Week 3
July 4th Celebrations
This year, July 4th falls on a Monday which meant that we had the day off from school to soak in the festivities and celebration. It was a fun-packed day for many of us as we travelled to San Francisco to explore the area. In the morning, we drove to the San Francisco Premium Outlets to satisfy our shopping needs. Most of the shops there were offering huge discounts because of the holiday – Adidas was having a 50% off all items!
(Pro-tip: If you have a driver’s license, consider signing up for the Zipcar membership for affordable car rentals; it’s useful if you want to drive to nearby cities for day trips)
In the evening, we headed towards the heart of San Francisco where we caught a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge before the fog came in. (Always check the fog weather forecast before planning your trip). As dusk fell, we arrived at Fisherman’s Wharf to grab dinner and catch the July 4th fireworks display. (Beware of the exorbitant parking prices in the area on this day)
It’s Time For Some Adventure
Stanford Summer Session holds frequent paid day trips for students and this time we were able to secure tickets to California’s Great America.
On other days, we also headed back to Arillaga Outdoor Education and Recreation Centre to play badminton. (it’s on a first come first serve basis so do come early as the courts fill quickly)
A Taste of Home
As much as we enjoy our meals at the dining hall, one day we decided that we wanted to eat Mala Xiang Guo so we went to buy the items at the closest Asian supermarket (99 Ranch Market has a good offering of a wide variety of Asian grocery). We had a hearty supper and the aroma drew the attention of other IHP students as they all tried samples of this spicy dish.
Mid-Terms are coming soon; homework and assignments are trickling in but we hope to make the most out of our remaining time here!
