OOO. EEEM. GIII…How can so many things go wrong at the same time? I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been in such angst and trepidation due to various incidents during my college orientation that I feel like my head has whirled into the Land of Oz and my fingers still twitch in short bouts of panicked spasms.
Here’s a short-capped version of everything that went wrong:
- I (almost) lost my cell phone, which is my lifeline considering that I’m in a foreign place
- I discovered that the bus ticket I reserved to San Leandro was booked for July 6th, not July 15th (Holy Shit!)
- I also found out that it didn’t matter anyway because orientation ended much later than I thought (which meant I had to spend another night in LA, since there was only one pick-up bus per day at noon)
- After I reserved my spot in the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown LA, I found out a day later that I reserved my room for July 19th, not July 15th (What the hell is wrong with me?)
- The food in the USC dining hall sucks. Seriously. I couldn’t even cut through the steak, which was cooked way, way done.
- But the worst thing is: On the hour when everyone was rushing to register for classes, which is first-come-first-serve, I discovered that my registration was put on hold because my freaking housing contract was cancelled!!!!!!
I seriously had to bit down on my lip to prevent myself from bursting into tears! Anyone who has gone to university should know what I’m talking about when I say there is a mad rush to register for the classes you want. While everyone walked out of the computer labs with their newly-printed class schedules for this Fall semester, I was still sitting by the phone, reaching the voicemail over and over again until I finally reached the administration and cleared the misunderstanding.
By the time I got to the computer to register for classes, all the classes I had wanted to take was full. I spent another hour and half trying to find classes that would fit into my schedule, blinking away tears of frustration. My advisor took pity on me and helped me out, but even now, my class schedule is not fixed and I have to check up on the class availability constantly, hoping that someone would drop the class.
So, that’s how my orientation went. Daily fluctuations of misfortunes and disaster, one right after another.
Okay, that’s the bad news. The good news?
- I freaking love USC. The campus is gorgeous, the weather is gorgeous, and the people are gorgeous!
- I already made some friends whom I really like, and found out they were assigned to a housing right next to mine!
- I was assigned to the housing I wanted, which is apartment-style with a kitchen (Hell YEAH!!)
- I managed to reserve another bus ticket on July 16th (tomorrow)
- I eventually found my cell phone
- There are more than five frozen yogurt shops within walking distance! USC is froyo-heaven, baby!
- The breakfast in the USC dining hall was actually pretty good compared to other meals!
- Despite all these dramas, whereas previously would have caused me to crumble under the stress and succumb to ED, I still stood strong. This is the ultimate proof that I can withstand all the college stress and still fight for my recovery!
- Because I get to spend another night in LA, I’m free to blog tonight and catch up with you guys! Missed the blog community so much!
So. It turns out that the score is six bad things to eight good things, so YAAAY! I’ll have to say this trip to LA was still a success!
By the way, I tried to take pictures when I could surreptitiously, but truthfully, the food was really lackluster. I found myself buying tons of foot-long subs from Subway as snacks because the mealtimes were way to early and I found myself getting hungry at night.
My first meal in USC before the dining halls were open: 
A TAC sandwich from Submarines: 
Turkey, avocado, and smoked cheddar cheese on Squaw bread with all the works
Red Mango, right in the middle of our campus! 
Green tea froyo with blueberries
Subway’s new Harvest Fruits Chicken Salad Sandwich: 
Chicken with mayo, celery, cucumbers, olives and dried fruits in flatbread with feta cheese (Delicious! Try it!) 
More Subway: 
Turkey and cheddar in flatbread with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, red onion, mustard and mayo
Hasty continental breakfast: 
Apple, muffin, coffee
The worst meal I had in my life: 
Crap, crap, and more crap
Second round, just to make sure (same meal): 
Still crap (wasn’t gonna take a pic, but still did half-way eating through it)
More Subway as night snack: 
Foot-long black forest ham with feta, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, pickles, mustard and mayo on 9-grain honey oat
Picnic lunch: 
Roasted veggie sandwich, turkey sandwich, Baked Lay’s, Granny Smith 
Way too much bread and too little filling…How the hell can you screw up a simple picnic sandwich?
But on the bright side, here’s a few shots of my beautiful campus: 
Welcome to USC, my friends! 
Gorgeous Doherny Library, which is 9-stories total (5 underground): 
I wanna live in this place! 
Stunning ceiling, just like Hogwarts: 
Gorgeous pool: 
Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism, where a lot of my classes will be! 
Parkside Apartments, where I shall live in: 
Sorry, I just had to share these; I am so proud and in love with my school! Proud Trojan, fight on! All right, off to catch up with you guys!
P.S. This time tomorrow I will be reaching San Leandro. Hopefully I’ll have better eats to share there! 
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Hey! well i’ve actually been working up my stamina at the gym so I can run outside!
Frozen yougurt upsets my stomach ( SOMETIMES) it’s so odd. it just depends when my stomache decides to hate me! 
haha, but I can eat regular yogurt okay.. (probotics)
-Im happy that you stood strong through everything! good job!
