Portland Downtown

Sailing in a sunny day

Yesterday, an Iranian family who lives near Portland invited me to join them going out for sailing, lunch and dinner. Hooorraaa! It was great!

Mount Hood

Today the sky was fully sunny and I could see the Mount Hood from my window. Fascinating!

Have you ever watched a movie in a swimming pool?

This is another funny thing I found here: watching movie in the pool ;)

College of Engineering Orientation

The first week in the US passed quickly and I know that the rest will pass quickly as well. I'm going to get used to live here.
Yesterday was the College of Engineering orientation. We had lots of orientations in the past week. I think they have worked well and I am now completely orientated ;)

Thank you all my friends for your visits and comments. Your support make me feel that I have some old frineds (from the April 2008) here in this country.

Chinese Girl

Outside The Walmart Shopping Center

Not a bad photo for today. I like this one. It reminds me we are not the only ones who enjoy life on the earth, but the flowers do too.

I had a very good day. I went to the Orientation and after that I went to DANCING! It was American Square Dancing! It was wonderful. There were lots of couples. Couples took their hands and circled around a hall and did some other movements that some of you, my American friends, may know what I am talking about. I had four partners during the different parts of the dance; the first one was an old woman around 70 years old (I wasn't lucky), the second one was another old woman around 60 (I wasn't lucky again), the third one was a not very beautiful Taiwani girl (I have to say I wasn't lucky again) and the last one was an American nice girl. Her name was Jennifer. This time I was lucky but only for two minutes. I'm kidding. I'm not such a bad boy. It was really interesting. I haven't ever had a similar experience before. Have you ever had? Square dancing in a group of near 100 people?

Green Hills in Portland

When I open our room window in the dorm, I see this beautiful scene. Today we will have an orientation. Lunch will be served too. I'll meet several of new students; a good chance to make some new friends.

Good to know that I've made several friends upto now: Geetanjali (India), several Chinese girls (I can never remember their name except one: Shan Shan), Jessica (Denver), Megan (Washington DC), Nikolas (He didn't say where he is from but he is American), Richard, Melica (Turkey), a Russian girl, and Simone (the assistant of 12th floor of the dorm). I don't know why American boys are not as warm as the girls here that I cannot communicate with them as easy as girls.
It's so interesting for me to experience an American dorm's life that I only saw in some films. I saw several funny things today. A group of boys and girls playing guitar and jazz in the elevator going down and up; they were really crazy I think. They called themselves the floor 8th music band. I also saw a boy with an strange beard who played some unknown loud sounds like a song with his mouth and his breath, like DOOF DOOF, BAAP BAAP and ... He was funny.

I have to add my colleagues in the LAB also: Josh, Alex, Michael, and Rolando (all American), Huan, Ocean and Lisa (China), and Rafael (Mexico).

I don't know why when anyone asks me where I am from and I tell him/her that I'm from Iran, he/she says WOW, IRAN! Maybe it's surprising for them to see an Iranian guy in the US.

I'll talk about the differences and similarities of life in the US and life in Iran later. Just let me experience some more days.

Saturday Market

Saturday Market is hold every saturday at South Park Blocks in PSU. I found it interesting and good place to buy fruites and vegetables.

Guys, thanks so much because of your kind notes and welcoming comments. Unfortunately as the classes and working in the LAB begin, I'm afraid I couldn't find enough time to reguraly visit your blogs and make some comments. I will try to do it at least once a week.

Over the Willamette River

Last night I went walking for a few hours in the river side. It was really enjoyable and cool.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

This is the college of engineering building where the ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) LAB is located. I'll work in the LAB as a research assistant.

University Place

Portland State University Hotel: Here is where I stay for the first night in Portland.
Hello United States, Hello Portland!