DIARY

Welcome coffee

November 15, 2011

 I have always wanted to have a blog. I have tried before, and not done so well. I thought a travel blog would be the best way to start out but, let’s face it, I hardly ever travel. Teachers don’t get too much money – at least, I don’t haha. However, I saved up some money and went to the USA last year. I had decided to create a travel blog then, but once more I couldn’t get over my mental block and everything else around me seemed more interesting than that. Now, almost one year later, I decided to write about my experiences in Uncle Sam’s Land. A little later than I planned, but who cares?

 My adventure started on December 17th, 2010. After having traveled for more than 20 hours in a plane and stopped in two other countries (Peru and El Salvador), I finally arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). I had never traveled on my own before that day, and suddenly there I was, in the second largest metropolitan area in the US. As soon as I got in the airport lounge and saw all that crowd, I felt intimidated by so many people speaking another language. “Will they understand my English?” I thought to myself.

 I didn’t find anyone from the shuttle service, so I decided to call the company. I stopped by one of those public phones near the entrance of the airport but, guess what? I didn’t have any American money. There was a Starbucks coffee shop right in front of me. Then, I decided to buy something to eat, I looked at the menu and ordered: “one chocolate mocha and one blueberry muffin, please”. “For here or to go?”  the attendant asked me. I  threw her a smile and answered smoothly “for here, please”. It may sound stupid, but having been understood by that attendant made me as happy as a clam. “I can speak English, I can speak English” I wondered.

Staying at a hostel for the first time

November 16, 2011

 After having drunk my chocolate mocha, eaten my blueberry muffin and had my money changed, I inserted some coins in the public phone and called the shuttle service. The lady said the guy was looking for me, she asked me what clothes I was wearing and  told me to wait for him in the entrance of the airport. There I was, after a few minutes a black car stopped right in front of me. I identified myself, the guy helped me to put my bags in the car trunk and took me to a hostel in Santa Monica. I had to spend a night somewhere, my exchange program would only start in the following day.

 If you've never stayed in a hostel before, you might not know what to expect. You might be wondering what will the facilities be like? I have to say I was massively pleasantly surprised. HI-Santa Monica featured 260 beds on four floors with a member's kitchen, movie room, game room, computer center, library, laundry facilities and television room. It was located in the heart of Santa Monica, just nine miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). There was easy access to Venice, Malibu, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, UCLA and downtown Los Angeles. Isn't it great to wake up two blocks from the beach and in a neighborhood of shops and cafes filled with interesting people from all walks of life? This is what Santa Monica is all about.

City of Angels

November 17, 2011

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