Tag Archives: california

Apartment and Roommate Finder in LA

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Hey again,

I got a few emails recently, all asking about the same thing: Apartment and roommates.

So let me start with the apartment.

First of: Where to live?

Live wherever you want, but stay away from east LA, preferably downtown (even though you can find great places there too), and North LA. However, in these “bad areas” things are cheaper, so in desperat search of a cheap apartment and not so afraid of rape and murder, sure! Go ahead! 

Consider where you are going to spend most of your time. Student? try to live close to school, however if you only go to school two days a week as I did one semester then living close to school is a little waste. Go out a lot? Live in N hollywood or Hollywood. Work? Downtown, or somewhere central close to work. Getting a car? try not to live near a freeway the you HAVE to go on everywhere you go. Traffic is hell in LA. Not getting a car? Make sure you live close to the Metro (the train in LA). That way you can get around more easily. Busses also work, but they are slow and always smell terrible with a lot of sketchy people. 

In addition, if you are not getting a car, make sure you live close to a grocery store (no, CVS does not count as a grocery store..)

On more specific locations just google “safe places in LA” or “good places to live in LA”.You can also look at a crime map (google that to), to see what kind of crimes happens in your area. Dont just look at how much crime, but what KIND of crime. There is a difference between murder and robbery.. 

Here is a forum to check out: http://www.city-data.com/forum/los-angeles/142218-top-10-best-places-live-la.html

How to find an apartment?

So, I know a lot of you have asked me about craigslist and how you dont like using it. I dident like using it before either, but when you get the hang of it you see that there is a lot of good apartments and places to rent up there. So just try it a little. 

Also Apartmentfinder is good.

Another tip is to spend first week at a motel in the area to test out the neighborhood, if you like it then go around and look for signs saying:”LEASING NOW”. This means that there is apartments available  and in LA there as tons of places that lease out. People move so much in this city that there is always something available some where. When seeing a sign, note the place and number and go on to find other places. Then go on the internet and find the places on Yelp.com. Yelp is website that gives you information about EVERYTHING in LA, and its based on reviews from people who has actually experiences the place. Great place for everything, just be critical to some of the reviews, and remember people like to rather say what they dont like than what they actually like. 

A personal tip from me on where to live is to check out the Redwood Urban website, they have nice apartments all over LA, so check it out. 

Second question: Roommates:

How to find roommates?

I have answered it before, but I will answer it again: 

Facebook: search for: USC students starting fall 13 etc. That way you may find groups that others have created to discuses their admission and some may even be asking for roommates. If you find a group you can also post:”hey looking for roommates. I am nice, clean girl/boy etc who is starting school this fall etcetc.”

Ask the school: Email the school you are attending and say you are looking for roommates and need some help. 

also check forums by googling: SMC student starting fall 13 needs roommates etc.

Craigslist: a little sketchy maybe, but make sure to meet the person in public before any further arrangements are made. 

Its easy! google it, facebook it etc and you will find someone. You are not the only one starting school remember. Everyone is freaking out just like you, so calm down. 

I hope this helps!

Also check out this link :http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845453_apartment-la.html

Lånekassen og det å være student på et av verdens dyreste skoler

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Jeg mottar max stipend og lån fra lånekassen, noe som kommer på totalt 287 620 kr. Dessverre koster skolen ca 253 000 kr i året noe som gir meg en spinkel sum på 17 000 kr å rutte med i halvåret. Legger vi til flybillett, som varier i alt fra 6000 kr til 12000 kr så begynner man å se at 17000 kr er i det minste laget selv for gjerrige meg.

Om sommeren går jeg på sommer skole (som jeg dekker selv) og har bare en måned fri som jeg tilbringer ved å jobbe hos moren min og det gir meg ca 15 000 kr. Dessverre jobber jeg ikke til jul fordi jeg bare er hjemme i tre uker og det meste av dagene er hellig dager.

Det vil si at etter flybillett og betalt leie, mobil og mat er jeg tom etter 2 månender etter jul. Resten av tiden må mine foreldre dekke for meg. Jeg er så uendelig heldig at jeg får være norsk og motta såppas mye støtte som jeg gjør, men dessverre så rekker det ikke til. For mens prisene konstant øker både på flybilletter, mat og ikke minst skolen min som øker med nesten 1000 dollar i året, har Lånekassen ikke fulgt samme pris og lønnings kurve som resten av landet siden 70 tallet… 

Det er kjipt å måtte ringe hjem til foreldre å spørre om penger i en alder av 21 år… men det strekker rett og slett ikke til. Jeg er oppgitt og lei, og har flere ganger skrevet om dette. 

