October 8, 2005, 8:57pm

Gators!

And the cheerleaders!!!

Went to the UF Homecoming parade yesterday. It's just in the University Avenue, one-minute walk away from my apartment.

It's such a huge event here. The street was blocked for the parade to proceed. People brought their chairs to sit down on the sidewalk waiting to see the floats -- decorated vehicles.

Homecoming is that, alumni are coming back. The senators, military, Korean War veterans, police, fire rescue, Red Cross, high schools, businesses... were all in the parade.

This really makes me to think about the civic society. A university event is not simply a university event here.

He's from the local horse-riding farm, a local business.

I don't know what this is. Perhaps another local business.

Well, Carmen, you know, I was thinking, when we have already seen the processions for the Queen's Golden Jubilee and for Queen Mother's funeral, it's like, the parade here is simply not comparable.

But in London, there wouldn't be Mr. McDonald in the Queen's procession, I suppose.

They do have queens here: Miss Florida and Miss UF.

Lillian, when you come visit me, for sure we'll have to find out what you'll have to do with downtown!

Rarely would there be any large crowds of people here, except when it's the football game Saturdays. So, it's a big time for businesses selling candies, whatever. And the photoshop is advertizing here by taking photos for free.

In the evening it's the Gator Growl. I don't know what that is. Just learnt that it's the nation's largest pep rally. I would love to go next year. I was simply working on my statistics assignment and only had a glimpse of the firework from the window of my apartment for two seconds.