I am moving to Paris

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

For those who follow me on Instagram you already know this, but for those who dont: I am moving to Paris this summer.

I am attending Sciences Po in Paris to take a french language course to prepare for my masters which I hopefully will be taking in Paris. I am super excited!

Classes start July 1st and goes on until the 27th. It is 76 hours a week (… more than a average working week) so this will be interesting and very intense, however, I hope I will learn some french and also be able to take a step into the Sciences Po system:)

Au Revoir,

Chris

Apartment and Roommate Finder in LA

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

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

Free food at usc

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

Hey babes (as we say here in the us)

I am doing a little experiment on myself right now. Due to my current financial situation and wanting to save money I have decided to only eat food that the school offers for free.

My PE teacher told me that last semester one of his students eat free food on campus everyday by joining different clubs, lectures and discussions that offered food. So I have decided to do the same. Three days into it I understand that it can actually be done.. if you eat whatever you can get..

On monday the gateway (students apartment) offered free donuts so I ended up eating eating donuts the whole day, together with free coffee, tea, cocoa and orange juice. It went surprisingly fine actually, despite feeling a little sick after three sugary donuts.

Yesterday was sandwiches at the same place! They offered every kinds: tuna, roastbeef, salami, chicken, vegan etc! Best day so far!

Gatway again: Today on the other hand.. muffins… after two banana muffins and a blueberry I feel sick… and not even full. I feel as if my teeth as deteriorating and I have this awful headache (which might be because of the large amounts of coffee I am drinking to..). In addition, I actually missed a free lunch at the tutor hall, which pobably would be much better than these sugar palm oil high-fructose xanthan muffin.

tomorrow is granola bars according to the calendar .. which they just took down from the board.. (does that mean they are not serving anymore?)

sincerely,

Hungry student

oppdatering

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

At LA er en annen verden er det ingen tvil om og alt som har skjedd i det siste bevitner det samme. Jeg har ikke skrevet et innlegg på veldig lenge og jeg er litt lei av å skrive:”sorry dårlig blogging, LOVER å bli bedre, ÆRESORD!” …

Jeg har ikke skrevet på lenge fordi jeg har vært gjennom en litt vanskelig periode hvor litt for mye dessverre skjedde på en gang. Men nå er alt MYE bedre! Jeg har flyttet inn i ny leilighet like ved skolen sammen med to kjempe fine mennesker som alltid møter meg med et smil når jeg kommer hjem. Leilighets komplexet der jeg bor nå heter Orsini og er en del av et stort selskap som bygger “luksus” – leiligheter. Betaler 700 dollar for å bo her i måneden og til gjenngjeld får jeg boltre meg blandt: To basketballbaner, en golfbane, tre svømmebasseng (hvorav et er inne), jacuzzi, volleyball bane, badstu, stort treningsrom, resepsjon, 24 timers sikkerhet, soldekk, solarium, massage rom, egen park osv. Dessverre ligger stedet rett ved China Town hvor man ikke skal bevege seg etter at det blir mørkt, så når jeg slutter på skolen kl 6.30 og skal hjem før mine roommates (som har bil) så er det ganske skummelt å gå her. Uansett så trives jeg veldig bra!

Jeg har også kommet med på et sommerprogram med skolen min i Europa, var blandt 20 stk som ble plukket ut til å delta på en 5 ukers rundreise til London, Paris, Istanbul og Praha. Jeg er litt usikker om jeg skal takke ja eller ikke, og ser derfor på språk skole i samarbeid med Sciences Po i Frankrike. Nå som jeg bare har 1 år og 2.5 måneder igjen av min bachlor er jeg nødt til å begynne å se på hvor jeg skal ta min master og valget har falt på frankrike, helst Paris og Sciences Po, derfor har jeg begynt å lære meg litt fransk.

Jeg håper alle har det bra der hjemme i Norge! Har hørt det er fryktelig kaldt!

OG BTW: jeg har ikke svart på noen mail på ca en måned pga alt som skjedde, itillegg har mailen min fått virus så hvis du sendte mail etter den 7ende februar så ber jeg deg sende en ny mail til nielsenc@usc.edu

kyss, klapp og klem,

Chris

Det går mot varmere dager…

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

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

sweet ashley with her new bike

Back to School

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

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!

How to survive a long distance flight

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Life in LA by Christine

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:

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.