a nightmare! During the course, I wanted to leave before end lesson! We know Yoga for relaxation, but Power Yoga is more... vigorous! 1h30 in a studio, without ventilation, trying different positions ideal to rediscover many muscles which didn't remember their excitences. I'm already excitate for tomorrow to discover how I will have aching all over! It's funny because, I think that I'm yet enough masochist to try again ;)

 After the lesson, the fog was gone! I picked up my lunch (delicious sushis) at Von's grocery and I went to "Muscle Beach". I read some chapters about my new book (bought 50¢ in my second-hand store of yesterday - Dan Brown, Digital Fortress).

Today, was the most beautiful day since two weeks (hot and sunny). A great day for a long weekend!

 

"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get."
Dale Carnegie

Long weekend... here I come!

The long weekend began this morning. Contrary to my habits, I decided to go back to bed this morning (till 8 hours!) Long morning! I began my day at 10:30 am.

I said to myself that I wanted to eat strawberries today. I had in mind to make a small stop to "99 ¢ only" store for it (on Lincoln next to Whole Foods). Along the way, I saw a secondhand clothes shop (where I am stopped and where I spent few dollars for a book, shorts and t-shirt!), I told to myself why not to continue farther on Lincoln Blvd, I can buy my strawberries on my return? By continuing, I finally crossed the Ross store! Oh! Oh! Louise had spoken to me about it, but I had not seen it enormously for the moment. The version #2 of Winners. In fact, I believe that TJ-MaXX is a little more prestigious than Ross. A little three hours to see all the essentials (hihi)!

Out of the store, I realize that the smog (here since several days) was gone. I thus continued my road towards Venice Beach (on foot always). My objective: dip my feet into the ocean, for the first time for more than two weeks. Thing made, photo in support.

 











On my road of return, I began to discuss with a man who mentioned me that he's going to visit Montreal in two weeks (his first time in Canada), he was nice and allowed me to practise my English with a real American. We continued to discuss during some minutes while we was walking, he invited me to continue our discussion on a terrace to know more about Montreal... I friendly declined his invitation by pleading that I had full of commissions to do... I need my strawberries! Hehe

Today, I spent money and I visited. I believe that my day of tomorrow will look like that too... The big life! Hehe ;)