I woke up today hoping the rain would stop. It didn't. Ugh, great.
I had breakfast which included a "Mexicano Mocha" at a local cafe with my cousin before his flight. The district I'm staying in is called the Mission district. It has a heavy Mexican and Hispanic influence with numerous cafes, restaurants and salsa bars nearby. It is quite refreshing to eat real Mexican food rather than street tacos and Chipotle (an "Oporto" like version of Mexican food). We talked about when we are going to see each other again. Hopefully he goes to Japan in July and that flights are on sale by then because I would like to see him again. He's one of the closest cousins to me and it's so funny because I only met him like 3 years ago. He really has his life on track having a good job that allows him to travel a lot and have his expenses paid for. I envy that.
I said goodbye to him as I got the bus into the city to meet my other cousin (the girl) and her family.
Before I met my cousin I stopped at where Joyce was staying. She was leaving today, and I hadn't seen her yesterday, so I couldn't let her leave without saying goodbye, that would be a really cunty move on my behalf. I saw her in the lobby and it dawned on me that this was the last time I'd see her until I went to France or she came to Australia. I still remember the first time I met her in LA. I had met Jeanine that night before with Peter, Jerry and the creepy German who said paintball was illegal but if it were he'd kill everyone. Anyway, the next night we ventured out on our gun adventure (I had blogged about this before) when I first met Joyce. Jeanine had asked Joyce to come "shooting" which Joyce said "We all have our own interests, that's one of yours, it's not one of mine". Jeanine didn't mind however the misinterpretation was evident when Joyce asked Jeanine "When are you getting the photos?" Joyce had thought Jeanine was doing a model shoot. From that day I hung out with Joyce pretty much everyday, wondering if she thought I was annoying or a spoilt little brat. Our friendship blossomed when we organised to go to Vegas together after 10 days in LA. We spent 10 days in LA, 3 days in Vegas, and nearly a week in San Francisco together. Of course, I wasn't with her everyday but obviously there was an attachment. Reminiscing about it, I sort of feel bad now thinking maybe I may have been too exuberant on our days out. I would tap her arm whenever a hot guy would walk past. I remember one specific instance when we just left the hostel and I was checking out a guy and she said "It's so early in the morning and you're already checking out guys!". That was when I realised I had a problem. Hahaha. We'd sing songs together like "Slow Down" by Selena Gomez or "Timber" by Ke$ha, yet she'd get annoyed when I sang "Work Bitch" by Britney Spears predominantly because I'd be singing it everyday. We would talk to each other endlessly about our past problems and issues, our love lives, our insecurities and our ambitions. She was a comforting shoulder and someone that listened to me and was always open ears, for instance, like that night before the Lakers game when I just had a mental breakdown and started crying on the way to the Staples Center because I was homesick and thought I had no friends back home that cared about me. It's so weird how someone, a total stranger, would have such an impact on my life and that's why I guess I'm so happy to be exuberant and outgoing and "in your face" because if I wasn't like that, our friendship wouldn't have existed. We organised that when I go to France for exchange in mid 2015 that I will visit her. It's going to happen.
Soon after that I met with my other cousin (the girl) and her family. We left her hotel and drove on the Golden Gate Bridge and onwards to Vista Point with the hope that I'd get a good picture with the bridge. It's actually quite interesting that the Golden Gate Bridge isn't called that for its colour (which everyone seems to think so even though it is a reddish colour) but actually because the strait that it crosses over was called the Golden Gate named by a government official at the time to reflect the prosperities of people from the Far East that would come to San Francisco. Interesting. Anyway, so we reached Vista Point and the fog was absolutely horrific. You could not see a thing except the bars holding the bridge up from the bottom. It was also quite windy and raining heavily so we took some attempt shots and went back in the car.
I was a bit bummed out, but it's fine because I have a photo with Britney. So I'm cool.
We continued on to Fisherman's Wharf, a popular place for tourists in San Francisco. For the first time I had tried clam chowder. Clam chowder is basically this thick, creamy, soup-like dish that has clams, diced potato, vegetables such as onions, and parsley as a garnish and is usually served in a bread bowl. I didn't quite like it, mostly because how thick it was and I didn't like the potato. My niece and nephew got popcorn shrimp and chips. If you have read my previous post from when I was travelling up from Miami to New York (I think it was Day 6 or 7), I had tried popcorn shrimp for the first time and fell in love. I obviously leeched off them.
We continued walking around the wharves and went to Pier 39 where I saw the sea lions again, but I wasn't bummed because today wasn't a day to go adventuring anyway, plus I had pretty much done everything.
My cousin stopped at Safeway and got a gift to bring home for my dad - Robert Mondavi Merlot Red Wine. I think my dad will like it. They then dropped me back at the apartment at about 5pm and we said our final goodbyes for a short and sweet reunion hoping to see each other very soon in the future.
Later that evening and night all I did was nap and "attempt" to pack my bags which didn't really work out so well.
I'm sort of sad to be leaving soon.
Day 35: Monday the 10th of February.
I've officially passed the 5 week mark. That's pretty scary.
Today was my last full day in San Francisco however I wanted to spend it indoors in the apartment packing my bags.
Yeah.. that didn't really happen.
I woke up at 10 vowing myself to do so, and then going out at 2pm to buy some American candy to pack in my bag. Today the weather was actually really good. There was no rain, the sky was clear, and the sun was even out. I got the bus into Union Square at about 2:30 when I made the spontaneous decision on the bus to go to Vista Point in the hope I'd get a better photo with the Golden Gate Bridge seeing as it was a clear day.
