Time has passed so quickly, where have I been I wonder? Today it's my birthday. I feel different, which hardly ever happens. It did not happen last year, but maybe it is because I am twenty now? In Japan, I'm finally considered an adult. I feel like an adult, 18 is too young for me to feel that way just yet. Of course, I'm always my mom's little girl.
I haven't written here in a while, obviously. The past thirty days have been very fun for me. So here is a quick recap of the last few weeks I was nineteen.
Firstly, the week before my rather uneventful spring break, my best friend in the whole world, lovely Curtis came to San Francisco to visit me for a weekend. We had so much fun times together. It was quite rainy and cold through the weekend, except for our favorite day of the week - SUNDAY! We enjoyed going to Reality in San Francisco together, and then made our way to a sweet little cafe and bakery called Thorough Bread & Pastry out in the Castro District.
When we walked in we were welcome by a long window filled with sandwiches and so, so, so many desserts! It took us probably a good 15 minutes to decide what we wanted to try, because we had wanted to try everything. We finally settled on a safe choice and an adventurous one, the safe being a delicious cheesecake and the dangerous being a blackberry lemon mousse cake.
A short seg-way here, I am finding that my time in San Francisco has made me appreciate things like the deep and bitter bite of espresso mixed with the soft fleeting smoothness of whipped cream. Dark chocolate has stolen the heart of my taste buds quite too often, and so to quickly leave the deep warmth of my love of chocolate for desserts of this calibre was of course a leap of faith. Nevertheless, it was certainly worth it! But I'm getting ahead of myself here.
We were seated outside in a teeny patio that resembled a messy back yard, though it was quite charming. We pulled up two chairs and set down our cute little order card on the table. Yeah I got a tad gigglish over it, I'll admit.
Just this past Sunday, I ran out to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan town, San Francisco. I had been talking with my pen pal, Hitoshi, about Cherry Blossom Festivals and he was saying some in Japan have been cancelled because of the tsunami, earthquakes, and nuclear crisis. When I was younger I always dreamt of spending my birthday in Japan one day, and how beautiful it would look outside, and just the celebration of the beginning of spring all around. I was sad to hear that this year Japanese will not be able to celebrate as they usually do. I was determined to take as many photos as I could for Hitoshi.
I wasn't too sure how the festival worked, as it was a kind of last minute resolution, but I walked from church to the train station, and rode further into town, stumbling awe struck on Van Ness street. Van Ness is where the SF Symphony hall is, the SF Ballet, City Hall, everything - it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, gleaming with gold in the fleeting sunlight and standing tall in grey glory. I was so breathless walking through, but lucky me, the pace I was taking brought my little feet right to the parade I had no idea was taking place a few blocks away from Japan town.
There were men with huge cameras everywhere. I wished for a moment Curtis was one of them. I pulled out my cell phone and captured what I could, maneuvering through the crowds, following the parade from the end to the beginning where it all pooled into a large outdoor concert with food vendors as far as my eyes could see.
The parade started just a few short blocks down the street from Japan town, and the streets were lined just like they are in Santa Barbara on Memorial Day with chairs and people watching from their balconies in the apartment complex just outside the town. Many were dressed in kimono and yukata, waving fans and taking countless photos.
I haven't written here in a while, obviously. The past thirty days have been very fun for me. So here is a quick recap of the last few weeks I was nineteen.
Firstly, the week before my rather uneventful spring break, my best friend in the whole world, lovely Curtis came to San Francisco to visit me for a weekend. We had so much fun times together. It was quite rainy and cold through the weekend, except for our favorite day of the week - SUNDAY! We enjoyed going to Reality in San Francisco together, and then made our way to a sweet little cafe and bakery called Thorough Bread & Pastry out in the Castro District.
When we walked in we were welcome by a long window filled with sandwiches and so, so, so many desserts! It took us probably a good 15 minutes to decide what we wanted to try, because we had wanted to try everything. We finally settled on a safe choice and an adventurous one, the safe being a delicious cheesecake and the dangerous being a blackberry lemon mousse cake.
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| This is the most delicious cheese cake I have ever had in my life. And I don't really like cheese cake. So that is saying quite a bit. |
The desserts and coffee we had was spectacular. I enjoyed it thoroughly amidst conversation about the Bible and the service we had just attended. The clouds and sun danced across the sky as we talked and enjoyed the amazing flavors to be found at the Thorough Bread & Pastry establishment. I love coffee and sweets on a Sunday afternoon with a best friend.
