L.A. STORY

[maryy30-blog]

Time to get back..

Well, my adventure in LA is unfortunately over. Now I'm back to my city, back to my reality. Even if I came back yesterday, I still have a terrible jet lag. Even though it's 1.47 a.m. I feel active and not tired at all! But I can't avoid thinking about LA all the time.. it was like a short dream that now is passed and gone. I think it was really the best experience of my entire life till now. I met many beautiful people, I visited many places, but most of all, I grew up. I can feel it. Experiences like this have the power to change your way to see the world. They make you definitely richer, in a way that isn't so easy to understand, but that's easy to feel. I am grateful for this beautiful trip. At the beginning I was a little scared. I mean, I was so excited, but at the same time I really didn't know what I would find. And now that I'm back I feel more open minded, I can still feel the "positive energy" of LA from here.. I'm not crazy, seriously. I just fell in love with that amazing city, and it's going to be hard getting used to my real life. Despite this fact, thanks LA, for everything.  

[maryy30-blog]

13# The Morning

This day is just begun and I am really really tired. Yesterday night I had to say goodbye to Anika, Samja and Flori! It was extremely sad, because it's gonna be difficult see each other in the future! 

The first thing that made me happy today was waking up and lying in my bed 20 minutes more than usually. I mean, I looked like a zombie, totally, but the morning is absolutely the moment I like the most because you can enjoy a pleasant breeze, the sun is rising and a new day full of surprises has to begin. 

My breakfast was great as usually. My blueberry jam- almond butter toast, that I will miss like hell when I'll go back to my country! :(

[maryy30-blog]

12# Californian Sunset

What does make me happy every single day here? The sunset.. On the beach is particularly beautiful, especially when there are no clouds. Today I saw oneof my last sunsets here in California.. when I thought about that I immediately felt so bad inside.. I mean, Ii stayed here for two months, so it's really difficult leaving a life-style you have just got used to!

[maryy30-blog]

11# Beach Volleyball match

The second thing that made me cheerful today was the beach volley match after school! I went there with some classmates and other friends. Since the courts in Santa Monica were occupied, we walked a little bit until we arrived at midway between Santa Monica and Venice.

It was definitely fun and cool! I mean. the guys who where in my team, were really funny and so so good at volleyball.. I almost felt a bit embarassed sometimes when I played not very well.. but anyways, no worries about it!

We were a real international team! I was from Italy, the others weere from Turkey, Switzerland and Japan! So nice!

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10# Also school sometimes can make you happy

08/28/14

Today the first thing that made me happy was the school lesson. I know, I could probably look like a totally mad person, but it's true. I like my class and I like talking (maybe too much). We first talked about ghost stories, then about phobias and after we went to the computer lab, to do a research about a phobia. There, Khaled Nicole and I made a quite serious speech about phobias, and life, and marriage.. it was interesting for me to talk about those kinds of things with people very different from me who could have a different vision.. 

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9# Oakwood Party

The last happy thing of my wednesday was the party in Oakwood! As usual, on wednesday evening we went there! There was a bbq organized by some students who would leave the next day, so my friends and I decided to join them. It was fun! I met a lot of people really nice and actually, when I meet new people I feel really cheerful! People from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland.. too many different countries. I also met a really funny girl from Rome and for the first time in 2 month I spoke italian for more than an hour.. it was strange and sometimes I had to think intensively to find the right words.. I had a kind of black out! But that's ok, because it means I am learning english! 

[maryy30-blog]

8# Dinner To Cheesecake factory!

One thing that I will never forget of this place is Cheesecake Factory! I haven't been there many times, maybe just 2 or 3, but I always ate wonderfully! Yesterday evening I was so hungry because I didn't have lunch (almost every day that I have lesson in the afternoon I don't eat for lunch :(  I went to Cheesecake Factory to Marina del Rey, and I took a huge BBQ burger that tasted really really goood! It was amazing! 

[maryy30-blog]

7# First Polaroid Picture!

Another thing that makes me happy every single day is my new Instant Polaroid camera! I bought it on a website and it arrived on tuesday at home! I've always dreamed to have an instant one, since I was a child,  and finally my dream has become true! Yesterday evening I took the first picture with my friends.. while the picture was coming out I was definitely so excited! (I am not crazy, trust me). Well, it's gonna be hard because I only have 19 pictures left to take, and usually I'm a picture-addicted! But I can control myself. (I need it)

[maryy30-blog]

6# Party in the USA!

The third thing that made my tuesday another unforgettable day, was a Big Private Party to UCLA! We have been invited from  some boys that we met in front of the students' houses. We were looking for a party,  because we already knew that they organize a lot of parties during the week! And we were lucky! Actually we went to two different parties.. the first one was nice but after half an hour it emptied out.. so we decided to look for another one. The second party was definitely crazy and fun at the same time! The music was so loud, we met some guys who came from many different parts of USA (Boston, Seattle, Huntington Beach..) and another one who came from London! We danced, drank, laughed, talked till 4 o'clock. We came home completely destroyed at 4 o'clock, and still yesterday I had the after-effects all day long..

[maryy30-blog]

5# In an Out & Diddie Riese Cookies made me so happy!

On tuesday, after school I went with some friends to UCLA. I was so hungry because I didn't have lunch and I absolutely wanted to eat to "In an Out". I already went there about one month ago and I really appreciated the burgers. I took a "Double Double Animal Style". To be honest I didn't know before tuesday what "Animal Style" was, but one of my friends told me to take it, so, since I trust him, I did it. (And it was very very goooood). After that, even though we were full, I recommended to go to "Diddie Riese Cookies"! It's an amaaaazing place where you can taste delicious ice cream sandiches! I took one white chocolate chip, one chocolate chip and in the middle I put Peanut Butter ice cream. After the first bite I felt in paradise. Well, It was a super caloric dinner, but at the same time it made me so happyy since I am definitely a glutton person, especially when we talk about sweets! 

