Brody Week 15: San Diego
In November of last year, I went to San Diego with my dad to tour a few universities. I had never been before, so I was really excited to check the area out.
The day we got there, we started exploring the city. Our hotel was right in the center of downtown, so it made walking to each district and neighborhood really easy. We first made our way to Little Italy, which neither me nor my dad knew existed. The only Little Italy locations we knew of were in San Francisco and San Jose, but we had never visited either one. So, we of course had to check it out in San Diego.
The second we stepped into the neighborhood, we were hit with a wave of bustling crowds and cultural richness. In every direction were restaurants and bakeries, all selling a wide variety of delicious food and drinks, each being unique with its own recipes for classic Italian cuisine.
The next day we visited two of the nursing schools in the area, SDSU (of course) and PLNU. Both had their own distinctive characteristics that made them stand out amongst each other, and what I enjoyed most about both of them was seeing the diverse collective of students walking to and from class, similar to what we have here at American. It gave me the comfort of having a sense of familiarity with the environment.
The last day, however, is the most memorable. Waking up early, I made my way to Gaslamp Quarter, a neighbourhood full of people crowding every corner of the streets, with restaurants thriving from the influx of patrons and street performers grabbing people’s attention left and right. I’m used to seeing crowded streets in San Francisco, but this was more than crowded, this was lively. The neighborhood was so full of life and excitement. I ended the day walking along the water with my dad.
We had a long conversation full of many different topics, and laughed the whole way back to our hotel, not thinking about how stressful school would be the coming week for me or how stressful work would be for my dad the day after we got back. We just talked. Nothing serious, nothing deep, just a simple conversation that, though it seemed like just another talk you’d have in your day-to-day life, you remember forever.
This was a very special moment for me and my dad, because due to our busy lives, we don’t get to go out and do stuff together nearly as much as we used to. I don’t know if it was the city or the trip itself, but the few days I spent with my dad in San Diego will forever be engraved in my mind.
Hi, Brody! I really enjoyed reading your blog this week and learning about your treasured memories in San Diego with your dad. As I read, your heartwarming story telling made it clear how much you love and cherish this experience in its entirety. Along with this, I particularly appreciated the short paragraphs that separated different events and specific memories within your recollection of the trip, which made your blog so much more organized and cohesive.
ReplyDeleteMy sister went to college in San Diego, so a lot of the places you mention are very familiar and remind me of my own memories of traveling there with her! I remember going to Little Italy with her for the first time and, like you, being amazed by the environment and the plethora of restaurants beckoning us to enter and try their food at every corner. It was truly a magical experience. In reading your blog this week, I enjoyed both learning about your experiences in San Diego with your dad as well as recollecting my own memories built there, and I look forward to reading your next blog!
Hello Brody, I hope your spring break was as fantastic as last year’s break in November! After reading your blog, I’m reminded that because we spend the majority of our lives engaged in schoolwork and interacting with our friends, we seldom spend quality time with our parents and families. I think your experience visiting San Diego with your father was great, not only because it allows more bonding time but also because it offers a break from what could be a monotonous and busy schedule.
ReplyDeleteFor me, as I spend more time with my family, I find that memories built with your siblings and parents can be just as memorable as the best memories with friends. Even though there’s less joking and video games involved in conversations, the void in conversation can be filled with lore about your parents’ past or just simple conversations and planning for the future. I’ve personally taken it upon myself to spend as much time with my dad taking walks, and to talk with him as we walk.
Thanks so much for sharing, and I’m looking forward to next week’s blog!
Hello Brody! Your blog this week was heartwarming and I enjoyed reading about the special moment you shared with your dad in San Diego. Certain trips can leave lasting impressions on us, not just because of the place but because of the people we are with. Your descriptions of Little Italy and Gaslamp Quarter brought your blog to life, and I appreciate that each section was divided into short paragraphs as it made your writing much more interesting and digestible. What stood out to me the most about your blog this week was the last part about walking along the water with your dad and engaging in insightful conversations. As we get older, we tend to get busier and often get less time to spend with our families. It is simple moments like these that end up being the most memorable as there is something special about being able to just be in the moment with somebody without worrying about responsibilities or deadlines. I enjoyed reading your blog this week and hope to read more of your work in the future!
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