Day 0

I am sitting in a hilariously cliché international hostel with equally cliché backpacker/surfer people. Next to me is an Irish surfer smoking a cigarette, his blonde curls escaping from the front of his hoodie as he gazes off into nothing. Across from me is a somewhat awkward guy in a shirt and tie, who wants to know all about Harvard. No, Klondike and Scarlett, I did not prance in and say, “Hello! I’m Megz and I went to Harvard” (wistful emphasis on the “went”...). I was just stupid enough to wear a Harvard zip-up (it’s surprisingly chilly here in San Diego!). I’ve never slept in a hostel before, and am hoping that I will be exhausted enough to pass out even if I’m surrounded by creepers and/or snorers. I only got about two hours of sleep last night, since my flight left so early this morning. I suppose I slept a bit on the plane, but I was so excited and nervous that it was rather fitful (and there was turbulence for a lot of the flight). I wanted to get a good last look at Boston as the plane took off, but unfortunately, my window was facing away from the skyline. Instead, I saw the clouds draw nearer and nearer to my face, then I was in their midst, and eventually they became a pillowly barrier between me and my former life. How poetic, I thought.

As soon as I departed the plane, I went to the ladies room. I was washing my hands next to a trashy-looking forty-something who wanted desperately to be a twenty-something, and I was judging her bleached hair and acrylic nails harshly. But then she reached over to the paper towels and offered me a handful first, before taking some for herself. This tiny gesture of politeness left an important impression on me: what a warm welcome to the state of California! Maybe everyone will be as kind. Maybe I should judge people less.

I arrived to a whole bunch of rental car drama that eventually got sorted out. Not only did it get sorted out, but the Avis agent with whom I was negotiating waived the under-25 rental fee, which would have added up to almost $800 extra. Thank you, Roberto from Avis. My second human interaction in California was even more positive than my first, and I was in a stellar mood. To make matters better, my rental car is an adorable red Ford Focus, not a scary old Pontiac or similar, as I had been fearing.

After checking in at my hostel, I decided to drive into downtown San Diego to have a look around, since I won’t be researching this city. I browsed through the current Let’s Go guide to find a good restaurant, and settled on The Cadillac Diner, because I felt like a burger (and because it had a thumbpick). I entered the 50s throw-back carnival a bit cautiously, since I’m not one of those self-assured people who feels entirely comfortable announcing, “Just one, please.” I was seated at a booth right next to the DJ who was happily spinning 50s tunes and rambling aimlessly into his old radio-style microphone. Then my waiter came over and threw straws in my face. I kid you not – fistfuls of straws. I looked up, perplexed, and he yelled, “Hi! I’m Biff!”
No, he was not.
“You mean like the obnoxious nemesis in Back to the Future?”
He nodded. “Yup! Only less obnoxious.”
Hm. That was debatable.

But he did make me an absolutely delicious chocolate milkshake, so I forgave him and left him a generous tip. Then I went outside and wandered around some more, feeling a little silly. Eventually, after having purchased some graham crackers for the road tomorrow, I returned to my car (which had been valet parked, quite unnecessarily and against my wishes). The valet approached me and asked, “Did you find a bar where you can watch the Celtics game?” Bewildered for a moment, I shook my head before realizing he was making assumptions based on my Harvard zip-up.
That’s the first time that’s ever happened, of course.
But we struck up a conversation about Boston teams (he was from Rhode Island, a state which I have come to think of as a sad glom-on to Boston’s fan base), and eventually he waved me away without accepting my parking fee. How friendly! This has been a lovely first day, but of course, I haven’t done any research yet. Day One, tomorrow, might be a different story.