World Inside Out Part 4: Hasta La Proxima

Here we are, the first week of February and like that went the first month of the year. January was an interesting introduction of what can unravel in 2016. There was a lot of reflection on what I want out of my life. With opportunities and a series of events things are slowly falling into place. The future holds great mystery and for my curious self I don't mind the future being mysterious and unknown as it is because I have a feeling it's going to be a very positive year for me.

I am closing this series with not my last location, my last one was Humphry, Dianda's.

Dianda's

While waiting for my tacos at La Taqueria I saw Dianda's and thought dessert before a main meal never hurt anyone. Went into this Italian bakery and immediately was drawn to their cookie display cases. I was expecting it to be as similar to a Mexican panderia, bakery. It did look like it to some extent, the major difference was the sweets involved. I ended up getting a few shortbread cookies with a dollop of chocolate and a biscotti. There was a ton of other pastries and cakes, I wanted to buy it all. BART would have not allowed me to fulfill this dream. The women at the front were very patient and friendly, service was quick. . . they took credit card.

I waited till the next day to have my treats, which was $5 for four items. It was worth waiting to have them because they went great with my coffee. My cookies were the only lingering items from my night before and when they were gone I really had to think about my next excursion to the Mission. 

OVERALL: 5/5

There was a lot to take in with the few hours I had with Renee. The time went by so fast, it was as close as a fairytale as I can get to; "midnight" struck and we departed ways. Renee shared so much about herself and her experiences on taking in SF alone. Her story was truly inspiring and a reminder where at times in life you take chances where at times doesn't make common sense. If there was top 5 things I took from my afternoon/night with Renee it would be this.

1. MAKE FRIEND EVERYWHERE YOU GO: That means getting to know the homeless people you see daily and sitting at the bar, do it. Everyone has their own experiences to share and building connections is important and almost a lost art form.

2. KEEPING BUSY MOVES YOU FORWARD: When she shared on how she got here in SF there was one thing she wished she did right away and that was keeping busy and always try to do something. I tried to keep myself busy so I never faltered to remembering my past with my ex and for once I realized I needed to start doing things for myself. This applies to the last one because there are over 6 billion people in this world, that's 6 billion stories. 6 billion stories in one weird way or another connected to another story. Might as well close in some of those gaps. 

3. MONEY SHOULDN'T OWN YOU: Renee never said anything similar to this phrase. She talked about her travels and her life. She talked about what she does now and with my thought on how the f*ck am I going to be able to hold myself up up here. Renee talked about traveling and how at time her expenses were cutting it close. She encouraged traveling and when she talked about her travels it was as if I was watching a flower blossom before me. It was sheer excitement and beauty in what it's like to travel a part of the world. How this connects to "Money shouldn't own you" is for me I saved for a life of marriage and family when there was a part of me who wanted to experience the world in anyway it can be given. Then the life of marriage and family vanished and here I was hesitant to take on the world because of expenses. I learned with Renee life cannot limited because of money, it's only limited to the person. Money was one problem to my failed relationship; I wasn't going to let it be a factor into feeling failure in my life. 

4. TAKE CHANCES AND MAKE MISTAKES: I combined this because it does go hand in hand, trial and error and what not. Renee took a chance moving here to SF and I have to say for someone who took that chance about 5/6 years ago (Renee, again, you can correct me if I'm wrong) she is victorious in her own way. I really admire Renee from the moment she started talking to me on the phone. I experienced a positive chill run through my body and goosebumps. Renee gave me goosebumps!! There are moments where one has to contemplate on pros and cons in making decisions; then there are time where you say "Eff it, I'm going to do it!!" That's a lot what I did in January. 

5. PURSUE WHAT YOU LOVE, RELENTLESSLY: When I told Renee about my blog, she was excited. A complete stranger, now someone who I can call my Local Guru, likes what I'm writing. Interested in my hobby which every now and then I feel discouraged about because in some form of reality I'm not consistent. There has been periods where I have not typed up anything for weeks and at one times months. No one reads what I have to say and there was at times where I wanted to delete everything. All my words gone in a few seconds. The thought of that is scary; as you see I didn't pull the plug. If I can get one view a day then I'm content. I'm really starting to find my passion in talking about food and hearing other people talk about food. This is only the beginning of my journey into the foodie world and I'm ready to take it head on. Renee was only a glimpse of other people I can reach out to with my passion. Other wonderful, amazing people who have their own passion to share. 

As I take on NorCal, there are fears and concerns. That was why World Inside Out was made, to take those who's new like myself and connect them with someone who helps them through their new transition to the Bay. There is a price for this service ($60). Yeah it comes with a price tag however I have made new friends, I have learned about the City, I learned more about myself, I learned a little bit more about life in general, and I ate a lot of tacos. So yeah, it was WELL WORTH it to me. 

Renee ended up walking me to the BART station to bid me farewell and I was glad to hear she was more than happy to give me a food excursion of the year. . . so far. I'm glad she is also someone I can connect with even though our schedules are pretty busy. If anyone in the Bay area is considering to try World Inside Out, I say try it and request for Renee. She wasn't given the title Local Guru for nothing. Renee helped me look at NorCal a different way, she made me look at it as home. I'm starting to get comfortable and as I enter February with this experience in my pocket I know whatever happens to me here on out is nothing but building my life here in the East Bay.