Currently I am sitting in the Amtrak station waiting to board my train to Portland. The weekend here in San Francisco has been thoroughly enjoyable and the weather delightfully sunny. I was able to spend time with a friend Matt and discuss how his first year in medschool at UCSF is going. He says it is challenging, but as usual Matt seems to have found an interesting group of people to surround himself with, people who share his interest of international affairs and social justice. In several weeks he will be heading to Guatemala and then to Kenya this summer. Both trips will focus on different aspects of medical fieldwork based on the needs of the communities.
I got in Friday and, believe it or not, encountered some problems with public transportation. Matt was already in the city enjoying dinner with Caroline and her parents when my flight landed. I managed to get on the BART rail fairly easily to head towards the center of the city. It was here that I had to deboard and get on a municipal train. There was of course a system delay of about 40 minutes. It seemed like every train going every which direction passed by me at least twice without seeing the one I needed. It was not until about forty minutes later that I gave up, and with all of my luggage, decided to head upstairs and grab a cab. Although frustrating, this encounter was thankfully not as ridiculous as the DR or Mexican fiascos.
Anyhow, the night ended up being a great success. We went to a local brewery after grabbing a bite to eat. The conversation picked up where it left off, almost as if we had never left the front porch of the Montclair house. Considering my new teacher status which comes with a 9 o’clock bedtime, I got in really late. The following morning we had breakfast with Caroline and her parents followed by relaxing in cafes all afternoon, a nap and darts in a dive bar that night. (Just like old times).
On Sunday, I went to the East Bay to visit my roommate Alana’s family. Her parents were actually in the city visiting her Aunt and Uncle. All of them were incredibly hospitable. They invited me to a church downtown called Glide Memorial Church. It is a rather progressive Methodist church that does a lot of work to combat poverty, homelessness, and diseases in the inner city of San Francisco. I found the service to be a rather joyful and a welcomed change of pace from the norm. These people really put love at the center of their lives in both word and action. Then to continue our day of piety we headed out to the horse race track for dollar day. I did not place any bets so I like to say I walked away even on the day. Alana and her dad ended up about $30 up.
Today, Monday, I walked around Golden Gate Park with Alana and one of her college friends Anne Marie. The weather was unbelievable and the plant life that grows in California smells as beautiful as it looks. We hiked to the top of this hill in the middle of a lake. From the top we had a decent picture of the Golden Gate Bridge and plenty of fresh air. We ate lunch at a nice bakery and then headed downtown to visit with Matt one last time before going back to Alana’s aunt and uncle’s house. They generously fed me some wonderful Indian food before bringing me to the train station where I now sit.
In seventeen long and painful hours I will arrive in Portland. I will spend the remainder of my break with Josh and Holly who I am well overdue to visit. I look forward to the invigorating conversations I know will be had and the free time I will have to simply sit, relax, and think. School has brought me to the brink of insanity the past several weeks. I am actually developing into somewhat of a skilled teacher, but as always, there is still significant improvement to be made. This week will be used for some reflection and preparation, but mostly for escape and relaxation. I cannot wait.
Miss you and love you all.
