I am from Pleasant Hill which is right near Berkeley/Walnut Creek area. I know what you mean though about missing it up there. It took me awhile to adapt to life down here when i went to school. I pretty much hated SD the first year here and wanted to move back. I would always say that after I graduate I would move back. I graduated in '03 and im still here. Ive been here for 5 years now and I actually love it now, even though I miss The Bay like crazy. All my friends are still up there too which sucks, but you I look at it as a growing experience. Your still close enough to visit and its always nice having good friends coming down and visiting. I think my releationships with my friends are that much stronger. You'll be fine though, just give it time and you'll know what I mean.

Mmm. I know i am talking just by seeing your few pics (and they're not even nekkid! LOL), but honestly, this "plus sized" issue sounds so strange!

i mean, i find it amazing how a girl like you sees herself as "with curves" and says that she's bigger than the american standard. last time i checked, america was the first nation in terms of percentage of obese and overweight population, so who is exactly setting the standard?

i don't think here in italy we have a "larger" standard for ladies, you don't see a rubenesque girl int he street and say "oh, she's so thin", but, like, aiki is considered rather normal. maybe she may be considered a biy plump by someone, but no one would yell at her that's she's fat or anything. and a girl like you would fall in the "slim as a pole" category.

so, lol. it's just puzzling. and don't worry,it's just words. as long as you, as you said, enjoy your own body, that's the only thing that matters! and i am very sure that loads of people enjoy looking at your pics, so your ego will feed on that too

i just found the topic rather...curious.

ciao!

p.

ps: and get better soon!