UCSD: TIME TO LEAVE

Sunday morning, we woke up early, got ready for Church. Mass was at 10 or 11? Can't remember na. K. Alvs took me to the Cathedral in LA. The Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels. It's a big Cathedral. And very modern in structure (see slideshow several posts below). Antok pa kami, grabe, dahil puyat.

Then, we ate at this quaint Filipino restaurant. Grabe! Mura siya! And it was good food. Bahay Kubo ata name niya.

Then we went back to K. Alvs' flat. Chikahan. He showed me some of the pictures from Miss U 2006. Tapos, pati dapat sa computer niya he was going to show me, pero ayaw mag boot ng comp niya.

Tapos I packed na naman my stuff. Went to Burbank (where I'm flying) to eat at Porto's. Grabe! Sarap ng dessert nila! And mura pa! Swerte ni Eileen ang lapit niya sa Porto's. Kainis. Kami walang Porto's dito. =( (check the pictures from the slideshow na lang. tinamad na ako ilagay dito)

Then, they brought me to the airport. I love Burbank Airport kasi super small siya. It took me less than 5 minutes to check in. Less than 5 minutes to go through those detector thingy's. Less than 5 minutes to find my gate.

When I got back to SF, I went to work for a couple of minutes (needed to do something with cells, lest they die). Then went home. =(

Tapos na po!

UCSD: AMTRAK TO LA

My shuttle arrived 10 minutes early. And I was the only one in the shuttle. They said that it takes at least 35 minutes to get there. So I figured, I would get to the train station at 3 pm, so I'll catch the train that leaves at 4 pm. And so, I booked that!

I got there at 2:15. Yup! Too early. And I thought to myself, what the heck would I do for almost 2 hours? But, the lady who gave me my ticket asked, "would you like to board the 3 pm train?" I said, "but I was booked for the 4 pm one." She said, "it doesn't matter." So I said, "COOL!"

I waited in line for more than 30 minutes. Ganun pala pag di reserved ang seating mo. =P I was looking forward to the train ride, because in my 10 years in the US, I never rode Amtrak.



While waiting, I texted K. Alvs, 'coz I told him that I'll get there at 7. And now, I'll get to the Station earlier than 6 pm. I asked him if that's okay. He said yes. And so that was set.

I sat on the wrong side of the train. Kainis! I sat on the right side. And you don't see anything on the right side most of the time. The beach is on the left side. Inis na inis ako. Pero I didn't want to move na. So I stayed.

It was a 3 hour ride. I fell asleep for about 30 minutes. I thought it was cool they have the Amtrak. 'Coz I wouldn't want to drive for more than 2 hours in a place I wasn't familiar with.

As we approached the LA Union Station, I thought the place looked familiar. And then I remembered the movie, Italian Job. You know the speed chase near the end of the movie? With the Mini-Coopers? It looked like it was filmed there (but maybe it was filmed in a studio that looked like the train station). And I thought, "COOL!"

I got to the Union Station, called K. Alvs (I still call him K. Alvs even though he's more feminine than I am), and waited. He picked me up. Went to his flat. Met his handsome roommate (a musician). And watched him get ready for dinner with Leng and Al (Leng's brother).



We went to, shucks, I forgot the name of the place. A Japanese restaurant. GRRR! I really forgot. My apologies. Had dinner and martinis (I didn't finish mine, Leng finished it for me).




Then, we went to Mickey's. ( Pakner, remember Mickey's?) It's ... I can't even describe it ... umm ... go look it up yourselves. =P May pictures din from here, pero I can't post it. =P

They were forcing me to put a dollar you-know-where, but I didn't budge. Al was so disappointed. He gave me the dollar kasi eh. I just gave it back to him. =P

Was it a shock for me? I can't remember anymore. =P The shock probably wore off already.