[maryy30-blog]

4# Conversations

On tuesday morning, after waking up, I went to the kitchen to have breakfast and I found my host-mum working on her new article, since in her free time she writes for a magazine. We talked for half an hour about my plans for the next days and about a lot of other things. I really admire her: she's a lyrical singer and she's also a very wise person. Talking with her makes me always in a good mood, because she doesn't judge anything, she just gives her advice. She's really openminded. We made together some really deep speechs, we talked about life, about dreams, about psychology.. I mean, I everytime feel confidant.

[maryy30-blog]

#3 Friendship and laughters

08/25/14

The third thing that made me happy yesterday, wasn't a thing, but a concrete and real person, my friend Sevcan.

She's from Turkey, we have known each other since the beginning of August and we did so many things together (especially shopping). When we are together we laugh for hours, and the thing that I appreciate the most in her, is that she's really funny and at the same time she's my "faithful mate": when we go outside also with guys we are always together, ready to plump for each other. 

Yesterday while we were going home we have been stopped by a clerk of a stand who tried every way to sell us a body lotion. I really didn't want it, but he persisted so much that I accepted to try it.. but it didn't mean I was intentioned to purchase it! When he told me the price I could faint.. he told me that the price at the beginning was 200$ but for me he would do a special one.. thank you but noo waay, and he got seriously offended  when I told him that it was a bit expensive!

Anyway we went away, laughing quite a lot about it! 

[maryy30-blog]

#2 Shopping at the Grooove!

08/25/14

The second thing that made my day yesterday, was definitely shopping at the Grove Center. I am not exactly a shopping-addicted, but when I am surrounded by sales, I can't resist! I bought two shirts really cute for only 10.99$ each! There are so many people who can't stand going shopping, but in my case, I feel relaxed, I feel happy, even if I don't buy anything. The most fun thing is that after going shopping, my friend and I went to Cheesecake factory to eat something and I forgot my shopping bag under the table! Fortunately, I remembered it before it was too late and I ran back as never before in my life, hoping it was still there. Luckily, it was! I really don't know where's my mind sometimes.. 

[maryy30-blog]

#1 Sweets make life better!

08/25/14

This week I want to share with you guys, 3 things I am grateful for  everyday, in order to be happy and always in a good mood!

This morning I had a wonderful breakfast that made me so cheerful! I ate a toast with blueberry jam and almond butter. Very heavy, I know, but perfect to start a full school-day! Moreover I added a delicious chocolate pancake. I am definitely a sweeties-addicted, but sweets make me relaxed, make me see my life in a total different way. It's really fun saying that, but it's true. For example one week ago I was very very stressful because I had to go to Griffith Park with a friend, but I couldn't go because the traffic was totally blocked due to a palestinian demonstration! I was really annoyed, because I wasted a beautiful day! And.. guess what I did? I went to the Kosher Market and I bought a huge Nutella can! I felt immediately better! 

[maryy30-blog]

Party in the air, BBQ smoke, Chatty People, Amused

Yesterday evening we had a big bbq in Oakwood and there were a lot of students from EC. The party started around 8 o'clock and about one hour after, Oakwood courtyard was completely full. I met a lot of new people from all over the world, but I talked almost all the time to two turkish guys from Istanbul, who attend the University here. As I remember, we also had a deep conversation about God (Lol), because they are muslim and I'm christian and our religions are very different. The thing that I like the most about Oakwood bbq's is that everytime you have the opportunity to meet and talk with many people because no one is shy, no one is close-minded! Everyone is curious about other cultures, other people, other nationalities. For example one week ago I also met a japanese guy who dances hip hop like me! So we taught each other many movements and it was really fun!

The saddest thing is that even if every week someone new arrives, you don't have enough time to know them well that they already have to go back to their country :(

[maryy30-blog]

Malibu Beach, taste of sea, waves crushing, relaxed

Yesterday afternoon Manuel, Sevcan and I went to Malibu beach! It was the first time for all of us, and we were so excited! We took the bus 534 from Santa Monica pier and we took around 40 minutes to get there because of the neverending line on the freeway. By the way, when we arrived we immediately found a place where we could leave all of our stuffs and after, Manuel and I went into the water, because it was really too warm and we couldn't stand it anymore. Everytime, before going into the ocean I have to "breathe deeply" and keep calm because I am definitely not used to its temperature! Usually in Italy I go to the Mediterranean sea, that has a really high temperature! After a very short bath, we lay on the beach to get sun tan. In the afternoon we went to Zuma Beach where we met Kevin, a swiss friend of mine who were there with some friends. We went another time in the ocean together and this second time the waves were incredibly strong! I really enjoyed the day, despite the fact that I arrived at home wihout energies at all! 

[maryy30-blog]

Runyon Canyon, burnt sienna, twitter, sickly-sweet, excited

On Saturday I went with two friends to Runyon Canyon, a really peaceful and huge park like 10 minutes on foot from Hollywood, where you can go running, take a walk, enjoy the L.A. downtown landscape and relax after a hard and scorching day. We took about 30 minutes to reach the top and when we arrived, despite the fact that we were extremely tired, we were totally amazed by the panorama all around. We went there also wishing to see someone famous, because when we had googled Runyon Canyon the day before, we had seen many pictures of well-known people, but unfortunately we just saw several tourists. After taking lots of pictures, we came down and retourned to Hollywood, passing for many streets full of beautiful houses, probably belonged to actors or singers. Every house we saw, we imagined how would have been if we would have rung the bell and someone would have come to open us. It was a really fun day, despite the hot weather!