Summer was a rather fast-paced tight-rope act. I worked at the Children's Discovery Museum as an assistant team leader for the environmental team. Four sessions and about 40 kids later saw me about 3k richer. Good thing, as that's all the money I'll have until next summer. I even went out and finally got myself a cell phone.

When I wasn't at work, I was with friends or on the computer. I still did my chores and whatnot, but of course it wasn't good enough for my mother. I can't recall how many times I stayed over with Dana, claiming to be with ~TheAvacado, but it was a lot. I didn't get caught until the last day, and didn't really get in trouble for it.

Orientation week was long and rather boring, but I was here and that much closer to leaving my parents. So many people here are forging their own way; I'm honored to know them. All the idiots are finally weeded out, so I don't have to deal with them. Classes are really easy, doing well in all of them. Art and Architecture of Japan, FYS, Intro to Literature, Intro to Japanese, Intermediate Weight Training, and Newspaper. I was basically kicked off the cross country team for not being fast enough. My back was giving me problems and hence I couldn't keep up with everyone else. I've decided to take the year off sports to let it get better and I'll be back in full force Sophomore year. The most active club I'm in is Japan club. We do something cultural every Wednesday night and watch a Japanese movie every Friday night.

I had Dana up here two weeks ago; he stayed for almost a week. It was great to see a loving face from home--oh, that's what I forgot. My mother's parting words were on the street corner outside the bookstore: "you're a horrible person." Needless to say, I've avoided her as best I can these past three months. Anyway, having Dana here was blissful. We even took a day trip to a local hot spring.

All in all, I'm happy in college. I'm finally becoming what I've been fighting to be for so many years--myself--without the interference of my controlling mother and apathetic father.

Cheers,
~AriSky