Room Search Continues

The room search in East Bay has been insane. Between the deposits and the eclectic lifestyles of some people seeking room-mates it's been a lot more tedious than I imagined. All I want is a space of my own, with walls and a door. Not horribly small, that's empty and simple with a decent kitchen to cook in, and cable and internet. Without an extraordinary amount of domestic animals.

Easier said than done, especially on my Americorps stipend. Maybe it's just me but I refuse to pay 400 USD to share a room with a stranger, or really anybody for that matter outside of an significant other. Here are just some of the phrases I've read while room search

- 420 friendly
- 420 all day every day
- $500 roomshare
- Zen Catholic Gentlemen will have...
- Apartment for free in exchange for cooking cleaning as well as some behind close doors services
- the lovely ladies who give us unlimited joy, and also eggs.
- vegan household : no animal products allowed in kitchen
- television free community: so we can create rather than imitate.

I thought I was picky. Then there's the whole 'what's safe, what's not'. People outside of Oakland swear I should head to surburbia. People in Oakland say stay away from East Oakland, but some say it's west Oakland. I've seen parts of San Leandro that I rather had not. I've met some interesting and colourful people. I've seen some ridiculous prices. I'm starting to get a feel on things and I think that this housing search may take a tad longer than I originally anticipated.

Wish me luck!

DK

California here I am

So I'm here, even though it still hasn't completely sunk in. I am in fact in California.

The PSO (Pre-service Orientation) in Boston was fantastic. I really had a great time and met a bunch really cool people. It was friendly group, wasn't even untill that night I even noticed I was the only 'outwardly appearing' black girl. So that's a good sign ne? We went to Bangkok Blue our last night out and I got to try Thai iced tea for the first time, it sort of tastes like royal milk tea but sweeter... Which reminds I really could go for some royal milk tea about now.


The flight to Oakland was not fun, especially the first one. The second was better though I've seen '17 again' twice now and can tell you just about everything about it. Not a horrible movie but definitely not good enough to watch twice in a row, in my opinion.

When I got to Oakland, I met Bruce the director of OTX-West and then later Domingo(sp?), they're very nice people and I'm looking forward to this next year. The next day I met Naomi, Joceylin(sp) and Josh also very awesome people. OTX is really huge, a lot bigger than I expected and Oakland is way nicer than I hoped for. There are lot of trees so far I've seen in East Bay, very green. That's good. I don't mind urban space but the lack of greenery sort of gets to me.

For instance when I was visiting San Francisco yesterday, I was near Union Square. Honestly I felt like I was Manhattan. Which is great the first couple of times but it was like 'meh, been there done that'. I know that not all of San Fran is like that and I'm looking forward to exploring the area.

First things first however, I'm looking for a room somewhere in East Bay. The search has just begun. Right now Bruce and his wife have graciously open their home to me and I really appreciate it. I was semi-concerned that I'd be living under a bridge somewhere. But now that I've seen the listings I feel it is possible to a place to stay within a decent range.
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Well I'm off for a bit to do some things in the room. Found a neat sounding place on Craigslist that I hope we can go see later today. Wish me luck.

Last day in Augusta

Today

It's hitting me harder every hour that I'm leaving my home town. And yes, I love my hometown. It's not Atlanta, but for me that's why I love it. I grew up on the south side of town, near the country with the chickens and horses. There are a lot more asian influences on my side of town than one would expect. A few Asian grocers, lots of Chinese restaraunts, Korean noodle shops and pool halls. There's a diversity I love, with the singular being the southern-ness. I am truly going to miss the south in ways I didn't believe I would. There are things I won't miss: not being to go into Beaver House Inn in Statesboro,Ga or Maurice's BBQ in Columbia, SC because of my race. Being cautious around Whites who wear stars and bars, if I don't know them. The swelter heat and humidity that will knock you down when you open the door some days. But though I haven't really been adapted to the heat it is apart of my life story, my normalcy even the flawed parts.

I spent the last nite of Augusta visiting my god-daughter who just turned 1 and my friend her mother. We played UNO and had a great time.

That weekend I went to my mother's house in South Carolina for a fish fry and low country boil. Next morning I had fish and grits... I'm going to miss grits.


But I look forward to the journy ahead.

29.

Poison Ivy…quite possibly the only thing that doesn’t break me out.

go figure.

See more progress on: list 100 random things about myself

13 days left

Can you believe so few days until I head out into the great unknown? In 2 weeks I will be going 3000+ miles away from home and staying there for a year. I am totally wigging out, when I start to think about my pulse starts to race. I haven't been feeling very well the past few days. I think my nervous-ness about this trip is actually causing me to break out.

I had been organising things to pack for my year in California but now I have started the packing.

First the suitcases and then the things that will be shipped...including my jewellry making supplies full of metal wire, blades, and whatnot, I'm sure the United Postal services is going love that package. Decided what to take and not to take has become a fun adventure. I only know people who have been in NCCC which is more mobile and involves camping at times and disaster relief. I don't know anybody who has moved to another state for Vista. In vista you have to find a place and live and be semi-normal... on poverty wages. Everytime I tell my family I'm trying to find a room for rent in the Bay Area for und 500 dollars they look at me like I'm crazy but honestly it's true. Just keep praying about it.

Americorps and I are still trying to get this whole flight situation figured out. I requested to be flown out of Columbia or Charlotte to Boston and then I'm suppose to go to Oakland, Cali. Somehow that turned into Atlanta to Boston and then to Dallas and then to Phoenix. I wonder if there's another 'Jasmine' in this CTC class? Probably, it is a 'common uncommon' name. But I think it's finally been worked all out. That was so odd.

If anybody has any tips on packing for a long journey I'd greatly appreciate it.