Last week I went on a family vacation (minus my sister, since she likes farting around with friends and getting bored by herself nowadays) to San Francisco. Originally the trip was to include an important visit to the Academy of Art University. After being "re-enrolled"at California State University Northridge, the art school tour was scrapped and the trip became a vacation instead.
San Francisco City Hall
My dad and I really wanted to go to Alcatraz, but my mom didn't let us. She claimed that our SF trip was HER vacation and that there's nothing appealing about an old prison. I did buy books about it, including a cooking magazine! Still, going to the same place Al Capone was imprisoned at would have made "Mom's" vacation more exciting.
The taiko-bashi (drum bridge) inside the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park.
Because we have relatives in San Francisco, we also got to see my uncle and cousin. We went to Muir Woods, where my cousin and I separated from everyone and went on a freakin' long hike instead! The next day we went to Japantown, but it was late. I didn't get to do enough anime/manga/junk shopping because most of the stores were closing by then.
The beautiful albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences (which is also at Golden Gate Park). In case you didn't know, I'm fascinated by albinism. I took photos of this animal but I felt I didn't have enough time to look at it. My parents were rushing to leave at that point.
San Francisco is a beautiful city (minus the booming homeless population) rich in history, diverse cultures, art, and eccentric quality. I kept wondering and fantasizing about what it would be like if I had gone to the Academy of Art University instead of CSUN.
My life and mindset would have taken a different direction. I'd be feeling right at home in a politically liberal and progressive city, although it sometimes feels anarchist, racist, and unsafe, which I don't like. I'd be living with my relatives, which would be challenging since their small and messy house isn't the best place to live in, and their way of life is different than mine. I would have a 100% chance to study and practice filmmaking, a contrast to the competitiveness of just getting into CSUN's film production major. Yet, my family would be spending over $75,000 for me to graduate from AAU, making CSUN look like a 99-cent store. The cold coastal weather and cloudy skies would give me an excuse to dress like an Eskimo on a daily basis, and my skin wouldn't needlessly tan. I would further practice my artistic abilities in a creative environment (consisting of school, my relatives, and the city itself). However, I'd have a hard time traveling to places unrelated to college, such as nightclubs, because I'd be without my prized procession: my car! My parents wouldn't let me have it there, noting that its just not worth having one in a city with heavy traffic, unstable streets, but reliable public transit. (Not to mention, my relatives are just as overprotective as my parents, so they wouldn't let me go anywhere alone without an adult male! I reckon that the words "independence" and "taxi" aren't in their lexicon.) Such a life would give me a greater opportunity to bond with my relatives. Yet, the biggest thing that would make my Bay Area stay special is meeting my longtime online friend Mike, who is studying at University of California Davis, which is about an hour away from San Francisco. I've always wanted to meet him and I could see ourselves exploring the city together, from Japantown to the odd Musée Mécanique at Fisherman's Wharf. Too bad my life won't be taking that route. It will take a long time for us to ever meet.
For better or worst, I'm going to Los Angeles instead.
My dad and I really wanted to go to Alcatraz, but my mom didn't let us. She claimed that our SF trip was HER vacation and that there's nothing appealing about an old prison. I did buy books about it, including a cooking magazine! Still, going to the same place Al Capone was imprisoned at would have made "Mom's" vacation more exciting.
The taiko-bashi (drum bridge) inside the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park.
Because we have relatives in San Francisco, we also got to see my uncle and cousin. We went to Muir Woods, where my cousin and I separated from everyone and went on a freakin' long hike instead! The next day we went to Japantown, but it was late. I didn't get to do enough anime/manga/junk shopping because most of the stores were closing by then.
The beautiful albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences (which is also at Golden Gate Park). In case you didn't know, I'm fascinated by albinism. I took photos of this animal but I felt I didn't have enough time to look at it. My parents were rushing to leave at that point.
San Francisco is a beautiful city (minus the booming homeless population) rich in history, diverse cultures, art, and eccentric quality. I kept wondering and fantasizing about what it would be like if I had gone to the Academy of Art University instead of CSUN.
My life and mindset would have taken a different direction. I'd be feeling right at home in a politically liberal and progressive city, although it sometimes feels anarchist, racist, and unsafe, which I don't like. I'd be living with my relatives, which would be challenging since their small and messy house isn't the best place to live in, and their way of life is different than mine. I would have a 100% chance to study and practice filmmaking, a contrast to the competitiveness of just getting into CSUN's film production major. Yet, my family would be spending over $75,000 for me to graduate from AAU, making CSUN look like a 99-cent store. The cold coastal weather and cloudy skies would give me an excuse to dress like an Eskimo on a daily basis, and my skin wouldn't needlessly tan. I would further practice my artistic abilities in a creative environment (consisting of school, my relatives, and the city itself). However, I'd have a hard time traveling to places unrelated to college, such as nightclubs, because I'd be without my prized procession: my car! My parents wouldn't let me have it there, noting that its just not worth having one in a city with heavy traffic, unstable streets, but reliable public transit. (Not to mention, my relatives are just as overprotective as my parents, so they wouldn't let me go anywhere alone without an adult male! I reckon that the words "independence" and "taxi" aren't in their lexicon.) Such a life would give me a greater opportunity to bond with my relatives. Yet, the biggest thing that would make my Bay Area stay special is meeting my longtime online friend Mike, who is studying at University of California Davis, which is about an hour away from San Francisco. I've always wanted to meet him and I could see ourselves exploring the city together, from Japantown to the odd Musée Mécanique at Fisherman's Wharf. Too bad my life won't be taking that route. It will take a long time for us to ever meet.
For better or worst, I'm going to Los Angeles instead.
2 comments:
Gorgeous photos! Being a lifelong Bay Area gal now in SD, this post makes me super homesick! I love SF. There's no city like it on Earth.
But you know, they say the same about LA. :) I'm sure you'll learn to like any city you're in. And plenty of time to relocate later in life!
It sounds like you had a great time in the SF *you did way more than I would have imagined doing hahaha* Too bad you didn't get to completely enjoy Japantown. It really is a fun and cool place.
The only other place I've been to is Chinatown *I know.. all these themed areas, right? XD* It was pretty cool as well.
Don't worry. I'll definitely meet you soon. Definitely at CC, if not sooner.
As soon as whomever is joining me buys their tickets, I can get down to planning this trip. I'll keep in my the place you recommended me staying. I'm sure it'll be cheaper with more people in the room.
Enjoy your new place and your new school!
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