I'm eating half a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts. I was with Sheeva and Nicole yesterday night and we were sitting around in Sheeva's apartment in between Pacific and Laurel Heights. I parked myself across Locust Street and stepped to my right to pick up a Tall Soy Latte' at the corner Starbucks. I still dont have a laptop case so I carried my imac in my big red bag that looks like a hippie's sack. It's funny what comes out of a bag. The tissues, ba-on 'ed food, gum, compact mirrors, lipsticks, lipglosses, travel mascara, wallets, cash, cell phones, sunglasses, paper, pens, keys, digital camera, money for the bar, card just in case, listerine strips, Marlboro menthol lights, little purse, cardigan or some clothing, and random receipt paper we have in there? At that moment in time, my big red bag was carrying a pink scarf from Persia and a fitted blazer from MNG that I borrowed from Sheeva the night before. I also brought over a house gift of a 2001 wine bottle of Merlot that added to my load. Keys, cell phone, Wrigley gum, my mac laptop, a little bag of fries from KFC I was snacking on, my black leather H&M checkbook wallet, and random cash and cards everywhere but inside the wallet. Dont you hate it when your purse gets like that?
Sheeva, Nicole, and I sprawled ourselves out on the bed, iMacs out and heads perched down while we skimmed through emails, myspace, facebook, and looked up once in awhile to share something a friend had messaged. After, Sheeva had just come back from Europe the week before and she drove me into stories about Paris, Roma, Milan, Germany, and Belgium. She told me how she had met her friends from the Philippines there and how they had such a great time away together. Then Nicole had told me about her trip to Hawaii the weekend before. A getaway trip to relax because spring semester was done. Then it was my turn to tell them what the city has to offer them. Both being new to San Francisco, even more, the United States, I've become the city girl they go to to see where to relax and party.
You know, it's kind of great to have a whole set of different friends. Not the same crowd all the time, but I like being associated to one. I'm glad Sheeva's in San Francisco and she knows this is where she belongs. And I'm glad I've gotten to meet Nicole. Nicole is also my cousin Bianca's best friend in the Philippines, so family is family. I feel like I have another girlfriend to look out for now. But I've made closer friends as well.
We dished over guys and dilemmas and work and school. They told me how they miss the Philippines and usually I'm not one to say that to because I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to that country. But I understand. Its not easy living in a different country and having a different lifestyle. There's no ya-yas around or chauffer drivers or papparazzi following them here. And from this, they explained living here feels more like a vacation if anything. We all exchanged advice on boys, friends, and school. We argued when's the next time we should shop together and what we've been dying to do. Nicole talked about her sorority and her parties and Sheeva told us about the frisbee season that was starting soon and how nervous she was. I showed them the show and what I've been up too. We catalog shopped Urban Outfitters for Sheeva's trip to China for the frisbee tournament. We turned on Safari and found more dresses online. We gushed over the new designs and helped restrain one another from buying everything on the site. She decided on a black one and I got another flowy white piece to add to my collection. We hiccuped and took turns playing our music on our iTunes. So much music I've never heard of! But then again, that's what they said to me when I played mine. Before I left that night, Nicole had given me a box of Hawaiian Host chocolate covered macadamia nuts. She told me that she'd been listening to me tell them how I missed Hawaii and how I wanted to go back and visit our "apo" (its Nicole's apo now too bc shes part of the family) and how I wish I could travel again like them and need extra passport spaces provided because the booklet is full. But #1. I'm not a star in the Philippines like they are. (only here to a certain extent ;)) #2. I cant just leave whenever I want. I have too much going around and for me here. #3. I feel like my schedule has been booked 2 years in advance sometimes. and #4. I dont think I even know what a vacation is.
But I know I'm going to start traveling soon and see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pi architecture, the Rome coliseums, real gondolas, and the southern wine country of France one day. Those dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts are my favorite chocolates in the world. A small affection of friendship like a box of chocolates can make someone appreciate so much of one another. A bottle of red wine and family girl talk with cousins makes the feeling even better. I love these wind downs. And when I get them with my cousins, I take full advantage of my time with my anaks.
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