I left my heart (and friends) in San Francisco
One of the most difficult parts about leaving San Francisco after 12 years this past February, was leaving behind a close group of friends and girlfriends. Living abroad and traveling is a once-in-a-lifetime blessing, but there are times it is isolating as you adjust to new countries and cities where you don't know anybody.
So you can imagine how happy I was to be back in San Francisco briefly to catch up with friends after 6 months of travel! Brian and I flew back to San Francisco this week, for our friends Gaurav and Neha's wedding.
Brian simultaneously planned business meetings, and had his US sales teams fly into San Francisco that week as well.
Here were the highlights of our quick San Francisco trip:
1. Staying at the Park Central Hotel in San Francisco, where Brian achieved SPG Platinum status! We got hooked up with a 36 floor penthouse room with this sweeping view of San Francisco.
2. Nearshore Systems (Brian's company's) USA sales team kickoff and dinner. I had a chance to have dinner in Yerba Buena with Brian's co-founder Alex and his lovely wife, and Brian's US sales teams that flew in from Dallas and South Carolina. More photos coming soon from the fun dinner evening.
3. Spending quality time with our close friends Alan and Esther, and our Goddaughter Bailey. Alan and Esther were hospitable hosts and had Brian's favorite Chicago style pizza from Blue Line Pizza ready for us upon arrival.
Osha, Me, Joshua, and Lauren
Dave, Brian, and Ryan
4. Catching up with some of my best girlfriends Lauren and Osha, and their husbands Dave and Ryan with Brian. It was special because Brian and I met Lauren's Mini Me, Joshua for the first time! What a cutie Joshua is.
5. Gaurav and Neha's fabulous Indian Wedding at San Francisco City Hall.
Baraat Ceremony
The beautiful bride, Neha
Northern Indian wedding ceremony with many rituals
Gaurav and Neha getting roasted during wedding speeches
Brian and I at cocktail hour after the ceremony
With Lauren and Osha
Dave and Brian wearing traditional Northern Indian wedding wear for men
With Osha and Lauren at Gaurav and Neha's pre-wedding party
6. A Sunday picnic at Yerba Buena Gardens catching up with a few friends.
With Eric and Mariana, Brian and my former neighbors and church friends in SoMa
With Jeannine, long time no see since Japan 2 weeks ago!
With my SolarCity buddies Dave and Kendrick
7. Happy Hour at Americano, is always a classic after work hangout in San Francisco! I hosted a last minute happy hour and was happy to see a great turnout. It was a fun night catching up with friends.
8. Meeting Mason, my roommate of 4 years Rachel's newborn baby! Rachel and I were roommates for 4 years in San Francisco's Cow Hollow (aka Marina) district. We spent countless hours strolling the vibrant streets of Chestnut Street as single girls in our 20's back in the day. So it was very surreal, pushing Mason's stroller down Chestnut Street together! How times have changed.
9. My last night in San Francisco was spent with my childhood friend Gary, who I've known since the 1st grade. We caught up over Korean BBQ in the Richmond District.
I'm thankful for the short but sweet trip Brian and I had in San Francisco to catch up on business and with friends. We are very blessed to have met these amazing people during our time in San Francisco, and hope to build similar friendships at our future home, Hawaii.