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| This is Curtis' lemon blackberry mousse cake. |
Just this past Sunday, I ran out to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan town, San Francisco. I had been talking with my pen pal, Hitoshi, about Cherry Blossom Festivals and he was saying some in Japan have been cancelled because of the tsunami, earthquakes, and nuclear crisis. When I was younger I always dreamt of spending my birthday in Japan one day, and how beautiful it would look outside, and just the celebration of the beginning of spring all around. I was sad to hear that this year Japanese will not be able to celebrate as they usually do. I was determined to take as many photos as I could for Hitoshi.
I wasn't too sure how the festival worked, as it was a kind of last minute resolution, but I walked from church to the train station, and rode further into town, stumbling awe struck on Van Ness street. Van Ness is where the SF Symphony hall is, the SF Ballet, City Hall, everything - it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, gleaming with gold in the fleeting sunlight and standing tall in grey glory. I was so breathless walking through, but lucky me, the pace I was taking brought my little feet right to the parade I had no idea was taking place a few blocks away from Japan town.
There were men with huge cameras everywhere. I wished for a moment Curtis was one of them. I pulled out my cell phone and captured what I could, maneuvering through the crowds, following the parade from the end to the beginning where it all pooled into a large outdoor concert with food vendors as far as my eyes could see.
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| Here is a group of Buddhist church goers dancing and singing together down the road. Their smiles could be seen from a mile away. |
The Japan Airlines Representative walked through peaceably, holding a huge sign that reads "Do Your Best Japan" and another saying "Pray for Japan" and waving flags, shouting, "Ganbarou Nihon! (Do your best, Japan!)" This was probably the most emotional part of the festival for many of us who were there, we all raised our hands up and shouted with them as they walked by.
I followed the Taiko Drummers! There were so many of them making a beautiful song on the moving float. How they do it, I have no idea. People of all ethnicities were on this float, it was beautiful to see everyone working together to bring together a spirit of happiness and joy for all the people in the festival.
I spent a good three hours in Japan town just taking in all of the sights and sounds of the festival. There was so much to see, and many shops to visit. There's even a new cup cake place called Cako that specializes in adorable cupcakes.
Among the many stands there were also many places selling handmade items like bags and jewelry for Japan Relief Fund. It came as no surprise to me, but it's like my roommate says, there is a lot being done even here in San Francisco to help Japan. I am so glad.
Out of all of this, it was very hard to find a picture of some real cherry blossoms. Thank fully we have some growing at SF State, I'll be sure to send Hitoshi a photo as soon as I can.
I'm very excited because today is my birthday, and I get to go to Bible Study with my friends. I'm also bringing them a surprise I bought in Japan town that we can all share together. So far being 20 years old has been strange and new to me. I almost don't know what to do. There is a mall near by, maybe I'll see what I can get for free? Haha!
All in all, I'm just so grateful to be alive for another year. I'm excited to see where God leads me this year, and time is starting to pick up so quickly, it's crazy. I feel like just yesterday I was nineteen, opening a box from Curtis with a present inside back in Santa Barbara. Now I'm here in San Francisco, the scenery changed. It's beautiful. I'm happy.
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| Japan Air Lines Representatives hold a sign saying 'Do Your Best, Japan!' |
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| The Hime-Sama of Japan Airlines. They all wore elaborate kimono and little crowns. They looked just like princesses! |
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| It was a beautiful day in Japan town, the sun was out and a cool breeze blew the cherry blossoms all around us. |
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| Another, though unprecedented fun thing about the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown are the cosplayers everywhere! I took this picture for my baby brother. |
Among the many stands there were also many places selling handmade items like bags and jewelry for Japan Relief Fund. It came as no surprise to me, but it's like my roommate says, there is a lot being done even here in San Francisco to help Japan. I am so glad.
Out of all of this, it was very hard to find a picture of some real cherry blossoms. Thank fully we have some growing at SF State, I'll be sure to send Hitoshi a photo as soon as I can.
I'm very excited because today is my birthday, and I get to go to Bible Study with my friends. I'm also bringing them a surprise I bought in Japan town that we can all share together. So far being 20 years old has been strange and new to me. I almost don't know what to do. There is a mall near by, maybe I'll see what I can get for free? Haha!
All in all, I'm just so grateful to be alive for another year. I'm excited to see where God leads me this year, and time is starting to pick up so quickly, it's crazy. I feel like just yesterday I was nineteen, opening a box from Curtis with a present inside back in Santa Barbara. Now I'm here in San Francisco, the scenery changed. It's beautiful. I'm happy.
