If You're Going to San Francisco, be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair

Being able to visit San Francisco with a few of my teammates is a weekend I am always going to remember. For anyone who wants to do Americorps NCCC, the most significant benefit I can express to you is the ability to travel to places you've never been before. Considering I've never left the East Coast, even being in Sacramento, CA was a shock to the system.

But after visiting San Fran? I've been able to cross something off my bucket list. I was able to stay the night with Graham, Frank, Ryan, and Mira - but the struggle to get there was one for the record books. As you can tell by my lovely text message to my best friend at home, Mira and I had to make some serious moves to get ourselves to San Fran.

As soon as we arrived at Pier 39, we enjoyed the best crepes I've ever eaten, fell in love, met up with the boys, and listened to the soothing sounds of sea lions. After a relaxing and hysterical evening in the hotel, we ate at Peter D's - the best little dinner in downtown SF (just ask Ryan who is STILL talking about the waffle he ate there). Followed by a trip to the Golden Gate Bridge, getting lost a few times, accidentally finding the Palace of Fine Arts, and getting back to Pier 39 to end our perfect day. And by end our perfect day, I mean, eat award winning Clam Chowder at the Fisherman's 9th Grotto, visiting the World War II exhibit, and once again enjoy the sea lions (just in the day time). Oh, did I mention yet that Mira got her nose pierced on the boardwalk after the boys left for the MegaBus? They leave us alone for 10 minutes and she gets a piercing - we just can't be trusted.

If you asked me a year ago if I thought I'd be in CA, I would have said no. Sacramento? No. San Francisco? No. This program has already affirmed my wanderlust, which was once a concept and is now a reality. There is so much to see and do and learn. So much to experience and live and be spontaneous about. There is so much life to be excited for. Cheers San Fran, I'll be seeing you soon again (hell, I still have to visit the Red Wood Forest).