Last saturday I hooked up with Joe and his girlfriend Moo. I've been planning to since I got here, but because of the holidays and limited weekends it took two months before we saw each other. Weekends here have to be well spent because there's no time during the work week to go out unlike in Manila. I miss that very much. Although, on the brighter side of things-this kind of situation makes me appreciate weekends more. Even as we're slaving away at work, it's something to look forward to.

As usual, I took the Bart and was picked up at the Daly City Station. Joe and I had dinner at this Thai restaurant and later on went to his girlfriend's house to hang out and for me to get settled in before we went out. Since I lived far away, they invited me to spend the night there. And when we got there, I was pleased to find that Moo's a very cool girl and an easy person to talk to. She was very accomodating and fun.

They took me to this club called Snow Drift. It was located in the industrial part of SF and there was no other bar close by. It's a cool place. For that evening, a lot of Pinoys were there. It's funny that I felt like I was in Manila for a short while. I also saw some familiar faces. The only downside of it was that the crowd wasn't as sociable. I remember an American trying to befriend the group beside us by toasting and greeting them and he was ignored. It's not that they were snobbish, I guess partly it's some shy nature that we have or simply-it's just the way we are.

I, for one, am a shy person-the type who wouldn't start a conversation and wouldn't talk unless spoken to. But I find that I am more sociable and friendly here. Perhaps it's because people here are more friendly and chances are, my greeting would be acknowledged. I remember whenever I'd try to talk with a stranger in Manila, I'd find that they're either awkward in having to talk or they simply act as if they haven't heard anything. It's like you have to be introduced before an easy conversation could take place. But the good thing about it is that once we're well acquainted, there's a certain warmth and connection that follows.

After hanging out for a few hours in Snow Drift, they took me to Voodoo Lounge. And I must say that I like the place. It somehow reminded me of a bar in Malate, but it was brighter. What also appealed to me was that the crowd was diverse. You can mingle with anyone and everyone. I wanted to stay longer, but we couldn't because the bar was about to close. That's one of the downsides here-the bars close early.

They drove me home the next day. But before that, we went to Ashby to have brunch. I had a manageable hangover so I was able to enjoy the brief walk to the ecclectic Hawaiin cafe. It was nice to look around because the place had an artsy crowd and the shops were interesting. And as I was walking, I thought of going back by myself so that I would have the freedom to look around and shop at my own pace without having to hassle anyone.

Little by little, I'm able to go around. What may seem to be ordinary to everyone else is for me, an exploration already. I'm exploring a new place, finding new things and learning a new culture. Even if we are somehow westernized, it is still different to actually experience it. I feel like a child discovering new things and it's fun. And little by little, I think I'm beginning to overcome that certain fear of having to do something by myself and on my own in a foreign land (to think that I've always thought of myself as a very independent and somewhat fearless person).