Pretty much it was sunny everywhere until I went to the Golden Gate Bridge where the fog was still there. Ugh this was so annoying! Not even that but I was sleeping on the bus and missed my stop and had to go all the way to Suasalito and back. However, I do admit Suasalito is a beautiful neighbourhood right next to the bay which I'd probably compare to Drummoyne, Russel Lea and Five Dock.
I got the bus back to Union Square to do my candy shopping to take home. I went to Urban Outfitters to check out the price of a Herschel Supply Backpack because I really want one and they're cute and it'd look great for university. As I walked in the sales assistant at the door was very attractive. He had a hispanic/mixed look to him. Think as if it was like Mexcian/White/Filipino/Native American. He was gorgeous and he had the most beautiful eyelashes and eyebrows. I looked at his name badge and it said Michael so I assumed he was mixed hispanic. He was wearing the coolest jeans that were really skinny, black, and heavily ripped that I had to ask him where he got them from (honestly, I did like them). He told me he just bought Levi's and ripped them himself. I went downstairs to check out the backpacks and went back up later to check out the clothes. He kept asking me if I needed help and I told him I was fine.
What cologne are you wearing? You smell amazing.
I was wearing Hermes - Terre D'Hermes. Yes of course I smell amazing, it's eau de parfum and $120. No but seriously, at this point I started blushing and his constant looks backwards gave me a hint of something. He was also taller than me, but still short, which was perfect. I left the store and said bye, being too shy to ask him for his number or to hang out because I was leaving the next day.
I went to Walgreens and purchased a big packed of each - Dark Chocolate M&Ms, Dark Chocolate Peanut M&Ms, Hershey's Kisses (with almond), Hershey's Kisses (Cookies and Cream). I'm going to fill up a jar of it and am only allowed to have one kiss a day or 2 M&Ms a day. That's the rule. I went into Abercrombie and Fitch for one last time and decided to try on a pair of really cool acid wash, super skinny, high waisted jeans. High waisted + skinny is the hardest combination to find. Ever. They were womens but I was going to try them. Now normally I'm a 28 waist purely because this is the smallest men's size that is stocked, even though they are loose on me and I have to use a belt.
I fit into a 25 waist.
A size zero in American standards.
Wow. But honestly I'm in love with these jeans but I'm gonna rip them a bit more, they are perfect.
I also tried to go to cheap jewelry stores to try find clear, plastic like ear studs because I needed to hide my ear lobe piercings by the time my dad sees me because he practically forced me to get rid of it but I don't want to close them. I couldn't find anything. I tried every shop. Ugh this wasn't going according to plan because I had lost my old clear ones because they were gross and dirty. My plan now is to keep the earrings in until right before I get out of the airport, which is 9:55 landing but probably around 11:00 when I get out. I'll have nothing in my ears and will tell my dad to take me to the shopping centre where I'll quickly get some in (hopefully before the day ends, well it'll be Thursday night shopping) so it doesn't close. This better work. Oh I also got this really cool hat too that cost me like $42 but its so hot tbh.
So basically 2 hours have passed since I started shopping and I was parched. I went to Starbucks, got a grande iced mocha frappucino and bought a San Francisco mug as a souvenir (it was only $10, and it was something I would actively use). In front of me in the line, whilst I was waiting for my drink was Michael from Urban Outfitters. I didn't want to say something first, so he actually smiled and said "Hey!". Eventually I loosened up and we started talking together at the table whilst I was charging my phone. We spoke about me being on vacation solo for 5-6 weeks, university, Australia, yadda yadda yadda. He was studying Business Management. I love intelligent boys. He then started telling me how he moved a lot in the USA and is staying at university dorms/housing because his family doesn't have a home that is always in one place. He then started moving the conversation to his dorm... Mind you I'm blushing so much at this time. I can't believe firstly that I'm pretty much on a date with this guy I just met like 2 hours ago and we're at Starbucks hitting it off. Let alone... he asked me back to his dorm. He was smart, good looking and a genuinely nice guy. Eventually we reached his dorm where he told me his roommate would be out for the entire night. Was he trying to say what I think he was? We continued to talk for a while, me being the giggly little whore that I am and then..
We did it.
Probably too much information, but he absolutely pumped me but was at the same time so soft and gentle and made sure I wasn't doing something I was uncomfortable with. He was so caring.
Ughhhhh now that I am recounting it. I have actually been the biggest little hoe on this USA adventure. But honestly I don't care, and I am not ashamed. It's not something you have to be ashamed about. See I just went totally bipolar in two sentences, but I'm being honest, this is my thought process. He told me I could stay the night but I told him I had to pack because I was leaving tomorrow morning. I never told him that at Starbucks. He said he was hoping we'd hang out again the next day because he had a morning shift. See, he's not a dickhead. Plus he was great in bed.
I got a cab home purely because it wouldn't cost me that much and I wanted to get rid of all my $1 bills and shitty coins, which I did, smirking to myself the entire ride about how I just scored that little rendezvous with Michael (the second Michael I've hooked up on this trip, wow). Then I had the stark realisation, it was past midnight and I still hadn't packed my bags and I had to fit EVERYTHING in there. Oh great.
I have to sleep early tonight as I have to leave the house at like 10am to get my megabus from San Francisco to LA which takes 8 hours, then get my flight back home.
So this is pretty much my last real post. I will however update before I got on my plane tomorrow night.
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