I enjoy living in my new place, but there a few inconveniences that arise when living on-campus, off-site. While it helping me to remember to write lists of everything I need, so I don't forget my homework at home, and think that it fantastic to actually live on Pacific Coast Highway, it is getting to campus that's the trouble.
1. The Shuttle, which I understand is working out it's kinks, is often late, and which makes me either very early or slightly late to my first class.
2. Biking. Fantastic during the day, not so premium for my sight in the nighttime.
3. Walking. Fantastic during the day, not so premium for my general safety and well being in Long Beach in the nighttime.
4. Driving
A. Driving. People are crazy drivers here. No one signals. I don't understand that. I appreciate the pleasant and familiar tock-tock of my blinker. Plus, it's one more button to push. Fun! And, to all of you tail-gaters, you make me drive slower, not faster, so there.
B. Driving Part 2: Jaywalkers like to frequent Atherton, just past the grocery store. I don't know why they congregate right on that quarter-mile stretch of road, but it's not ok. You stress me out. You too, bicyclists. You know what? I waited to get my driver's license, and that gave plenty of time to study. I know the rules of the road. I knew them when I was a pedestrian, AND I followed them. They aren't difficult. The general idea is to know when you have the right of way, and if you don't have the right of way, don't step in front of a very quickly moving vehicle that is at least 5 times your size. Thank you, pedestrians and bicyclists that stop at red lights, I value your patience.
C. Parking. Parking lots are not pretty, and parking structures are way sketchy. But, I need to get to class, and it's not fun to have to drive to class just to find out that I have to walk from Lower Campus to the South Turnaround, which takes almost as much time as walking from my apartment, so more parking options might be better. Shows me for smogging up the air to drive to school.
D. Hit & Runn-ers. They are bullies and though I know that accidents happen, I do not appreciate their antics. Oliver is still embarrassed about the dent and hole you left in his bumper. A band-aid will not fix this booboo.