Ice Is Back with a Brand New Invention

Yes, the rumors are true. We are back from the city with two dads. And while I thought we would be back to play a little frisbee this morning, I find myself back in Logan working at The Trailhead. I forgot I was scheduled to work. Oh bother.
Anyway, I have a few observations and experiences to share about our stay in the City of Intimate Brotherly Love.

1) I probably heard just as many, if not more languages other than english spoken in San Fran. San Fran has been accepting people from China, Japan, Mexico, and everywhere else for almost two hundred years! When you go to Chinatown everything is in Cantonese, and everyone speaks Cantonese. When you go to Little Italy, signs are in Italian. I know I have taken the approach lately that immigrants need to integrate into society, learn English, and "become American" as soon as possible. I don't know if that really is the "American Way." In San Francisco (and New York also) they take the approach of "Come to America, and we'll accomodate you until you feel comfortable." Sometimes older immigrants never feel comfortable, and it takes the next generation to "become American" whatever that means. It seems THAT has been the true way of immigrants coming here for years. Since I grew up in Utah, where immigration is relatively small in numbers, I haven't seen the broader picture.

2) I've always wanted to live in a big city, at least for a year. I may still do that, but my desire to do so may be waning. San Francisco is a great city for architecture, art, things to see, public works and such. Once the novelty of all that wears off it's really just a big concrete hive that's a haven for alternative lifestyles, and fashionable single life. There were very few families compared to Utah (or just a suburb anywhere) and probably even fewer members of the church. I feel as though we would be in a minute minority in a big city. That could be a great experience... I dunno.

3) The Golden Gate Bridge is Awe-Inspiring! We biked across it twice, and although it was windy, and foggy, it was coo.

4) In probably the most "liberal" city in America, I felt as though there was a collective conciousness and intelligence in current affairs. The citizens are very active in their government, and because of that San Fran is a GREAT place. For the most part it is clean, beautiful, interesting, and well-planned (not to mention extremely expensive). I wish Salt Lake City had the public works and planning that San Francisco has.

5) Cold, and windy most of the time there. Fog sucks! I appreciate our weather here a lot more.

6) I'm glad to be back home.