I left my heart...

in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars
Climb halfway to the stars!
And the morning fog will chill the air

I don't care.

When I come home to you, San Francisco,
Your golden sun will shine for me!
* * * * * *
Exactly one year ago today, I landed in San Francisco about to embark on what I considered "the study abroad that I never went on." You see, I grew up and went to college in the Midwest, the greater Chicagoland area to be exact. As a young adult in the Midwest, I felt that there was more out there that I wanted to see, more that I wanted to do. So I headed to NYC to get my masters. Despite the effects of the on-the-go, in-your-space lifestyle, I still loved that city. I loved the culture. I loved the diversity. I saw myself living in NYC for the greater part of my adult life.

But then, life happens. A great professional opportunity arose for me: a one-year position in San Francisco that would give me freedom to apply to doctoral programs. My entire life, I had *never* considered living on the West Coast. Isn't that for really laid back people who say "dude" a lot? I had just begun to get settled in NYC, finally adjusted to the urban life, established relationships, had professional connections. In SF, I had two friends and zero relatives. But I decided to follow my gut and throw myself into a completely unpredictable year.

I won't lie. The first five months or so, I had a strong disdain for SF. I made constant comparisons to NYC, and SF always came up short. I bemoaned the seeming necessity of a car. MUNI couldn't hold a candle to the MTA. Businesses close so early! The food is so fussy! Bourgie people with their organic produce and cage-free eggs!

As I got over the adjustment hump, I realized that I had been unfair and naive in comparing SF to NYC. It's like comparing Fujis with Navels. So, I stopped complaining and sought to embrace all the wonderful unique things that SF has to offer. This meant pushing myself to take risks and try things I had never considered before. I became active on Yelp, a robust community that could only flourish like it has in a city as open-minded as SF. I met and became friends with people from different walks of life, learning something new from each and every one of them. I reaped the culinary and cultural benefits living in a city with the largest Asian population in the US. I took in the wonders of Nature at Muir Woods, in wine country, and even just walking around Russian Hill. I acquainted myself with the many different neighborhoods, appreciating the character and cultural differences in each one (the Mission and the Richmond being my favorites). I learned that people don't just buy organic to be pretentious but to support the local agricultural industry...and that everything from the Farmer's Market really does look, smell, and taste better! I realized that business close early because people truly value quality of life! And maybe I wanted that too...a life where I am not struck with Seasonal Affective Disorder every year, a life where I actually get out and enjoy myself instead of fighting the crushing of my soul.

Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with San Francisco and the Bay Area. Of course, like any city, it has its pros and cons. But, ironically, for a place I had never seen myself living in, I have never felt more like "myself"- a happier, more open-minded, easy-going, extroverted, nature-loving person that I had never even known possible. As I move on to this next phase of my life, I take a piece of SF with me in my heart. Yes, I am very sad to be away, but I take comfort in knowing that one day I will return to the city that my soul calls Home.

San Francisco Sights

Over the last two weeks, I have been fortunate to have Jon and Elaine come visit me back to back. It was so wonderful to share this great city with them, and even better to spend time with old friends. Reflecting on how hectic things were the last two weeks, I am amazed at how I was able to play Tour Guide. Who knew that in such a short time living here, that I would be able to give neighborhood tours and eating excursions! It is true that I have made a concerted effort to try to get the most out of the Bay Area during this little stopover before the big move to MN.

It has been a rough time adjusting to such a different lifestyle here in SF, but I am now quite sad to leave it. There's really no city like it, and it is unfair to compare it to NYC. Living out here has helped me to discover parts of myself that I would have never explored otherwise. I've become attuned to how much I treasure being in nature, serene and unfettered from the trifles of my ego (see pic a Right of Muir Woods). I never thought I would be someone to like hiking and trail-making! I realized how much I enjoy creative outlets like photography, crafts, and writing. Perhaps it is coincidental that these realizations have all occurred in my first(and possibly last!) year out of school, but I also think that there is something about San Francisco that has brought out the best in me. There's an energy to this place that makes me want to explore these different sides of myself. Being in NYC, I felt like the environment was one that was bordering soul-crushing. In SF, on the otherhand, I feel like my soul is being liberated.

Anyway, back to the Tour Guide business...I made it a point to show my guests around SF as a local, exploring neighborhoods and hidden gems rather than hitting up the usual touristy spots. We spents lots of time in the Mission, the Inner Richmond (my neighborhood), North Beach, Russian Hill. We even drove out to wine country (see pic at Left) for a whole day. I had so much fun taking J and E around the city, showing them my favorite places to eat, browse around for tsochkes, and just plain wander around. While I think that J was a little less convinced (he must have been going through the adjustment of the quiet of SF as opposed to living on Columbus Ave), Elaine said at one point, "This is Utopia!" I felt so proud.

Well, I have just less than three months left (much less than that with the hustle and bustle of Conference season, etc) here in the Bay Area, but I am doing my best to not become despondent. I've had a blast meeting people out here and experiencing the SF scene for all its worth...and I don't plan on slowing down in the coming months! Perhaps one day, I will return to SF and know it like the back of my hand.