Another week in Malibu is now history!

It is exactly two weeks now, since I came to California. I am almost finding it hard to believe, as it seems like I have been here for ages. But, I have to convince myself that I have only been here for two weeks.

 I hate to begin this update of my adventures at Pepperdine with a sad story. But, as I promised to tell you everything that I deem necessary and worth knowing, I will go ahead and talk about the sad story. We began the semester with the tragic death of a freshman student. I do not feel comfortable disclosing his name right now. He was 18 yrs old, but he did not leave to sit in a college class. He endured all the long days of new student orientation, but he did not leave to experience and be a part of all that Pepperdine has to offer. Last Sunday night, the Pepperdine community held a memorial in honor of him. It was so amazing to see and hear what this young man's new friends at Pepperdine wrote about him. I could not help myself, but join everyone in mourning the tragic death of a young man. After the memorial service,  I was challenged to appreciate life even more: to appreciate every single second of my life, and everything that  I have in my life. My faith was re-affirmed that God is indeed the giver and taker of life. May his soul rest in peace.

It was 6.00A.M on Monday morning when I realized that I was awake. I had my alarm set for 6.30A.M, but I was annoyingly up earlier. I forced myself to sleep for another 30 minutes only to be disappointed further. Now that I could not go back to sleep, I got my Jesus calling and read it as usual.  While I read my devotional, I was so cold, but I soon found out that I had not closed the windows before I went to bed.  My classes were not scheduled to start until 9.00A.M, but I was ready to rock and roll by 7.20A.M. I thought that I was ridiculous, but some of my suite-mates were ready to go way earlier than that.  I could not wait for 9 o'clock for I was surely more than ready for the first day.

The first class was biology of animals. We went through the syllabus and immediately started covering some of the course material. I was shocked and disappointed in the professor, as I was used to going through only the syllabus on the first day of class.  I my mind, I was telling myself, "welcome to Pepperdine, Francis." The next class I had scheduled for the day was calculus 1. I unfortunately had to drop out this class, since I had not done trigonometry before. I ended up signing up for a trig class with the same professor. I had religion as my last class of the day.  I must say that I feel like I have been to Pepperdine for a year. I feel like I already know all my professors and many students as well. Just on Monday, I met many students who have been to Uganda. Just by introducing myself and saying that I come from Uganda, was enough to make me feel at home in my first biology class. I found out that day that the professor had been to Kenya and he knew so much about Uganda. A few students introduced me to their friends who had been to Uganda, or even told me about their own experiences in Uganda. I was feeling the Ugandan ambassador at Pepperdine!!! Uganda is famous!!!

Later on in the week,  I joined the micro finance club in which I was given a leadership position. I went to dinner with my mentor. I went swimming anytime my schedule allowed. I applied and interviewed for a job, but most of all, I am making friends and getting to know more people at pepperdine.

Now that I am done with all my homework, nothing is going to stop me, I am ready to go to the beach. I do not know where, but I am going!!!! I heard my suite-mates talk about Santa Barbra last night and my mentor told me about Labor day under sun.....Can I say NO????Really??? What would you say if you were in my shoes especially in Malibu???

I will be back soon, chao!