San Francisco (07.04-07.2019)
Documenting my experience in San Francisco!
For the July 4th holiday weekend, my family and I decided to change it up and travel again before I started working. When choosing a place to go, it was a no brainer to choose San Francisco since we wanted to visit our great-aunt and uncle who aren’t really related to us however, we think of them as family due to my grandfather and great aunt having grown up in the same village in Hong Kong. For July 4th, we got to have dim sum at Imperial Garden Seafood Restaurant.
The Importance of Family
We visited our great-aunt and great-uncle each day we were here - three days total. Since we just came back from Europe, they showed us the photos of when they went also. It was wonderful sharing stories of travel and lifestyle 30 years ago. It is so inspiring to see how healthy and energetic they still are.
Japantown
On the second day, we checked out Japantown. The first thing we saw was Peace Plaza. I couldn’t help but admire the structure of the Peace Pagoda. I also danced in it as my way of showing respect, channeling the emotions I currently felt, and exploring what it was like to be inside the pagoda. I felt alive being immersed in and learning more about the Japanese culture. Having such a close friend who is Japanese American and hearing about her talk about the legacy that the older generation of Japanese Americans are leaving as well as the struggles of injustices for Japanese Americans has helped me feel more connected. We also checked out the shops in Japanese Center and ate some delicious House Ramen at Hinodeya Ramen Bar.
Chinatown
On our last day, we went to Chinatown as it was an easy 10 min walk from the hotel where we were staying at in Downtown San Francisco. While we were walking around, I felt a sense of the Chinese market that we have in Phoenix, but in a much grander scale. The feeling of becoming more curious about my own culture has grown larger ever since I’ve lived with my grandmother and have seen the cultural differences. I feel that it is a birthright to carry on what previous generations have set.