Ok! Let's talk about California now! I completely stressed myself out trying to find a job the first few weeks I've been here. I filled out about 22 job applications for about every place imaginable. Then it was interview after interview after interview, and I finally got hired by Forever 21, a retail clothing store. I've had two interviews for being a camp counselor for the YMCA and I'm really hoping to get that job and that Forever 21 is only going to be for a few weeks, but I don't find out about the YMCA until sometime next week. Both of the interviews went really well though, and with the amount of people their hiring compared to the amount that are applying, I think my odds are good.
But, it's California, so of course I've been having some fun, too! Some things I've done:
- Dodger's game- I love going to baseball games, and Kim's dad got tickets to a Dodger's game! They're no Mariners, of course, but it was fun all the same :)
- The Tonight Show- Kim, our friend Andrew, and I went to a taping of the tonight show! We saw Brooke White from American Idol and Robin Williams (he's like a little kid, he could NOT sit still!) and of course, Jay Leno. The studio was really cool--you look up, and there are TONS of lights. Basically, the ceiling is covered in lights. We weren't allowed to have cameras in there, or else I would have taken a picture of it. Even though the set looks so fake up close, it's no less an exciting place to be.
- the BEACH!- We went to the beach last week, and it was pretty funny. Kim and her friend Lindsey were shivering in the water, and I was like, "It's so warm here!" It looked like beaches look in movies, with the lifeguard posts and surfers and everything--NOT like the Oregon beaches I'm used to! I didn't even need a sweatshirt!
- Americana- I have only gotten to spend a little over an hour here so far, but we're planning to go back soon. It's an outdoor mall, and it's got a lot of the same stores as at Bridgeport Village, but a lot more, and it looks almost like main street Disneyland. It has a little trolley that goes around, a fountain that does a water show at night, street performers, and there's even a building with a small Eiffel Tower on top! It's insane how nice they've made it--even the parking garage has escalators and carpets and one of the biggest chandeliers I've ever seen in my life! Kim and I went with our friend from church, Jessica (who was my EFY roommate 5 years ago--what are the odds?!), to a store called "Pinkberry", that sells frozen yogurt, and then you get to pick three toppings for it. The options include mostly nuts, chocolate, cereal (?), and fresh fruit.
Next week, our friend from BYU, Bryce, is coming to visit. We have a lot of fun things planned for when he comes, such as a trip to the Santa Monica Pier, a trip to the LA temple, and a free tour of Disney Studios, courtesy of someone from our ward.
Let me say, L.A. is a completely different world. It's almost a culture shock for me! Everything here is so incredibly big compared to what I'm used to--Tualatin never felt like a small town until I came here and compared the two! Also, in L.A., there seems to be very little variety in what people wear--they shop at the same stores, wear the same styles, and they pretty much all have the same haircuts. There are so many shopping malls in such a little area--you can tell it's a very material culture.
Kim's family has been great! They've really made me feel welcome in their home, and I have appreciated it so much. At first, I felt a little awkward being around her family when Kim wasn't around, but as I've gotten to know them, I've spent more time out of our room and more time talking with her family. Her little sister, Hannah, is such a sweetheart. Kim and I volunteered to tutor her for the last couple weeks of school (Kim does the math, I do the English and Social Studies). We also helped set up her 14th birthday party. Her brother Taylor is graduating this next month. He always teases me, especially about watching Dancing with the Stars, because I get really into it! Her parents have been really supportive in our job search and gave us some good advice.
I've been having some technical difficulties, so pictures I've taken in CA will have to wait for now. But I miss all of you so much! It rained today and it made me think of Portland! I hope to hear from you guys periodically over the summer, and I'll try to keep my blog updated with my latest adventures! :)
^ L.A. Dodgers game
^Me and my friend Andrew @ L.A. Temple
^Bryce and Kim
^L.A. Temple
^Harrison Ford's prints outside the Chinese Theater
^Some stars!
