What a mental busy day. Up at 7 and ready to start the new day. I knew the first day would all be about introducing us to the school and getting to know what's going on throughout the course. These first 4 weeks are all based around traditional makeup; everything from eyelashes, eyebrows, lips, colour, foundation, etc.. all of which I'm obviously well up to speed on.

After going through our brand spanking new vanity cases, finding out whether or not we'd got everything we'd paid for, there was a lecture regarding hygiene and what kit we would most likely need all the time on set. We also talked about the difference in skin types and sanitation. I've got it ALL written down, but I'm pretty tired and don't want to go into too much detail right now. The main reason I'm writing all this detail is so my Mum can keep track of me. She won't like the last bit...

In the afternoon, we got the chance to discuss, in smaller groups, the particular colours and themes that might be associated with certain seasons; ours was Winter. There was then a presentation from each group, which was rather unnerving, especially when you're one of only two men in a class of about 25.

Before the end of the class, we were taught the best way for plucking eyebrows, and the right shape to have. We were told to go home and pluck them in the correct way shown. Fortunately, me and Arthur, a 50 year old (rough guess) ex-aircraft engineer who was doing this for a $1,000 bet, didn't have to do this... unless we had monobrows. Luckily, I don't have one, though I'd like to have one to see what this eyebrow tweezing thing is all about, and to make use of my new tweezers.

Oh, also I have homework to do; to read several chapters of a book before tomorrow. This might not happen til just before we go through it.

Having been demasculated for seven hours, I had a two hour wait before my next class: a four hour session with Jim Kagel (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0434610/) on Creature Maquette Sculpture. Most of this evening's lesson was research into what we were going to create. A lot of the other students had already completed, or were still attending, other courses, whereas I'm still new to it all. At the end of the night, I now have the skeleton for which I will now create some kind of weird lookign creature. No idea what yet, but considering my favourite film is The Thing (a film Jim worked on), there may be some heavy influence from that.

Finishing just after 10 this evening, I didn't get home until just before 11 due to the bus dropping me off on the outskirts of Downtown LA (which is where I realise I'm actually staying; the school is in Koreatown), forcing me to walk another 15 minutes back through the ghetto and dodgy characters (they could be an influence on my sculpt) to my apartment, I am now shattered. I should also add that as I was a few blocks away from my apartment, a car approximately 100 yards up the road behind me, lost all control, careered across the road in all directions, drove into a shop I'd not moments ago walked past, foot still heavily on the accelerator for several minutes afterwards, and caused everyone to run out from their homes, and look. I was too tired for this, so carried on walking. (It's OK Mum. I'm still alive... barely!)

Only two more weeks, and I can go to bed at a proper time.

In all honesty, it was an amazing first day, and I'm genuinely looking forward to going back tomorrow (which is now today)... I think I'm just cranky...

The homework can wait. Night