If you're going to San Francisco&

Last year when I chose San Francisco State University, little did I know what a blessed choice I had made! San Francisco is a city of creative people and there's no better place for literati to study. I think it's the nature of California that makes this place so inspiring - mountains, the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge (it's become a part of nature already), and original people from all over the globe.

San Francisco is a really cool place to study. Judge yourselves. Once after a hard three-hour seminar I decided to go for the first time to watch a free movie on the third floor of our student cultural center. It was a new Harry Potter movie. I've already seen it before, so I just relaxed thinking more of my tomorrow's seminar than of Harry's relationship with Hermione. In the midst of my meditation someone started fiercely shaking my chair. I turned back in surprise - and saw… nobody! Meanwhile, everyone rushed to the exit. It was my first experience of an earthquake. Maybe it was also the first time that I appreciated walking outside so much. I hesitated to go to my apartment on the eighth floor. However, it was late and I went home. I understood that restless view of my cat waiting for me by the window. He looked like it was the first earthquake experience for him too.

By the way, about cats… Not so long ago a Siberian tiger escaped from the local zoo and killed two youngsters before the police killed her. I often walk in that area since I live a few blocks from the zoo. I remember that I imagined a possible meeting with Tatyana (that was the tiger's name). What would I do? Climb a tree? Run away? I doubt it. I don't think the fact that my sister's mane is the same would help either. Maybe we would find a common language since, after all, we're from neighboring countries? They say there are many other exotic animals left, that's why I try always to carry some snacks with me. Just in case.

But back to the university… Briefly put, I enjoy it. They say it's a low-budget university. I don't know. Of course, it's noticeable in comparison with the adjacent Stanford or Berkeley universities (very convenient, by the way - you can participate in their conferences and other academic activities actually staying at home). Okay, architecture is not so great here, but the rest is just the same.

We have superb devoted professors. They are very respectful. It seems you can call them home at midnight and ask a clarification for a chapter from Kant's “Critique of Judgment.” Certainly, I'm not planning to do this, but you get the idea…

Students work very hard. They never miss a class. Students are also very active. You would never describe them as being annoyed by classes (even at the end of the semester). They are very open-minded and friendly. The only thing I can't get used to is eating during class. I don't mean just soda and donuts (though I can hardly imagine it at home)… However, when I am concentrating on a Shakespeare's quatrain and someone opens hot soup with steaming pasta, it's… well, at least it changes the train of thought from literature to gastronomy…

The library system here is awesome. If a book is not available in our library, you can get it through interlibrary loan. I never lack books. And, most important, our university leads in the number of international students. Yeah, you can make friends with students from whatever country you wish. It's the cultural capital no budgets can buy.

No, no, I didn't say everything is perfect. Many Ukrainians live with the post-Soviet stereotypes about Americans. But there are people here who think in stereotypes of the past as well. A typical example: once I met a mature student from Santa Barbara. I said that I'm from Ukraine and that most people in the former USSR know her city because of the famous serial. In a moment she asked: “So how's it going in Russia now?” It looks like it'll take some time for the former USSR to be associated exclusively with Russia.

Another example is my conversation with a Socialist activist on campus who was recruiting people to propagate Lenin's ideas. We had a little discussion on why I think they shouldn't waste their time on this ideology and suggested that at least they read A History of Ukraine by O. Subtelny. She promised to contact me later. I never saw her among the socialists on campus again.

Besides education per se, such discoveries are extremely valuable for me. We discover Americans, they discover us. Two semesters here have passed, two more ahead. I'm sure that the time will continue to be full of discoveries…