After just over a month on exchange at UC Berkeley, everything sort of settles down into a routine. Sort of. There's certainly the daily neccesities, like dinner at CZ (the house where I live), which is a little like the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan, except with food. Or walking to uni every weekday, about a block away. Or the stupid annoying details like paying bank bills, mobile phone issues, running out of contact lens solution, etc. etc. Dealing with these things lets you know you are still alive. But, before my description of exchange life gets too dreary, I guess I should mention some of the things that let you know you are definitely not in Sydney anymore..
The awesome city of San Francisco is a short 30 minute train ride away, which provides endless opportunities for entertainment. Even better than wandering around town with other equally clueless exchange students is being shown some of the cooler spots by some local friends. From underground art expos, to music festivals, or critical mass, a mass voyage of bicycles through the city streets on the last friday of every month. Such a cool town.
One un-Sydney-like institution which is prominent in Berkeley is the Co-Op. This is a kind of throw-back to the hippie days of yore in which Berkeley was a hub for civil rights and free speech protest and demonstrations. A co-op can have several functions, be it housing, fixing bicycles, or even sailing boats; but the general idea is that everyone bands together to share skills and resources, reducing the cost to all and creating a spirit of community. The house I live in is a Co-Op, so there is an incredible atmosphere of community; and I am a member of the Cal Sailing Co-Op, so I get to sail on the San Francisco bay whenever I like, which is cool.
In terms of the university itself, the campus is incredibly beautiful, with many of my walks between classes taking me through pine forests, and past willow trees, none of which is hurt by the neo-classical architecture of many of the buildings. Apart from its aesthetic, UC Berkeley has a reputation for being the top public university in the United States, and it is often claimed, in the world. As such, the school is populated by incredibly highly qualified faculty and ambitious students. This is reflected in a fairly high (though not as yet unmanageable) academic standard, with a significant expectation on the students to study the material largely independently. Other than keeping up with classwork, I have initiated a small research project with one of the math professors, which seems quite exciting, so I'll let you know how that goes.
But I think my clothes are finished in the dryer so I better get back to it!
Cheers for now
Adam