-that flatbread from subway looks good, I think i’ll try it next time!
im so proud of you for dealing with all this mishaps in such a MATURE manor! you are going to do great at school i just know it!
good thing you have your own kitchen so youdon’t have to live on subway the next 4 years, i THINK you might run out of options if thats the case..BOORRRING!!
i admire what youa ccomplished, and now it’s over and you can breathe!
Gorgeous campus! So glad to hear you like it so far!! I’ve heard about this Red Mango place from one of my NY friends…she said it’s the non-chemically version of Pinkberry??
Well, I’m glad you still have more good things than bad after that huge fiasco. I hope things look up and someone will drop the classes you want! Just stay positive
Beautiful pics of the campus! I’m soooo jealous of the fro-yo availability.
Oh wow you are so lucky! Your school is so beautiful!
I am so sorry that so many things went wrong but hey you still had 8 good things =)…that campus looks amazing! I am very happy for you and wish you so much luck.
BTW I think Subway needs to pay you for promoting them so much in just one Post ha
Have a safe trip home chickie!
Yesterday, my day was not unlike yours (but I didn’t have as many on my “good” side), so I know how you feel….When it rains, it pours! But, you’re so lucky to be going to USC–great school, and great times ahead! You deserve them all!
The campus does look beautiful. I know how it feels with all that mad rush registering for classes and all..It’s only in the beginning and things will smooth out, I promise!
Ugh, well, that’s college food for you. I am convinced that moving off campus, leaving the meal plan, and eating my own cooking was the best thing that I could do for my tummy and my wallett. I’m so glad you love the school!
I am jealous–your college looks like a dream! And I know how the rush of getting your classes feels! It’s hectic at my small university, so I cannot even imagine the pressure at a giant U like that! Hang in there and keep prayin’!
Hey sweetie!
At least the broccoli looked good in the meal – I’m sorry to hear it was so bad though! And although you had such a hard trip, I’m so happy to hear that for the most part, you loved USC! Its wonderful.
Love you so much!
Oh, LOrd! I went to college 12 years ago at a big school too and hated it!
Your post will be up in a few days! I hope you get the chance to check out my trust yourself challenge and giveaway…
http://thespecialktreatment.wordpress.com/
Despite all of the unfortunate events I’m so glad you like your school so much.
I’m sorry it was a crazy trip, but I love that you found the strength to get through the rough parts and find all the positives!
Flat out, your amazing-ness
PS I’m super jeal of the future west coast life! I am SO applying for jobs out in Cali next year not only because the masters program I want is few and far between (and in Cali
) but I’ve always secretly dreamed of living out there. Girl can dare to dream 
Have a safe trip home love!
<3 Jenn
Sorry you had to experience all these unfortunate events and the not-so-good food. BUT, USC is beautiful!!!!
Have fun in San Leandro!
Your university is absolutely beautiful! I’m so happy for you! And don’t worry, everything will eventually get sorted out soon…university is very nerve-wracking at the beginning (trust me, you’re not alone in that!)! You are SO LUCKY to have a kitchen in your apt!
OH I am so sorry things got such a rough start but KUDOS to you for hanging in there! Your school is beautiful…and yes..that hall is just like Hogwarts! ha!! (without the stars and such)
what a beautiful campus!
hope things just get better from here!
Oh man…I am sorry you had such a rough start! But USC is amazing! That is one of the most gorgeous campuses I’ve seen. You are one lucky chick! Glad to hear there were some ups to your orientation as well-at least you have a kitchen in your housing!
I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get all the classes you need. You are going to enjoy it there, college is the best time of your life…stressful at times, but utterly amazing!
Oh man, I remember the frustrations of registration rush, but your campus does look beautiful and I’m glad you want to live there because you will. haha
I really hope food does get better over there though. Back when I applied to college, I wouldn’t consider any of the places that made freshmen go on meal plans.
Sounds like you have “weathered the storm.” The university looks gorgeous and so does the chicken sandwich!
Wow. Your trip sounds like all those nightmares I used to have about getting into classes back when I was in university. But unfortunately it was real. Ackkkk! Oh well. There’s always another semester to get the classes you want. Your campus looks dang good!
Fantastic pictures — The campus is gorgeous! One of the guys I work with went to USC and LOOOOVED it.
I know what you mean about the food….campus breakfasts always seem to be better than their dinners….not sure why, though…
- AnnQ
What an adventure!! Seems like the pros outweigh the cons though so that’s good
I hope you enjoy yourself when you’re there full time!!
so sorry you had such a stress prevoking start to your college experience, but you go girl with out numbering those negatives with positives!!
Your campus is beautiful and glad you are so excited! I can’t believe I am going into my last year in college and still feel like I am missing some experiences! Guess I will jam pack this year to the MAx!
this is so exciting! it does looks like a wonderful campus. i’m sorry things didn’t go so well for you, but it looks like you have a very great future!
I’m so sorry you had a rough start! But hopefully everything will clear up now. The campus is gorgeous! Hope the food gets better though
hey, i am glad you looked at the positive after all was said and done! that campus IS gorgeous, and you will be a journalism/comm major (just like myself!) – i love it!
yay for subway – always saves me when no other good options are around! enjoy the rest of your time in LA!
