I have met too many people from CMU so far! (I keep forgetting their names. Sobby.) Although I complained about how the Pittsburgh adults were unhelpful, it seems that people around my age are consistently friendly people (maybe their high tuition is wearing on them). I met several students from my program (most of which I don\’t remember the names) and a retired professor who is the friend of a friend of my neighbor back in Lafayette. My mom had talked to the retired professor before asking if she would take my two boxes. When I got the two boxes down to the professor\’s car, she asked if I would like to spend some time with her (to my surprise). So she drove me around the Pittsburgh neighbor, emphasizing how I should live in Squirrel Hill and not Shadyside (because it\’s \”boring\”). Then she invited me into her house for a cup of tea (instead she served me water) and we sat on the porch. That entire day was slightly disorienting because I didn\’t sleep enough and wore myself down by walking over 5 miles in 90 minutes.

What bothers me much about Pittsburgh (besides the obvious impending cold winters) is that…the city isn\’t as environmentally-conscious or health-conscious. Coming from California, I expected that there be recycling available, but in all the apartments/houses I have seen there are none! Paper/cans/bottles all get thrown in the same bin as trash. When I was walking up and down Murray, I couldn\’t find a single juice bar! No Jamba Juice or Juice Stop here. :( There were just a lot of pizza places as well as bars. Nothing that healthy.

Today, I was taken on a tour from a student in my program. I got to admit the campus is somewhat better than that of Berkeley\’s. Although CMU is significantly smaller, the buildings are nicer (probably because it\’s a private university) and there is a real university center (almost similar to Price Center of UCSD). As we were crossing the street to an Indian restaurant, the students I was with suddenly saw that the program advisor was inside. They immediately tried to go the other way. But the advisor noticed them and they had to say hi. I asked one of the students why we didn\’t want to eat in the same restaurant as faculty and she said, \”Because we will talk frankly.\” Eventually, we (me and four mchi students) ate lunch at this Middle Eastern restaurant called Ali Baba. And the lunch was charged to the department, to my surprise. Too bad, I didn\’t order more. :) What\’s weird is that everyone at the table ordered a glass of coke (except me of course I stuck to my glass of ice water). Soda is too fizzy and too much sugar! Where are my smoothies!?

EDIT: I found a smoothie shop on the top floor of the University Center. :D I am now happy.