Let's try this again

So after lunch today, I spent my free time writing this long, amazing entry, and then the lovely computers here at MMC somehow lost it. ARGH. With the possibility of this attempt being a failure as well, please excuse the brevity of this entry.

*Breathe* I'm here.

I'm here at MMC in California.

It wasn't until the plane was descending into Long Beach that it finally hit me that I was actually doing this. I looked out the window and saw all of these buildings and palm trees and haze in the air and suddenly my heart leapt! I starting grinning and bouncing (internally anyway) like a three year old at Disneyworld. I had a window seat for the flight to San Jose, and I literally spent the entirety with my face pressed to the glass, looking at the mountains below. They were BIG and so jagged and some even had snow- nothing like the rolling hills of Maine. They were like scars on the earth's surface and so brown and dry most of the time. I really felt like a three year old... I saw the wonder in everything around me. And it continued even during the drive from San Jose to the mountain. The trees are so BIG and the forests so dense. The road coming up the mountain was treacherous and brought my lust of small sportscars to mind.

The center is 2000 up on a mountain and has great views of the city and ocean below, though it wasn't until mid day today that I ever saw the city because of the intense fog that rolls in. At night you can hardly see your hand in front of your face, and it is really quite cold. Much colder than Maine. I wore jeans and a sweatshirt until almost noon today. Quite lovely really- not a cloud in the sky.

All 8 of the YSCers are staying in a building called Forest View. We each have our own (very nice) rooms and we share a bathroom with one other person. There is a kitchen and community space that is just lovely- it's really much more than I had expected. The 8 of us range in age from 20 to 43, and some live just a few hours away, and I seem to have traveled the furthest from Maine. I am so interested and intrigued by them... I'm looking forward to learning about who they are and where they come from.

I had my first asana class this morning at 6:30. It's a very different style than what I am accustomed to, but I think I can learn a lot if I can keep a good attitude. On Tuesdays and Thursdays there will be a two hour class for the YCSers that studies pranayama, meditation and asana. I'm extremely interested in incorporating the first two into my practice as I am a newbie in those areas. Nearly every day there is an opportunity for me to fit in 2 classes, even with my work schedule! There's also a weekly philosophy class that I intend to attend. So much to learn here...

The food is totally adequate- better than expected. I'm the only vegan in the YSC group, but I'm sure there are many in the community that I have not met as of yet.

It's only my second day and I feel like time is going too fast...

If you'd like to snail mail me, you can just use my name and this address:

445 Summit Road
Watsonville, CA
95076

Namaste!