Sunday in the City

On Sunday I spent the afternoon and evening in the city, a place I called home for eight years, now somewhere I've only been twice since September. I had birthday brunch at Ti Couz with Matt, coffee at Ritual with Shoshana the former volunteer in the Ghanian organization where I'll be working, and drinks at Harry's with Ryan. Busy, busy...

Matt and I have known each other since 1998, officially ten years now, and it is always so good to spend time with him because while there are a few things I choose not to discuss with him, he has all the respect and support in the world for the things I do share with him and that means a lot to me.

Shoshana I had never met before, she is a teacher and Masters of Social Work student and lived in Africa for seven months at this refugee camp where I am going and she seems very cool and looks a lot like Jen, my graduate school colleague, so I liked her immediately.

Ryan was the most difficult to see, he and I have been colleagues and friends for four? five? years now and have grown up a lot professionally together. He was my TA three years ago and my partner teacher last year and he is holding down the fort in third grade without me this year and I can honestly say I sometimes avoid being in touch with him for that reason because I get school-sick and it is hard and very sad because I am jealous that he is there and I am not--even though it was my choice to be away. Seeing him was fabulous, he is doing great and I trust his point of view beyond any argument so hearing all of what's going on this year from such a relatively objective point of view was very informative and helpful.

Then, unlike the past when I would get on the 21-Hayes or the 38-Geary or the N-Judah and make my way home to my own little corner of San Francisco, I got on the BART and came back to Berkeley. Times, they are a-changing...for now at least. It was weird to be in the city as a visitor and not a resident but it was a very fun field trip despite the rain and I'm glad I went.