Authenticity and the Importance of Being Appreciative: Mission District, San Francisco
The beggar’s hands were covered in a mixture of mud and sweat as he lifted his face and flashed me a toothless grin. My immediate reaction was to pull away but the kindness in his eyes helped me understand the harmless situation I found myself in. I fished inside my bag and pulled out some change, which I gently placed inside the upside down hat laying next to him on the pavement. I smiled warmly and continued on my walk.
My mind was stripped of all expectations prior to entering San Francisco’s Mission District. Getting off the bus at 14th avenue with no idea of what to expect, the first thing I noticed was that we were far from the downtown vibe first experienced upon arriving. The streets in Mission were overpopulated by a vision of homelessness that was so foreign to me. While some were still curing a hang over from the night before, others were rummaging through bins looking for food or trash to turn into treasure. As I walked the first couple of blocks, a diverse blend of languages could be heard echoing in the air like music to my ears. I was amazed at the contrast between the areas in San Francisco and by this stage I knew that Mission possessed some sort of individuality and rawness that made it stand out from the rest.
I wandered past the murals on Balmy Avenue and got lost in the magic. Inspired by Diego Riviera’s 1930s masterpieces, generations of muralists have covered alleys and various institutions with over 400 murals to show political rebellion and community pride. It was a joy to walk through the colorful streets and immerse myself in the culture and strongly held beliefs that these artists were so persistent in preserving.
The women’s building was particularly special with its extraordinary 1994 Maestraepeace piece which was created by seven muralists covering two sides of the building with women pioneers.
I continued to feast my curiosity on an array of independent cafes and restaurants alongside colourful fruit shops, old school hair salons and other small boutiques selling everything from clothing to art, books and jewellery.
While it may not be located at the top of every travellers bucket list, Mission is a very special area that is still deeply attached to its roots, and one which continues to uphold its tradition in staying unique compared to the rest of the city.
It is a place that offers those who are curious enough to enter, a different perspective on life. After all, isn’t that the real beauty of travelling? When we are exposed to new cities or countries, we find ourselves looking at all the different ways people around the world live that is so far removed from what we are used to. It sheds light on the ignorance and lack of understanding surrounding ethnicity and cultural identity and helps us realise just how vital compassion and kindness are in today’s world. Ultimately, we see trivial details that we tend to analyse and stress over on a daily basis for what they truly are – insignificant.