Jeg kunne sikkert valgt en annen skole, men jeg fulgte drømmen og setter pris på hver eneste dag jeg tilbringer på USC. Skolen har et fantastisk nettverk, flinke lærere og spennende klasser. Hadde jeg valgt en annen skole hadde jeg absolutt ikke vært like motivert som jeg er i dag. Jeg var aldri opptatt av skole før jeg satte meg som mål å komme inn på USC. Jeg gikk fra stusselig 4.2(Norsk karakter gjennomsnitt) til 3.9 (GPA) på et år. Jeg syntes Lånekassen burde ta det til betraktning jeg når jeg kommenterer på for lite støtte og får beskjed om at jeg da burde valgt en annen skole. “For det skal jo ikke handle om penger i verdens rikeste land, det skal være like muligheter for alle”. Men selv om lånekassen er der så har de ikke gitt meg samme muligheter på USC, som om jeg skulle gått på en billigere skole. At lånekassen ikke vil gi mer støtte til de som søker seg litt høyere og mot dyrere skoler syntes jeg er latterlig.

Jeg kommer til å tilbringe resten av mitt liv på å nedbetale mitt studielån som i disse dager ligger på  nesten 400 000 kr, men det er et valg jeg har selv tatt fordi det for meg handlet om motivasjon for en ellers så vilter lite skole flink jente. Det at lånekassen ikke vil hjelpe meg, og alle andre som hatt samme studieprogresjon som meg, mer er det samme som å si:”HIT, men ikke lenger”. 

Det går mot varmere dager…

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i dag er det 27 deilige grader her i LA, merker det på humøret at alt blir så mye lettere når det er litt sol ute. Har vært skikkelig sliten i det siste og tror det kommer av at det er veldig mye som har skjedd, pluss at jeg var hjemme ca en måned i mørke kalde Norge. Uansett hvor flott det er å se venner så merker jeg at mangel på lys og det at det er så kaldt virkelig tærer på kropp og sin. Derfor er det ufattelig godt å være tilbake igjen og kjenne at dagene er lengere og varmere, pluss at neglene mine begynner å vokse igjen (de bare sprekker og brekker i kulden og av mangel på dvitamin!).

Men shitt, hvordan skal jeg noen gang klare å flytte tilbake til norge?

Chris

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sweet ashley with her new bike

Back to School

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its back to school this week and so far I think I enjoy all my classes, except from Public Delibiration which I dont really have any idea what is about yet… might drop that classes.
I am doing 18 units this semester, thats a full course load of 5 classes: Communication and Technology, Neuroscience, Stress management, Public Deliberation, Communication and culture. It will be an interesting semester!

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How to survive a long distance flight

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Before I would have told you that I love flying, but after moving to LA and therefore have to make at least 4 long distance flights each year I have come to the conclusion that I hate flying. But my new experience have also helped me to be better prepared:

here is what I pack with me and do during flights:

Flight Survial
1: despite an 11 hour flight from London/amsterdam/Paris people still like to open the window lides after the light in the cabin has been switched off. So bring a Sleepcover for your eyes. Earplugs also, because there will always be those who think that an 11 hour flight is the perfect place to start the vacation by drinking alcohol and chatting loudly. Washcloth: I use it to remove makeup and freshen up. It feels so nice to put cold water on your face after sitting in the dry plane air. Neckpillow: lifesaver! It looks ridicules, but its the best invention ever.
2: Sometimes you are lucky and other times you are not when it comes to plane food, but lets face it, it dosent really taste like anything. So bring a snack to eat in case the food gets too far below the standards of regular food.
3: Dress in layers, sometimes the plane is cold and other times its hot, therefor always dress both. Also always bring socks, it may sound stupid, but living in LA and often wearing sandales I have more than once forgot to put on or bring socks.. Plus, wearing socks can make you sleep better.
4: I know this is too much, but the plane air is so dry and always makes me break out. Bring a makeup remover and a facemask to clear your skin, and a eyecream and facial cream to keep it rehydrated. A BB cream is good since it provides coverage for your tired flight looking skin, plus hydration. Handcream and lipbalm is also necessary!
a bit extreme perhaps, but I hate flying and I always breakout after so these are the steps I have taken to survive.