With the right attitude the good always outnumbers the bad, just gotta focus on the positive, right?!
I’m SO glad you’ve already made some friends, that you like your housing and, most importantly, that you’ll have a kitchen! Eating at the caffeteria is a bad idea and I’m sure would make recovery a bit harder. We don’t need that!!! The campus looks beautiful! That pool looks fantastic!!!! Safe trip back
sorry for those unfortunate events, but your list of positive things WAY outweighs them! i’m happy you love USC. and wow, it really IS gorgeous. and i know what you mean about rushing to find classes. i was surprised at my orientation when i realized how many were already full! i feel bad for the students who are going to the august registration at my school. who knows what they’ll be stuck with. can’t wait to see more eats from you!
So great that you could acknowledge the bad things but dwell on the good things!
It looks like a beautiful campus! I loved college, even though I only went for 1 year – I had an athletic scholarship for field hockey, but they dropped the program after my freshman year!
Have a safe trip home!
Well I’m glad the good outweighed the bad! But honestly, I wouldn’t worry about getting classes. After the first two days of classes, people will be dropping them like crazy and you can get almost any class you need.
I’m jealous of your access to so much frozen yogurt! They’re a little behind at UGA…
What a rough day! I’m glad you met some new friends though! And Fro Yo! Yay, I can’t wait until I move in a few weeks, because where I live now there is none, but I’m moving to Sacramento and the Fro Yo industry is booming there haha!
Ugh…I’m sorry things have been so messy. But you’re lucky to have a great advisor. At my university I probably would’ve been completely screwed if things like that had happened.
Glad you’re focusing on the positives!
That campus is gorgeous! So glad you ended up having 8 positive things. That’s so great! Sorry things started out so messy though! YAY FOR FROYO. Wow, I’m jealous…
<3 jess
xoxo
What a gorgeous campus! I’m sorry about all that stuff happening, but way to keep a positive outlook.
Yikes, that was a lot of stuff at once! I am glad things seemed to get better and just think of all the fun you will have when you start! I still miss college!
Sophia! Sorry about all the mishaps! I went to a huge school too, Iowa State 40,000 kids! I got lost trying to find my classes, I sat in a class that was for seniors only my first day, and had to crawl away when the teacher asked if anyone was in the wrong class, they could leave. I actually debated about just staying and never going back, but I walked out as the seniors snickered and chuckled! I think everyone has experiences like that! Because you don’t know what you are doing, and you have to ask a lot of questions.
The campus looks great though! So pretty!
why is it that all of the negative things seem to hit us at once?! ah well, that usually means that tons of great things are in your future
!
the campus is absolutely beautiful girl!
Sophia so sorry to hear about your bad luck, sometimes happens to everybody but I see that you’ve good news about the Campus!
I want a Submarine sandwich
Cheers,
Gera
I’m sorry so many things went wrong! I hope you can get all the classes you want – that has happened to me too – but I always ended up getting into them from people dropping. I am so glad you got into housing with your own kitchen!!!!!! The library is gorgeous!! I hope you reached your cousin’s house OK!
I am so excited for you! You should be going home to some amazing grass
Hopefully the worst is over, and now you can enjoy a fabulous fun college career.
Awww, you poor dear! I am SOOOO SORRY all of that happened to you. But totally impressed at how strong and optomistic you stayed throughout it all. Way to go girl! Just another reason why I fully beleive you are a superwoman!
Yah, I definitely remember the food in the dining hall totally sucking! Some good eats I found was Cereal, Salad, Waffles and we also had a decent sandwhich/wrap bar. But I usually just stayed away from the hot bar and made big ol’ salads. And TONS of fro-yo!
Good luck sweet heart. Everything will work out perfectly!
I want to go back to school. I want to try 18 different sandwiches and I want all that is wrong to right itself and am so pleased that it (finally) did for you. What a lovely new home you have!
You are sooooo funny..I was picturing this whole ordeal playing out..you poor thing..sounds like you maintained your sense of humor! You are one tough cookie, I mean a really good white chocolate oatmeal, not the crappy ones they serve in the USC caff!!!!! Figtreeapps
I am so happy that you are liking USC. It is always good to be proud of your school! The eats look yummy. I am sorry about the bad things and the moments of panic and frustrations. But it is really wonderful that the good things out weighed the bad ones!
dang that pool!!! amazing
sorry to hear about the aweful eats, but it sounds like you dealt with those challenges incredibly well, and there are many good things to be excited about 
I’m glad everything turned out all right in the end! The pictures of your campus are beautiful!! And froyo everywhere.. sounds like you are going to have a blast
have fun it looks amazing you deserve it
By the way I changed my address to match the blog!
https://chowandchatter.blogspot.com
love Rebecca
So glad your bumps in the road are being worked out
Sounds like all the positives definitely outweigh the negatives so far – SO excited for you!
Wow that campus is so beautiful!!! The ceilings do look a bit like Hogwarts, lol. You poor, poor thing. I’m so sorry you had to eat from Subway so many freaking times! That place sucks in my opinion. Haha!
Chin up, girl! Everything will all fall into place.
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