Student SPHere 2008-09

Wow! Yesterday, I completed the longest trip ever! I was in LA recruiting at the Idealist fair on Wednesday but the fair itself was not as eventful as the trip getting there…

I left Minneapolis at 11AM central time, I was flying through Phoenix and did not get there till 3PM Central time. Phoenix by the way is a beautiful place! I have never been to a desert area before and the culture embedded in their art is beautiful! The people were friendly and welcoming and even though it was 110 degrees, I found myself thinking that this was a place I would like to visit again. In an hour, I was on another plane to L.A, this time arriving at 5PM Central time.

I took a cab from the airport to the Sheraton ballroom which is where the fair was to take place. It was a 20 minute. ride which cost me $60. Yes, did I mention that it is as expensive as it is beautiful? The drivers there are crazy though! The speed limit was 55mph, like most places, but everyone was driving at a minimum of 80! I really did think I was going to die with the wind zipping through my hair(the taxi driver did not believe in A.C) and I remember thinking “gosh! If I die who will know it? I am in a strange town and no one knows I am in this taxi!� As you can imagine, I made it alive and in the process, I saw the most beautiful view of sky scrapers, palm trees and buildings for miles! As beautiful as it was though, I could not help thinking about canned tuna. The buildings were so closely placed together that it felt a bit claustrophobic. Beautiful from a distance, but quite a disappointment up close—And no offense to anyone that loves L.A.

The Idealist fair itself was a huge success; I talked to a number of people that were interested in the school of public health. There were over 500 people there and I did not stop talking the whole time.I even had to explain to an interpreter what the school of public health was all about because I do not know any sign language and one girl interested in the school was deaf. It was quite the experience having to explain something to two people in essence, because without having the interpreter understand what I meant, then my message would be lost in transition. I think I did a pretty good job and they both seemed enthusiastic about the school, so fingers crossed.
By 10PM central time, the fair was over and I was trying to make my way back to the airport. Through security and then again at a boarding gate. This time bound for Chicago. The plane didn’t leave till 1AM central time and I didn’t get to Chicago till 5AM central time. Then it was time for a nutritious breakfast(i.e. a Mc Donalds sausage and egg combo), and a 1 hour attempt at editing a paper that was due that morning in class. By 7AM we had all boarded the plane. But we did not leave till 8 because we had to fill the plane with gas and there were some technical difficulties with the computer that ran the flight.

By this time I was thinking literally like Dorothy from Kansas, what a dream! And there is NO place like home! The rest of my day on Thursday went by like a whirlwind. I left Minneapolis/Saint Paul International airport around 930AM, got to work around 1020AM. Left for class at like 11AM and turned in that paper, went back to work at 1230PM and did not leave till 4PM. At which time, I was feeling ambitious and decided to make lasagna. I crawled into bed around 630PM and slept till I was woken around 1030PM by my roommate wanting to know all about my trip. At midnight it was bedtime again and the cycle continues…

P.S. I have to add that i do apologize for having to rely on your imaginations... I forgot my camera.