I know it seems a little odd, but it was so nice of him to do it and I appreciated it a lot. On Friday I was told he was coming Monday, so I didn't have much time to stress about what to do. It all worked out well in the end.

I rode BART all the way to San Fran airport, which is quite a trip. Then Dad drove us back to Berkeley in this huge American car with the greatest Sat Nav system I've ever seen. Even a child could use it, it was so simple. Dad was staying in San Fran, in a hotel on one of the main streets, so he and I wandered through town a couple of times having a look around. He saw a lot more without me, as obviously I had class in the build-up for exams, which start very soon. I had to quickly re-schedule a final exam from the Wednesday morning (when Dad and I went up to Sacramento) to the Tuesday before (luckily the SSgt who controls that class wasn't to fussed.) I got an A, which is a shame because I took it pass/not-pass. Oh well, such is life. He gave me American rat packs, which is nice, but I'm a little afraid of eating them. We'll see...

Sacramento was misty, and I had a doctor’s appointment there. I also got up really, really early after going to bed late. The combination of these factors meant I didn't really look around much while I was there, but I did enjoy a home-made sandwich with Dad before a breakfast Parfait and a cup of tea in McDonalds.

I also had a military ball on Wednesday because it was a pretty full-on day. Dad and I went up to Macy’s to get a Bow-Tie, because Dad had left his black one at home, and it was interesting seeing the psychology of selling. The man at the first store we went to had no intention of helping us – I looked like a Uni student and dad was wearing a serviceable, but hardly Christine Dior, jumper. This is obviously stupid – Dad was going to spend money, and since he doesn’t like to shop if they give him a good pitch he’ll probably buy it. They lost out – their customer service didn’t compare to my little sisters’ – so we went down the street and got one from a place where the person was marginally more interested in us.

The military ball was fun. I was on a tight timetable already – I got back from class at 1730 and the ball started at 1800 – but there was an accident on a bridge in San Fran and Dad was a few minutes late. I was wearing my full Patrol-Reds, the formal uniform of the Corps of Officer Cadets, and looked pretty good. I also had a New Zealand flag to present. Dad always looks good in his dinner jacket, but he has an unfair advantage in that he goes to more of these things than me and knows how to make small talk. Luckily I didn’t need small-talk past ‘I’m from New Zealand! Look how red my uniform is!’ and other similar comments. They thought I was pretty flaky I think, but that’s cool. Dinner was nice – beef and stuff like that, and the company was good. We saw a sword arch (it wasn’t very good, but it’s hard to hold a sabre out above your head for a long time like they were forced to, so hats off to them), heard a good speech from a Brigadier (he saw I was in the audience and changed his speech to include Phil Goff’s nephew who was killed in Iraqi a few months ago.) and then it was my turn. I was supposed to go up onto the podium and make a speech about something and then give the flag to the Lt. Col, but she didn’t stand up to get the flag, she stayed at the table. So I simply walked up to the top table and started to ramble at her. I said something about New Zealander’s and Americans fighting together, how we were friends and how I had no doubt they’d look after our flag. They liked it – I am so lucky. It was pretty simple and was big on the nervous babbling, but the Americans seemed to appreciate that it was sincere. Dad (in his cynicism) was surprised. I had a really good night anyway – the Golden Bears gave me a Commander’s Coin, which I have to carry with me, and if I don’t have it when they check I have to buy everyone a round of beer. Fair enough!

Today was great, until I left my backpack in Dad’s rental car and he drove off to the airport with it. Hmmm. I’ll get it tomorrow, but I was stressed there for a while until I went to the gym with my friend, who is also stressed. I feel tired now.

Tomorrow:
Get Backpack with all my notes and my cellphone in it
Talk to Marine Guy about Marine Corps in America
Talk to SSgt Smith about SSgt Smith’y stuff (he’s a great guy)

I think I was supposed to talk to either the Navy guy or the Air force guy as well... I’ll find out. Cheers for reading guys

See you in six weeks

written by  Crosswood on December 7, 2007 from Sacramento, United States
from the travel blog: New Zealand Student, American University.
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You do have your flakey moments. Well 6 weeks huh? Man i said to Tara today "wait, you're brothers birthday, but wasn't that a couple of months ago, with your poor cat?" to which she reply "No Bex, that was a year ago"...

yeah, i worry sometimes

written by  Rebecca Harris on December 7, 2007

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Thanks for the update - I'm heading off to pick up Ken so I'll be able to anticpate what he is going to say he has done.....

written by  Mum on December 7, 2007

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Ken said your speech was REALLY good - not flakey as you described it. I am pleased all is going well and we hope that you managed to get your bag.

written by  Juliet on December 9, 2007

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