An Ode to My City by the Bay
By Emily Thorsen
As a fourth-generation native San Franciscan, I have always been proud of where I come from. This beautiful city has been the site of so many fond memories for me. So many firsts: First time riding a bike, first kiss, first day of school each year. I am not saying San Francisco is perfect – it is far from it – but it is my home. I wish to travel all over the world in my lifetime, but I will always keep a little piece of San Francisco in my heart, no matter how many miles away I am.
I love San Francisco’s diversity. Being surrounded by a variety of types of people teaches you at such a young age that everyone you meet deserves respect and integrity, regardless of how they look. Surrounding oneself with a variety of views and life experiences allows you not to take the cards you were dealt for granted. It allows you to communicate compassion and empathy towards all you encounter.
Besides the diversity of the inhabitants of San Francisco, I love the city for its variety of food. I have become exposed to the rich and luscious foods of cultures from all over the world – a privilege that some of my friends who live in other parts of the country will never be able to experience. If you cannot find a restaurant in a particular country in San Francisco, it is bound to be in another part of the Bay Area. I am fascinated by other cultures and ways of life; food is such an integral part of every cultural identity.
For the vast number of restaurants serving any type of ethnic food imaginable, San Francisco still suffers from a large food-insecure and homeless population. For those who do not live here, San Francisco is a city that is swamped by homelessness, crime, drug addiction and inadequate housing for its growing population. While I am not negating that these issues exist, I am simply stating that there is more to San Francisco than the crises the city is currently facing.
There is never a dull day in the city. From the chaotic characters on Muni and Bart to the countless museums and art from the Tenderloin to the Sunset, there is always something to do. On the off chance that you have nothing planned, you can always sit on the hill of Dolores Park and stare out at the gorgeous 360-degree scenery and landscape.
You can munch on penis-shaped cookies from Hot Cookie in the Castro, which takes me to my next point: I love how inclusive, and frankly, how gay San Francisco is. It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside when I see all embodiments of love as I am frolicking around town. As a queer woman, I am eternally grateful for the resources and support City College and my fellow peers have provided.
So many movies and television shows have been filmed in San Francisco, with one of my favorites being “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.” A quote from that movie that resonated with me when talking about the city was, “You don’t get to hate it unless you love it.” That perfectly sums up my feelings for the dazzling city I call home, and my feelings towards those who only see the city for how it is portrayed through media outlets.
Of course, I will be sad to leave San Francisco once I transfer to UC Santa Cruz, but I will visit often to check in on beloved family, friends and the city I left my heart in. As said in “Lights” by Journey, “I will want to get to my city by the Bay, oh-ooh-oh!”