So I'll just let the pictures talk:
Texas A&M is huge! We spent the first morning in school getting lost haha. Point A to B on campus is usually a 15 min walk away, unless you drive or cycle. I considered getting a bike, but then I don't think I'll get one cuz I'll only need it for 5 months, plus there are quite a few bicycle rules to obey which is quite troublesome haha. So I'll just have to walk sigh.
Some random squirrel we saw. The squirrels we have here and fearless creatures. They don't run away from humans haha.Anyway so we had orientation on Mon and Tues. Their orientation is different from those 'onz' kind in Singapore. Here, it's mainly just listening to briefing after briefing on topics from immigration issues to taxation (yes, we have to file taxes). Quite boring. We also had to settle our health insurance, and get a post box and bank account. So it was quite mad cuz I can't register for classes until I pay my fees (dorm fees and insurance), and I can't pay my fees without a bank account, and I need a PO box to get a bank account. Oh and I need a local SIM card too. But thank goodness we managed to settle everything by Tues haha.
My teeny PO box. OH ya, my address is: PO Box 6025, College Station, TX 77844-6025.
On the way to Wal-Mart. We seriously need a car. We took a shuttle bus to the nearest Wal-Mart, but we had to take a cab back cuz of all the stuff we were carting around, and cabs are bloody expensive here. Btw I bought lots of water (tap water is unsafe and we couldn't boil water), toilet paper, bedsheets, blankets, food. Domestic nonsense la, in other words haha.
A part of school. College Station is known as Aggieland by the way. A&M students are called Aggies, probably cuz of its agricultural background.
The railroad track that runs through school. It's near my hall, so I can hear the train everyday. I have to cross this track to go to the Business School also. School is about 15 min walk away.
Schuhmacher Hall. And the view from my room:
I didn't choose Schuhmacher initially but now I'm glad they gave this hall to me instead. The location is pretty good. It's near my school, and most importantly, it's right opposite Northgate, which is the pub/food street in College Station. So you can always find something to eat if you live here haha. The only bad thing is that because of all the pubs, it can get quite noisy at night.
We went pub-hopping last night with this bunch of Spanish and French guys, but it was quite boring cuz you weren't allowed to drink if you're under 21. So the small group of us could only sit there while the rest drank. And the scene at the pubs can get quite rowdy. A fight almost erupted outside one of the clubs. Quite scary. So I doubt I'll ever visit Northgate at night again haha. But most of the guys go there almost every night after dinner, while the rest of us just go back to our dorms haha.
My room. It's awfully small. And very filthy. I had to buy wipes to clean the drawers before I could move my stuff in. My roommate (who hasn't moved in yet) has a microwave and fridge too, which was good cuz I can store milk and fruit. We shared a toilet with the room next door. But you couldnt lock your side of the toilet door from the inside, so anyone could walk in while you were doing your business haha.
And it's bloody COLD. Crap. I have NO IDEA why they switch on the aircon at night when it's already so cold! And the stupid heater is in the toilet? My first few nights were quite a nightmare cuz I only had a pathetic blanket (which I thought was sufficient so I didn't buy more), so I basically froze to death in my sleep. But it's warmer when I open my toilet door to let in some heat from the heater. Then later during the week, I went to Target to get a new comforter, so now my life is slightly better haha.
Anyway, later in the week, we met up with this Singaporean American girl, Kirsten, in College Station. I had been corresponding with her through emails after I found her address on the Singapore Society website at TAMU (it's now defunct haha), and she offered to show us around even though she has already graduated and moved out of College Station. She drove us around and brought us to many places to eat, esp those places only accessible by car haha.
Then on Wed, we went to Austin, which was a 2hour drive away. 5 of us were squished in her car throughout the journey haha. We stayed over at her place in Austin, and on Thursday, she brought us to Round Rock, which had a gigantic factory outlet mall haha. They had brands like Coach, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger etc, going at insane prices. And we spent 4 hours shopping. I bought quite alot of stuff also haha.
The landmark of Austin. Can't remember the name though haha.
The main building at the University of Texas, Austin.
We met up for dinner with the other Singaporeans on exchange at UT also, that night. Which was quite cool. Got to meet many other Singaporeans and Malaysians haa.
At this ice cream place in Austin. You chose the flavour of ice cream you wanted, plus some other ingredient (eg. Oreo cookies,brownies, Reese's cups etc), and the guy just mashed them up together to come up with this sinful combination of ice cream.
On the road. We saw cows and farmhouses on the way haha.
That's Kirsten driving, and Alex bothering her.
I spent my Friday packing my room, and cleaning my floor (but it's still dirty, and I dunno why haha). And today, Sat, we went for a basketball game in school! TAMU vs. Colorado. TAMU basketball is good man. And games here are a BIG deal. Students will dress up in the school colours (maroon and white) to go down for games. There are many traditions also, like standing up instead of sitting down during the game, all the weird cheers, and distracting the opponent by making lots of noise during free throws haha.
Well anyway, the game was quite exciting in the first half. But it got kinda boring (I almost fell asleep) during the 2nd half. Maybe cuz we knew we were winning haha. What was cool was that the games are almost identical to those NBA ones you see on TV. Like the whole atmosphere, esp the halftime and timeout entertainment available. They had games and dances haha. Oh and I really liked the suspended scoreboard haha.
Aori, me, Yessy and Frisca. Aori is this Jap exchange student, and Yessy and Frisca are from NUS also.
Anyway we've been hanging out with this group of 3 Spanish guys also, but I don't have their pictures (sorry Simin and Nina haha). They're seriously a bunch of jokers with accents haha. Full of crap. They tried teaching us Spanish also. I know a few phrases! Like vamos (let's go!), buenas noches (goodnight), neputa mara (f-ing good). Quite fun. The 2 Indonesian girls (Yessy and Frisca) are obsessed with them man. They're reduced to fits of giggles whenever they're around the guys haha. Sometimes it's quite funny to see, but sometimes it can get quite irritating grr. I must find a balance!
Ok, I'm going to sleep! Until the next time :)
OH btw, I got my local number already! +19794226034. Pls try not to call me or sms me on this no. haha. It's $0.69/min for calls both in and out, and $0.15/sms coming in, and $0.30/sms going out, in addition to the prepaid rates, which is not cheap. Contact me if it's an emergency or don't expect a reply hahah. Just joking.
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