San Francisco is one of the biggest cities in the US, inhabited by over 800,000 people and visited by over 20 million each year. Inspired by Humans of New York and with a day off from school, we went around the city and interviewed five of those people, residents and visitors alike, to learn more about their experiences in San Francisco and the life lessons they have learned along the way.
Ted Olsson
A third-generation San Francisco native, Ted Olsson says that his journey through life has been marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a deep commitment to serving his community through participating in Citizens Advisory Committees and being a tour guide for the city. From his beginnings at Lincoln High School to his tenure at City College and beyond, Olsson’s academic pursuits laid the groundwork for a career as an educator and beyond.
Despite missing the chance to attend UC Berkeley after attending Lincoln High School, he found his path at City College, eventually earning his B.A. and M.A. in British Literature before embarking on a transformative journey with the Peace Corps in South America. Teaching pathologists in Venezuela, Olsson made sure they were aware of the latest advancements in medicine. Upon his return to San Francisco, Olsson continued his educational endeavors, teaching at City College and Chabot College while pursuing his Ph.D. in American Literature at UC Santa Barbara.
Olsson’s interest in the places and stories of San Francisco led him to become a San Francisco City Guide. He says his role as a City Guide encapsulates his love for the city and its narrative. Olsson shares his wealth of knowledge and passion for community engagement by creating and leading tours throughout the city, inspiring others to connect with their surroundings and embrace the city’s diversity. Through his experiences, Olsson emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community by contributing to society.
“I’ve always been interested in the city,” Olsson said. “One of the first things that I did was I became involved with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority. I was on the Citizens Advisory Committee for half a dozen years and ended up as chairman. I got involved with City Guides by giving a tour originally on one of our many mural groups here, because I lived in Latin America twice and I became interested in these tours, and then I finally joined and gave a tour.”
Nicole Vee
Amidst the bustling streets and vibrant landscapes of San Francisco, Nicole Vee, a Sydney-based portrait artist, finds herself on a month-long holiday in Northern California that she claims is as much about exploration as it is about self-discovery. Vee explains that her trip coincided with her husband’s business engagements in San Francisco, allowing her to spend time traveling up the West Coast. She expresses a particular fondness for Napa Valley, citing its beauty and the friendliness of its residents as one of the highlights of her trip so far.
According to Vee, her itinerary has been filled with shopping, dining and visiting museums and art galleries. Vee, who specializes in portraits of people and animals, highlights the impact being an artist has had on her worldview.
“It profoundly affects my life, such as the way I see things and the ability to see beauty,” Vee said. “It’s in everything. So it’s everywhere I go, everything I see, everything I do. The main thing is the art of seeing and finding beauty in things that you wouldn’t expect.”
Lorena Hernandez
Lorena Hernandez’s journey to San Francisco began with an invitation from her uncle, leading her from Mexico, her native country, to the city. After a brief period of living with her relatives in San Francisco, she moved to Los Angeles and then back to San Francisco in the early 2000s.
After she moved back to San Francisco, Hernandez found herself homeless amid renting difficulties. Hernandez says that this challenging eight-month period taught her resilience and the importance of perseverance in finding employment and housing. Despite these difficulties, Hernandez highlights the many positives about her life in San Francisco, noting that her favorite aspects of the city are its progressive and welcoming nature and the kindness of its people.
“One memorable experience here in San Francisco was when I arrived here and went around the city and just saw how beautiful this city was,” Hernandez said. “I could see the entire city from Twin Peaks and the entire bay from the Golden Gate Bridge — it was just a wonderful experience.”
Carrie Edwards
Originally from Palo Alto, Carrie Edwards moved to San Francisco after finishing college 12 years ago. Initially drawn to the lively nightlife and youthfulness of the city, she decided to stay for her many friends and the delicious restaurants nearby. She also enjoys much of San Francisco’s nature, particularly the various nooks and crannies she has discovered outdoors.
“I love Golden Gate Park, Presidio or when you go up 17th Street and suddenly you’re at Mount Sutro and you’re in the middle of trees and birds, ” Edwards said. “I just feel more at peace when I get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
After a friend of hers passed away last year, Edwards says she started to reflect on her life more, thinking about the lessons she had learned. One lesson she has tried to keep in mind is that life is short, and she wants to try to enjoy it while she can.
“I like just getting meals with friends or little things like going to the beach with friends or going on bike rides,” Edwards said. “Enjoy some of the natural aspects of San Francisco. That’s just a good lesson. It’s not very unique, but I think it’s important.”
Domenico Modaffari
After attending a biology conference in California for Ph.D. students, Domenico Modaffari had a few days left before heading back to the United Kingdom, where he studied fungi genetics, specifically the role of local translation during hyphal growth in filamentous fungi. He decided to stop by San Francisco, hiking the Twin Peaks and visiting Ocean Beach. He also plans on partaking in tourist activities and sightseeing for the rest of his trip.
Modaffari especially likes how the city has a mix of both American and European culture. Modaffari, who is originally from Italy, highlights how his worldview expands when he visits another place to understand its culture or, as he likes to say, puts his feet in other people’s shoes.
“Always try to understand another person’s point of view,” Modaffari said. “Because I have had a different experience by living in different countries, understanding another person’s point of view is always important.”
