Random thoughts on Week 1

Yes, I have been in LA for 10 days now - can you believe it? Whoever you are reading this? Well, I can't believe it. I moved out of my apartment Wed. the 5th, flew here on the 6th, went to Malibu on the 7th, four days of a retreat there, and started full-time class upon returning. Eight straight days of FILLING my brain with absolutely fascinating things. The faculty here is so interesting and inspiring and WISE - I don't think we've stumped them yet. They know everything, basically. I cannot get over this place, the feeling of feeling honored just to be here. It's overwhelming because I meet my classmates and the faculty and think - oh my God. I don't belong with these people - through what hole in the time/space continuum did my application slip through? But, self-deprecation aside, I am thrilled to be learning all that I'm learning. I love to be a student (I know, geeky teacher-thing to say), and to be learning about movies and television - well, there is just nothing that could get my attention faster and more completely.

We saw Pirates 2 last night at the El Capitan theater on Hollywood Blvd. What a spectacle - there was before-the-show entertainment, an organist that played every cool movie theme you know by heart, a cool hologram/3D effects kind of deal right before the movie came on... surprisingly, the acoustics were not very good in there (or my hearing is just shot) but I missed a lot of the dialogue, which was kind of necessary in understanding the story, so - I think I'm going to have to see it again to really get the most out of it. But watching it in that theater with a very enthusiastic, savvy audience - it was definitely worth going.
This week holds many more classes, of course, and I'm hoping to do some more of the fun stuff around town. Last night on Hollywood Blvd. was definitely an opportunity for people-watching like you can do no where else!

Of course, the thoughts churning underneath all the excitement of the cool stuff I'm learning is: Do I have what it takes to move here? To try it? I thought I would know within the first week - I'd have that intuitive thing I have where I would "just know" that I belong here. And I'm kind of surprised (and disappointed, really) that it's not just a gut decision. There's a lot more to it. But I'm not feeling rash or flippant - the retreat in Malibu really set up the month as a spiritual journey as much as an academic one, and I am all ears right now. Believe you me. I know that I really want to move here, and I can't really place what is holding me back other than just good ol' fashioned fear. Unpack that as your knowledge of me deems appropriate.

Thanks for calling and writing and keeping me feeling loved and cared for. :) I've met some cool people here, aand I've got to say God really knew what He was doing when he coincided Autumn's makeup course with Act One - she has been a blessing to me not only bc she's fun to live with, but also because she has just done the very thing that I'm wanting so badly to do: quit a "safe" job to "live the dream" that her life is meant to be. Ah, to have her courage. :)