Adrianna Tan8 years ago, with much trepidation, my wife and I moved to San Francisco after we got married in New Zealand (the closest country that would marry us). We were midway through 45's first administration. We had no idea what any of it meant. Now, I understand every single letter and number and form in US immigration jargon. It's quite an achievement.
Today, I sit here in my comfortable San Francisco apartment after a week in beautiful Monterey, knowing that this place is now our home, in every sense. Our journey here has been full of ups and downs. Some days are frankly awfully hard, as an immigrant to this country.
But also: professional and personal opportunity, recognition of our marriage, a good life we are extremely optimistic about. Many ways to participate and serve in public life, more education opportunities than we initially knew, and so much more. Between us, we've lived in more than ten cities on 3 continents around the world, but somehow this one is the one that's stuck.
Next year, Sabrena graduates from a top program in clinical psychology and will become the multicultural, multilingual licensed therapist that the Bay Area so badly needs. In all that time, I've also had the opportunity to do plenty of interesting work at every level.
We've found our community here: the Go Slow Yo run club, the Monterey marine life geeks, the outdoorsy people, my birding friends, the bikecamping camps, the East Bay desi queers, the APIQWTC queer Asian aunties. For whatever reason, we've found a large number people here, Americans and not, who are so invested in making this place work and making us feel so welcome.
So no matter what happens, you're all stuck with us too.
Rocketman
Jay Thoden van Velzen ☁️🛡️:lolsob:
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