Sitting with Strangers, Meditation, Transferring

Monday afternoon at Shoreline Park

Apparently, its considered weird to sit at a table with a stranger you don't know. I do it all the time because one, I don't like sitting alone and two, its nice to make a new friend. I was waiting for a friend, Vincent outside the West Campus Cafe and I decided I would sit at a table with someone, while I waited. I asked "Hey you don't mind if I sit here?" She said "No, its fine." This girl was studying and typing on her laptop. So my friend comes out and sits at the table with me. And later our friend Blair, whom we were meeting to study, comes over and sits. We discuss our days and complaints which results in laughter, I'm not sure what we were laughing about honestly. Vincent turns over to the girl, who we now took over her table, and says "Sorry we're being loud, wait so how do you know Kiki?" She says "I don't." Blair and Vincent look over at me and laugh hysterically, which makes me and the girl join in. After a few more moments there,we got up and headed to the library. They asked me while walking, "I can't believe you do that" and "That's so funny I've never heard of someone sitting with strangers". It's weird to think that's normal to me. 

Hey, one day your reading my blog and the next I'll be blogging about an awkward moment I had with you. Hahaha its likely. 

Wednesday Afternoon West campus 

The weather right now, in Santa Barbara, is teasing us. Right before my presentation for my American Literature class yesterday, my friend Alexia and I decided to relax on the grass and embrace the beautiful day. I laid down and closed my eyes, taking several deep breaths in and out. At that moment I felt peace.  I forgot about the monologue I had to do for acting and my decision of what would happen if I got accepted by San Francisco would I go? Am I ready to go? Well if I got accepted... All of those thoughts faded away and all I heard instead were students walking to class, birds chirping, and cars miles away. The sunlight felt so gentle on my skin, as if it was an innocent kiss. My day seem to be much easier after I took the time to mediate in the sun, but I wish I spent the day at the beach instead. Luckily, Spring Break is right around the corner! 

Ooooh also I got invited to take a campus tour of Channel Islands and meet other admitted students. Obviously, I'm there a lot so I'm probably gonna pass on that offer. I feel like the semester is going by really fast and soon I'll be moving to Camarillo and I decided if I get accepted to San Francisco State. I'll probably go there instead. Either way I'm transferring soon, which is crazy, but I think I'm ready for new experiences and to sit next to new strangers.

-KIKI REYES  

The Fear

When I was a HS Freshman
Before my fear of balloons

I have many fears, some silly, some similar to others, some that progressed over the years . For example, my fear of balloons. I never liked the violent sound they made when they popped, it would startle me. They're suppose to be a symbol of celebration until they explode in your face and for this reason I'm traumatized by balloons. Another fear of mine is being stuck in an elevator and I have to face it every time I go to the doctors or go to Paseo Nuevo with my friends and they decide to take the elevator from the parking structure up to CPK. I have always been afraid of elevators, but it wasn't until a certain movie that reestablished my fear of them. I will never be the same again.

This is lounging around at  SBCC

Okay in all seriousness, a fear I have been struggling with since I've been going to SBCC is the fear of not transferring on time. I always thought that after two years you HAVE to be done, no exceptions. Currently I will be finishing SBCC being few credits short. It's not like ten credits, its four. I am pretty close, but I won't be guaranteed to transfer by Fall 2014, but possibly Spring 2015. I went to a TAP counselor the other day and she told me to stop being so hard on myself. She said "Stop thinking about the credits and focus on school. Things happen for a reason, you know? It took me five years to finish here at city college, but time flies by. I finished here went to San Diego State and now I'm back here working. Everyone finishes on their own time." It clicked everyone finished on their own time. So I decided I'm going to conquer this fear and at least try to transfer by fall 2014, but if I don't I get to stay another semester at the beautiful Santa Barbara City College.  What's so bad about that?

-KIKI REYES