Second day of university.

Today was an early start as I woke up at 5:50 AM. To maintain energy throughout the day, I had a Monster Zero Ultra, which helped keep me alert. Afterward, I took a long, relaxing shower, spending about 30 minutes enjoying the warmth. Once dressed, I prepared breakfast—a sandwich with fried egg, ham, and melted cheese. This particular meal has become a recent favorite, as it’s both satisfying and grounding, helping me feel more connected than usual.

I headed outside to wait for the bus, joining a group of fellow university students. After approximately 15–20 minutes, a small black bus arrived—not the yellow school bus I had anticipated. The bus was uncomfortable and unclean, but I managed to find the least unpleasant spot to sit. We arrived at the university just before 8:00 AM, with classes scheduled to run until 11:30 AM today.

For this day, I opted for a different outfit and hairstyle, clipping my hair back the previous evening to keep it manageable. Surprisingly, it looked presentable in the morning, so I decided to keep the style. I also forgot to bring my glasses, which seemed to confuse some students—they were trying to determine if I was the same person they’d seen before or someone entirely new.

The day’s class was more engaging than expected, taught by a professor who initially seemed strict but turned out to be approachable and knowledgeable. The class was intended to focus on computer literacy, but we ended up disassembling a computer tower and learning practical skills. The addition of five more students compared to the previous day made the class livelier and less silent, which was a welcome change.

After class, I was picked up, and we proceeded to complete some administrative tasks required by the college. While not particularly interesting, these tasks were necessary. Following that, we stopped for lunch and had burritos. I opted for a combo deal, as it was a Tuesday promotion, and my meal, which included a burrito, a small taco, a drink (7UP), and a churro, totaled $7.39.

While the food was enjoyable, the churro was overly fried and greasy, making it difficult to eat.

Later in the day, I went shopping for clothes and purchased four long-sleeve shirts, two pairs of cargo pants, and two pairs of shoes. While it felt good to refresh my wardrobe, the total cost of approximately $140 was a reminder of how expensive things have become. Reflecting on the purchase, I realized I might have saved money by shopping on platforms like Temu or AliExpress.

AliExpress, in particular, carries clothing in my favorite fashion style, mizuiro kaiwai, but the prices are often prohibitive. Jackets, for instance, can exceed $40, with shipping fees adding an additional $16 or more. If shipping is free, the product prices tend to be $70 or higher. Balancing affordability with personal style remains a challenge.