(If I'm still awake, it's still Wednesday, right?)

Let me first just say that UCLA is awesome. When I first visited the campus a couple weeks ago, I went searching for two things: the bookstore (to purchase my textbook), and my classroom. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, parking was the first piece of insanity. I couldn't figure it out and after all the no U-turn intersections I came across, I finally settled for the first public parking lot I found. I thought there was no way I'd reach the maximum of $11.25. But I did (how 'bout that?), and I just made a mental note never to park there again!

I had to walk a few blocks just to get to the main campus. On the way, I passed huge buildings, all part of UCLA's graduate school program. For instance, the building of Neuroscience. I didn't even realize they'd have a whole building dedicated to just that -- Incredible! On a whim, I took a left and just started walking, past all kinds of students, and large groups of junior high kids with matching blue tee shirts (I still haven't figured why they were there!). And up the giant hills I climbed. Oy, the hills! I didn't think I'd get as much exercise as I did that day! I ended up making a huge loop, walking through the dorm buildings and up some stairs and around and around. Finally I stopped in the student housing building and asked tiredly, "Do y'all have a map?"

The girl was very nice and drew arrows on the school map to help me get where I needed to go. Map in hand, I walked back in the direction I'd come only to find out that if I'd just originally taken a right, I would have walked smack into the student union, which contains, among other things, the school bookstore. I was totally nervous and worried that I'd need a student I.D. to buy books, imagining stressful scenarios in which I'd have to explain myself ("Where's your I.D.?! You're not really a student here unless you have one!" I hadn't mailed in my form and was feeling self conscious about that). But I didn't need to show any I.D., after all. Just some cash. Yay!

I found the Psych section pretty easily, made my purchase, and went downstairs to the main store, excited to be carrying my first university textbook!!

Downstairs, I realized how huge the school store is! Oh my god! Not only do they have all sorts of school supplies and accessories, there are computer supplies, clothing for men, women, and children, a regular bookstore, an entire Clinique counter, and a big display of Burt's Bees products. And a shoe store! Actually, it's a Copland's sports store. In the main store! With all this other stuff! There's also a whole snack shop. It's like a miniature mall in the bottom of the student union! Pretty awesome stuff.

After browsing around down there, I headed upstairs to find food. Dude. There's a whole food court! I got lunch at Sbarro and sat down with my book and read most of the first chapter. I'm actually pretty proud of myself for that, because 1) I never usually read my books before class, and 2) Psychological Statistics is not an easy read!

I set out to find my classroom, and after another few strange turns and asking for help, I finally found it. Very cool! My mission accomplished, I headed back to my car and got totally lost inside the medical building. It's kind of weird being passed by students walking around in scrubs.

Anyway, I finally found my way back to my car and set off to a nearby location to meet up with some folks for a really fun hike.

And that was my first day at UCLA!

The day was fun, but very strange, too. I kept having all kinds of weird feelings while I was there. For one, I've visited universities before, but always when I was visiting friends. I went to UT Austin several times to see various friends, to UT San Antonio... I walked around UC Berkeley several times on various occasions. It was like I'd gotten it into my head that universities were for other people, for... university students! I was having a hard time comprehending that that includes ME now!

Secondly, as I walked around, I'd think, "Woah, that building is so beautiful. Oh my god, this is my campus now!!" Then I'd feel so excited by the idea that I'm here now, that this is my school!, that I'd feel jittery, almost too excited. So to calm myself down, I'd say, "All right, no big deal, it's just a set of buildings, just like any other set of buildings. It's just cement and brick... no big deal!" That would calm me down, but then I'd feel like someone took all the the wind out my sails. (I guess that someone would be me, huh?) So then to reclaim the magic of it all, I'd go back to saying, "But I'm here, finally here! And this is my school now!" and feel excited all over again. It was pretty funny, actually. I must have been walking around with an alternating expression of furrowed brow/ecstatic smile! Heh, thank goodness no one was paying any attention to me!

It was a great day, and a nice introduction to the campus. I felt like I'd broken new ground, and very much looked forward to my first day of class and orientation...