And then, at around 2 pm, we went home. Kuwentuhan kami ni K. Alvs hanggang 3 am yata yun. =)

It was nice to see Leng and Alvs again, after all this time (2 years yata). =) Ang kulit ni Leng. Grabe! Mas na shock yata ako kay Leng kesa dun sa Mickey's. =P Peace, Leng! And it was nice to hang out with Al (Leng's designated driver).



Anyway, that was that.

UCSD: INTERVIEW

I slept at around 10 pm. Though I wanted to sleep earlier ('coz I planned on waking up early), I wasn't able to. But even though I slept later than I intended, I slept pretty well. The bed and the pillows were comfy enough. =)

I woke up at 3:30 am, as planned. I took a shower, watched some TV (they had HBO in the room) and read some articles to try and prepare myself for the interview. I also began packing, 'coz I was checking out that day.

I read more about UCSD. I had no idea what the school was about. I only applied there, so UCSF won't think I'm an arrogant fool for applying only to 1 school. And as I learned about UCSD's program, I fell in love with it. For one, Pharmacy students take 1/3 of their classes with medical students. When I shadowed Pharmacists at UCSF, some of them made snide comments about doctors not allowing them to do their job - which is to suggest therapy management. I think doctors are not used to having others do, what traditionally has been, their duties and responsibilities. And UCSD teaches med and pharm students to collaborate, and work together for the good of the patients. It's something UCSF does not do.

I left the Inn at 7:30 am. Got to the building at 10 before 8. Talked to some other applicants. And then, we were led to a laboratory (I think it's supposed to be a computer lab), and the dean of the school came to talk to us. And he mentioned some of the things I wrote above.



After which, they gave us our schedule for interview. Some were interviewing at 9:50. Others at 10:30 and still others at 11:10. I was, again, blessed to have had the 10:30 interview.

As the applicants for the 9:50 interview were called from the room (the first faculty to call out an applicant said, "MY FIRST VICTIM IS ..." and all of us laughed), the rest of us worked on our essays. The question was, "If you could be anything other than a human being, what would you be?"

I answered I wanted to be a bird. I didn't specify what kind of bird. But I made it sort of funny. I said, I can do basic things humans can do - eat, sleep, mate (hehe), but I can also do more - fly. I mentioned about wanting to get away from traffic from below, but being careful about planes, jets, and helicopters. I mentioned about being able to walk and see the land from below and being able to fly and see the land from above. Stuff like that.

And then, I was called off for my interview.

A student came into the room to call me. And then I was brought upstairs to an office (a rather empty office). And then, they asked me, "Why Pharmacy?" And I laughed. I don't know why. I told them, "I know this is a standard question and I'm still surprised it's the first one asked." I answered more confidently than I did at SF.

The interview was more casual, more informal, and more conversational. We talked about my grandfather, my trips out of town (not out of state), my hobbies, my work in the lab, my interests. It felt like I was conversing with some friends. It was great. And I thought it went well.

Then, I was brought back to the room. And I talked to some of the people who already interviewed and some awaiting their own interviews.

Then, they toured us around the biomedical science part of the campus. They showed us the newly built library. WOW! That's all I can say. They showed us the rec center. AGAIN! WOW! Plasma TV, pool table, piano, ping pong, etc. (EXCLUSIVE FOR MED AND PHARM STUDENTS). And I fell in love with San Diego.

After the tour, we were done! =) So I walked back to the hotel, hoping I would get in to UCSD.

At the hotel, I packed the rest of my stuff. Ate the rest of my burrito (yup from last night!) Good thing there was a microwave in the room. Checked out of the inn. And waited in the lobby for my shuttle that will take me to the train station.

UCSF: I GOT IN

Confusing right? Bakit UCSF na naman ang topic ng blog post ko? Di pa nga ako tapos sa UCSD? Well, kasi I already received my acceptance letter from UCSF! =) I'm surely going to a Pharmacy School this Fall! Yipee!

PS
Don't worry, I'll be continuing my UCSD saga. =)