My business contact in San Francisco, prolific game designer Chris DeLeon, was so kind as to host my stay for the annual Game Developer's Conference. I used my time there to grow my knowledge of and exposure to the gaming industry. More information about that trip can be found on my other blog for Game Design and Development. Though the weather was a bit chillier than I anticipated, I found San Francisco to be a pleasant change from freezing Ithaca (still below 32 degrees!). The city itself was also quite fascinating. Aside from unceasing GDC action, I managed to force my tired body out into the town. One night I went to a bar that was gaming-themed for the evening; everybody was dancing to 8bit (video game) music while wearing masks shaped like the enemies from the Space Invader game. There were even kids playing Street Fighter 4 in the corner; only during GDC could I find this kind of place! The evening before I left San Fran, I went with Chris and his roommate John Nesky to a wedding reception at the Exploratorium. I drunkenly regressed from exploring the exhibits to blowing giant bubbles for over an hour. Awesome.
On Sunday, I took a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles. I passed the time on the long bus ride with some reading and chatting with a cute asian girl about Japan, the Japanese, and their pet penguins. I stayed with Frieda for most of the week, and we grew much closer to each other. Throughout the week I went along with her to various middle-eastern themed activities; she took me to the Levantine Cultural Center, a screening for the film Niloofar (a coming-of age story), and a performance of Salam Shalom: Enemies... Another Love Story (a Palestinian/Israeli gay love story). Oh, and there was the gay night club. When I wasn't dancing with Frieda or getting sleepy on the sidelines, I'd be repeatedly dance-raped by one of our gay possee. He liked to ask me “Are you gay?” and when I would respond, “No,” he quickly corrected me, “I'm gonna make you gay,” and kept dancing. Awkwardly hilarious!
The week ended with a long-anticipated Jamfest at Neil's house. Uncle Mike and Franchesca were not able to make it, but Tia, Adam, Neil and I rocked out for Aunt Camille and her guest. There was an amazing synchronicity this evening! We attempted to write a song, which I titled Merritime Fair because of the sound and feel of it. The song was never finished, but when we on a quick walk to pick up a couple of pizzas, we spotted a sign for a local business with the word “Meritime,” in the title. Neat, huh? The end result of the booze and drug-infused jamboree was a ridiculous recording and the unfortunately-necessary purging of dinner.
After spending two soul-gratifying weeks in California, I've finally broken through areas in my life that had previously been walled off. My professional life is now booming with activity, and my time with Frieda helped me relax and open up my heart. Though we had to be realistic and choose to go our separate ways, I'm confident in my ability to make a good relationship work when I get out of college and start to settle into my career.
