I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Whenever I come home from school, I remember that San Francisco does not really feel like home anymore.  Over the last summer that I spent here before starting college, I found that I was able to experience everything with a completely new mindset.  I knew I would be leaving in a few months, and I decided to make the most of them.  Balls to the wall, I threw away all my old fears and pushed myself to try anything and everything that came my way.  From clubbing with strangers, to bonfires in the middle of a park, to crazy summer night adventures, it was by far the best summer of my life.  I lived by the mantra “yes”.  I even went to my first rave, one of the most amazing experiences I have had.  That night is truly worthy of it’s own story, so I wont go into too much detail.

Before I left, I honestly thought it would be the same every time I came home.  I learned quickly how wrong I was.  Over my first Thanksgiving back, I invited all my closest friends to go out to our favorite hookah bar, only to find that it had been shut down weeks earlier.  Over winter break, I thought there would be plenty of parties and high school friends to catch up with.  Not the case.  Finally last summer, I learned what it meant to have a 9-5 job.  Working six days a week for minimum wage, I barely had time to sleep.  Let alone hang out with anybody.

Life changes, and it moves with you.  Nostalgia, while it can bring back fond memories, is a bittersweet concept.  You can never really return to the person you were, the people you knew, or places you loved, and expect them to be the same.  Each living thing on this earth moves and changes too.

But sometimes, just for a night, you can pretend.  You can go back to that one spot you used to love, with the people you once knew, and the innocence you once embodied.  Tonight, I spent the most spectacular evening with a group of old high school buddies; I had hardly stayed in touch with.  I was surprised to learn that even after two years, none of us had really changed that much.  We were friendly, happy, and close.  We acted as if no time had passed.  I learned that while we each have new lives, and have moved to new places, in San Francisco, our hearts will always belong to each other.  To our young, 18-year-old selves who left them here.  Waiting for those magical times, when everything aligns perfectly, and we allow ourselves to pretend.  Just for a night.

“How You Party is How We Preparty Cuz You Ain’t From IV”

Located just a few blocks away from the UC Santa Barbara campus, Isla Vista houses roughly 20,000 crazy college students.  For those of you who do not know, Isla Vista upholds one of the wildest party scenes in the state.  It is a beautiful, California seaside, shit show.

Well known for its beaches, expensive real estate, and endless party scene, Isla Vista is perhaps most famous for it’s week-long Halloween celebration.  Nearly 100,000 people from all over the state show up in costume, hoping to experience a few days of the California hysteria.  The party starts whenever you arrive, and ends when everyone is finally too hung-over to continue.  I have participated in this ordeal for the past two years, making frequent weekend trips in-between.

This year, I decided to venture down there to celebrate the Fourth of July with my best friend Audrey, who goes to the UC.  It was a well-needed vacation, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  From the day-long barbeques, to the four-in-the-morning beach hikes, this weekend was one I will never forget.  Although I have been there nearly a dozen times, this was the most special.

All summer I have hoped to see my good friend Peter.  We began “dating?” after my sorority formal this past May, but decided to just keep talking over the summer.  While we are not exclusive, there is potential there, and I would like very much to continue seeing him when school begins again in August.  I had mentioned to him earlier in the week, that I would be going to Santa Barbara for the weekend.  The day I drove down, he surprised me by showing up as well!  It was perfect.

Sometimes when I become intimate with someone in any way, it can be slightly uncomfortable the first time I see them again after a long period of time.  However, there was not even a moment of awkwardness between us, everything seemed to fall into place perfectly.  We talked, we walked, we ate, we partied, and we kissed, as if we had never been apart.  Finally, with his arms around me, we watched the gorgeous sunset on a balcony overlooking the ocean.  It was an experience more wonderful than I can possibly hope to describe.

Perhaps there is more to this tiny, slum-like wonder of a town than just excitement and commotion.  Perhaps underneath it’s worn-down exterior, something truly enchanting and romantic exists.  Sparking new adventures for those brave enough to enter it’s abstruse facade.