Ohana (Part Two)

During Ohana, we stayed at the 4-H center:



There were about 35 of us, including the Ohana leaders, staying at the Cascara House. There weren't enough beds for everyone upstairs so many boys had to sleep on mattresses in the main room (I felt bad!) We had quite a few deer sightings (very exciting!) but they always leaped away when we came too close. Jordan told Kayla and me stories of Big Foot and how schools in pacific northwest require you to take a class that teaches you how to protect yourself from Big Foot. We had a very difficult time believing him because it just seems so ridiculous!

Monday, August 24, 2009

We toured the campus!



The Star Trees:


I was very excited to finally visit the famous Star Trees! The Star Trees are comprised of five Giant Sequoia trees (the largest trees in the world!) that create a star shape where it meets the sky. Legend says that couples kissing under the tree will experience lasting love. I would love to be kissed under the Star Trees someday! X)


Goudy Commons:

This is where I usually have my meals! They always have really good food (maybe it's a bad thing...) and we have all-you-can-eat meals six days a week. I still haven't learned to control myself because there are so many things I want to eat! In the end, I have to suffer every night with a tummy ache.

More campus pictures? :)



After our tour around school, we went shopping at Lancaster Mall! :)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

On the very next day, we went shopping (AGAIN!) at Woodburn Mall. I bought meeself a sexy pair of water-resistant boots. It is made up of leather (the quality of shoes is very important to me!) and lined with synthetic fur (which is good for me, because I'm usually allergic). I am lovin' the no-sales tax!!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

On this day, we were given the option to switch with another Jump Start activity so I was in NOSOCO, which is a group that did community service. I went to the Chemawa Indian School and beautified their campus by pulling weeds! I remember feeling very lonely, though, because Jordan and Kayla were still in the Ohana group...doing more shopping! XD

Ohana was the best experience I've had in my life! No, not because of the shopping (although, that was fun!) We bonded with everyone, made so many new friends, and created so many memories. The most intimate moment we had together was that one night we all got around in a circle and revealed some personal information about ourselves that we normally would not reveal to others. People mentioned a lot of depressing things, but it was amazing how everyone opened up to the rest of the group. <3

Ohana definitely helped ease the transition of moving to school.It is definitely a nice feeling to walk on campus and be able to greet familiar faces while other freshmen are still unfamiliar with the school and its people.

Ohana (Part One)

I finally found some time to blog! Yay! Only three weeks passed since I arrived in Salem, Oregon, but it felt like months! So much has happened that I don't know where to begin!

I'll start with my flight to Salem, which was horrible, mainly because my parents were being incredibly exasperating. I even broke down and cried because I couldn't take it. I had to tell myself that I only needed to deal with this for a few more hours before they leave. ><

I live in WISH (Willamette International Studies House), which used to be a sorority house:



My new home looks so cute! ^^ When you open the front door, you are immediately greeted by the grand staircase. The chandelier adds to the wonderful ambiance. You can feel like a princess every time you walk up or down those steps. Truthfully, it makes me feel a bit self-conscious!



Since we arrived a bit earlier than the registration time, we got to explore the campus. AND I SAW A SQUIRREL FOR THE FIRST TIME.



I didn't have my camera with me at the time, so I used my cellphone. The camera on my phone loads slowly, so the squirrel was running away by the time I was able to snap the picture. It held an acorn in its hands (awww...)

Sunday, August 23, 2009

On our first day in Ohana(the pre-orientation program), we went on a trip to Portland and visited Powell's (an enormous bookstore that took up an entire city block), the Saturday & Sunday Market, and Uwajimaya (a Japanese department store that kicks ass).

Jordan (from Washington), Kayla (from Hawaii like me), and I raided the manga section at Powell's. The selection actually wasn't that impressive so I was a tad disappointed. But manga is still manga! <3



After the bookstore, we headed to the market, which was alright. I found the people there more interesting than the stands!


Street performers



We still had some time left after we explored all of the stalls so we decided to take a walk down the park. We were not prepared for what we saw as a result of our innocent detour. Apparently, it was National Topless Day. I have no idea if they made this up themselves, but there were a bunch of people sitting together on the grass...naked. A woman approached me and handed me a flyer. I did not realize she was topless until she came closer. That was when I realized that she had painted flowers on her breasts. I didn't take the flyer. (Kyahh!) >_< We continued down the park and saw another naked man heading in our direction. He was riding on a bicycle and carrying a sign that read, "Free your minds! Take off your clothes!" He told us to take it off, but we were like, nuh-uh. Getting naked in public will definitely NOT free my mind...

It was definitely an interesting experience. We met up with the rest of the Ohana gang to take a picture. A random guy (furthest man on the left) also jumped into the picture...just cuz. Portlanders are weird! >__<;



Then it was off to Uwajimaya, where I apparently freaked out.

"You were so excited there, jeez!"

Haha.

But!

You cannot blame me! When we walked through the entrance, there were shelves of Hawaiian chocolates and other local merchandise from Hawaii. Apparently, it was Hawaii Week. It was definitely a pleasant surprise to see stuff from back home! <3


Shelves of goodies

There was a Kinokuniya Bookstore inside Uwajimaya. <3 I spent, like, $72 on Crimson Hero and Aka Chan to Boku manga, a Totoro hat, an adorable coffee mug set for a friend, strawberry snacks, a box of CHOKOBI, and the Ponyo artbook. Fun stuff. I would love to go again again again...!!!

I am happy that Oregon is such a beautiful place. ^^