“Relax and be free. You don’t have to prove anything” – Marty Rubin
In the last couple weeks I’ve been in San Francisco, I’ve been working 5 days a week with two days off here and there for my “weekends.” In my previous hostel job, I worked only part time a few days a week but am now currently working full time for the summer. It’s been a blast, a struggle at times, and definitely tests my patience on a pretty regular basis- but as each day passes, I’ve learnt to appreciate the experience, the learning and the incredible people I get to work with.
In terms of getting to know the city, I regret to say I do not know the city as much as I should. There are tons of tourist spots that I have yet to visit, lots of areas I have yet to explore and yet- during my days off- I find myself sitting in a coffee shop writing, reading, and people watching. Part of my mind keeps nudging saying, “Get out there and see the city! You’re only there for a few more weeks!” And yet another part of my mind says, “Take this time to relax, to read for your oh-so-daunting thesis proposal you’ve got to write before September, to jam on Soulection, and just let your mind and body rest.”
The latter part of my mind has taken control every time I have a day off, and you know what? I’m okay with that! I sure do want to explore and see the rest of San Francisco, the culture and the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge but as a traveler who wants to experience the culture, and the authenticity of what it’s like to live in SF- I’m doing a pretty damn good job.
Working at the hostel, as much as I love it, is draining by the end of each day. Being able to spend my free time in Oakland, coffee shop hopping to find the perfect coffee, lunch and wifi spot to read and write as well as going to various work out classes to keep up my health and fitness- may not score me a ton of great photos for the world to see- but it does renew my mind. The older I get, the more I appreciate those little moments alone, and how scarce they could be if you commit to everything that the world offers.
With that said, I have attended really incredible events, explored neighborhood bars and food joints with my housemates, and will continue to seek out everything that SF and Oakland has to offer. But I have learned that it’s okay to simply relax, even when you’re traveling to a city for a short period of time- especially in a incredibly vibrant city such as San Francisco where you could fill your schedule up with events on an hourly basis every single day.
I’ve got a couple real fun events lined up for the next four weeks before I jet off to Costa Rica. I plan to make the most of it and keep ya’ll updated on my adventures. Despite sounding like a boring person who doesn’t do anything fun- I promise I still have more stories than you think!
Joanne Lam 