My second day in Irvine

I finally has some mental space to do creative work such as blogging. Just yesterday, everything was frantic.

This is my second day in Irvine. Actually barely 25 hours. I arrived at 325pm at the housing office, where I need to check in my apt. Before that, I need to pay for the rent at the cashier. I was told that cashier closed at 330pm! I have 5 mins to 'run' a long way! The kind reception gave the cashiers a call and I started running.

Actually I probably read that 330pm thing somewhere. But that's the only timing for my flight. I probably kept my finger crossed when I need to make a decision whether to stay over in LA for one night or head to UCI from airport.

I ran the wrong way! I asked someone again and he gave me a direction. And again, its the wrong way! It takes another runner who lives at Palo too to tell me the way. I arrived at 345pm, dejected and planning to stay at a nearby hotel for the night.

Actually a lot of things went through my mind. "Can I get an exception and pay tomorrow?" "Why don't they build more road signs so that I can follow the map better?" Talking about following the law, often time Americans are stricter than Singapore. But its different environment. While they follow laws, kind folks lend their hands by going the extra miles.

The office is closed, but another kind lady waited for me after the call. I paid in cash and got the papers done. I got the apartment keys. I finally got to open the door about 5-530pm. There are two pieces of USPS failed shipment leaflets outside the door. My electronics probably couldn't arrive on time. The apartment is empty but looks ok. Carpet flooring as the norm in US, and room is pretty cool. One room is totally west facing so felt quite hot at this time.

I checked through quickly to look for damages. The old blinds have pieces fallen off. But its ok. ...But there is no lights in the bedrooms!

Another US 'feature,' no lights in the bedrooms. This also happens at the last place I rented. It didn't have much impression on me as someone already helped me found a table lamp. Now then I remember that guy!

I looked into my luggage for power supply to my laptops, cellphones, and wireless router. I couldn't find my power supply adapter. Singapore uses 3-pin rect plug. US uses 2 flat pins. Without power, I will be ex-communicated in 3 hours (when my batt die).

Now I am in an interesting situation. Phone and laptops potentially out of batt tomorrow. I will need adapter soon. But my adapters are in my failed shipment, which I will need to make phone calls to rearrange. My cellphone is Singapore registered and bills will be astronomical. So I can only make the call from housing office, if they lend it to me. I can get new adapters, which nobody sells in the vicinity. I can buy online, which I need my laptop.

I tried calling with my cellphone but the person puts my on hold for so long that I have to give up. I finally call my wife in the middle of the night to help me call from Singapore, which is way cheaper than I call from US. They finally agreed to deliver the next day.

I need to buy or rent furniture too, which Corts have catalogs online. But they need a phone number to contact me. They also charges $250 for delivery of a bed. I cannot go and buy a car now as I require a driving license and social security number. To get a driving license I need to read up the highway code online and do a test. To obtain social security number I need papers from the school. These problems go in circles.

Then I remembered my Master thesis on communication and mobility, which enables all other activities. So true. I am facing potential breakdown in communication which everything will die off. I have limited mobility in US as I cannot buy a car so soon.

I am so happy later today to find a shopping district beside the campus. It has T-Mobile and Sprint, althought Sprint is closed. I got a T-Mobile prepaid, which is such a relive. I chatted with the assistants, whom from nowhere took out a power adapter converter for me! It was such a pleasant surprise! My life got empowered again!

What happen next? I felt like writing my blog!