The City of the Golden Gate
As I am writing this, I am counting my days left here in my homeland country. Leaving has left me pondering with uncertainties, I never wanted to leave, I can give hundreds of reason for that, but for a single reason, just for that single reason, I tend to cease that hundred grounds and just leave.
Eighteen years is fairly more than enough for me to be attached in my country, it’s my home. It shapes me to who I am today, my ideology and mythos has been yielded in my country’s vast struggle against difficulties. It is my comfort zone my kinsfolk land, my friends gazebo and my memories and childhood’s hurdle, however it is also for them that evokes me to leave and take a leap.
I am bound to depart the Pearl of the Orient to live the American Dream. I don’t know how life would work there, but I never doubted my capacities. This decision is not a choice because there is no choice at all.
I am not dismayed or dejected. Anxiousness, vague one, is the one that conceals me now. After months lapses, I have mulled over, things can work even on that way. Things has been so easy now with advance technology in communication. I told my friend, “I’m just a click away!”.
The City of the Golden Gate awaits me now, only the plane ticket is missing in the action. Sure I’ll treat this as an opportunity, I’d rather think it that way. I’m not there to play over, it’s actually an emancipation from childhood. Suddenly, I am old enough to look to myself and be responsible in my decisions. It’s not an easy task to be far away with people that is close to your heart. It is often stereotyped that going there and experiencing the fantasy of four season is always a catch of green pasture. I know in myself it will take me hard work, arduous one.
No pain, no gain. I told myself my life will give me some worth if I have my college diploma. I pursue it here in the Philippines but not for so long, I do not consider this moving as an interruption, rather an ascent in opportunity. Wherever I am, I’m ready to sacrifice toilsome effort to earn that golden ticket to success.
I don’t know what it’s like to live in a place that only in postcards I tend to see. I am preparing myself for racism, chauvinism … kidding. But I admit, it really hint me to think of that possibilities. Expect the worst as folks says.
It’s much better writing it in blogs, so I’ll have some shame of myself telling this all to the world and not making it.
The Golden Gate Bridge
You’ll make it. Goodluck!
The hardest part will be just the few months, when you’re all adjusted to it, life will be as normal as it should be!
homeysweety said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:32 pm
SF is nice place to be. You’ll enjoy it buddy!
yankee said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Go for that american dream! see you around! happy trip!
johnny said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Many of us don’t really notice the traffic around us when driving. This activity calls on us to be very vigilant and attentive, but we tend to “space out” and just drive along and daydream. I think it is amazing there are as few accidents as there are, under the circumstances.
sfrocks said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:33 pm
heres the weather info.
While it could get into the 80’s its often chilly in the Bay Area this time of year (I’m wearing a sweater today). Actually, all the tourist shops in SF sell hoodie sweatshirts because tourists so often think that if they’re in California it will be warm! Plan on weather in the 60s and 70s – but bring a pair of shorts for if it gets warm and a sweater for if it gets cold.
Oh and PS – it never rains in the summer. You can leave behind the umbrella.
katie said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:34 pm
The most common weather pattern during the summer is early morning fog which clears by noon, a period of warm sunny weather in the afternoon followed by a return of the fog in the early evening.
arabit said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:34 pm
It’s often foggy,cloudy,windy and cold.The nights are always cold.Very little rain.One mile inland it will be burning hot and sunny but not SF
orlando said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm
First of all, just south of San Francisco is a huge Filipino population. So look for Filipino communities nearby if you get homesick.
What to expect:
1. High cost of living. High rent, high gas price, high grocery, etc. Check out Craigslist for your housing options.
2. Weather. In general, weather is on the cooler side. Expect high temperature between low-60s to mid-70s temperature (Fahrenheit) year round, with temperature dropping 10 to 20 degrees during night time (you will learn to carry a jacket wherever you go). Foggy in the summer, generally dry except in winter time when it rains about once a week.
3. Great dining options and lots of bars. Not so great night life though.
4. Amazing outdoor. Located within 4 hour driving distance are great ski resort (e.g., Lake Tahoe), great mountains (e.g., Yosemite), wine country, great beaches (although water is too cold for swimming), pretty downtowns (e.g., Sausalito, Palo Alto, Los Gatos), and so on.
5. Multi-ethnic community. Latino, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Russian, etc.
6. Technology center. If you are in tech industry, you are in tech heaven: Adobe, Apple, Cisco, Google, Intel, Intuit, HP, Oracle, Sun, Yahoo!, etc. all have headquarters here.
7. So so public transportation. Although SF boosts pretty good bus system, city-to-city mass transit (e.g., BART, Caltrain) is a bit on the expensive side and not always well connected. Most highways, particularly east and south bays get highly congested during rush hours.
nutmeg said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I have lived near the Bay area all my life. S.F is expensive but has everything anyone could want. Yes, you do need a college education, just to be competitive career wise, but that is OK, because S.F. is a great place to get an education. When you arrive, the first thing you should do, is look into the community colleges for the fall semester. They may also be able to help you in a job search. Leisure life, has major league (Giants and the A’s), NFL football (49′ers and Raiders), museums, clubs, the bay, hiking, biking, boating, etc.
kim said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm
It’s expensive, but has a lot going for it. If you are competent on computers, you may be able to get started doing work via temp agencies. Although you’ll see cheap rents in places like hunters point or the civic center (tenderloin, code named “Lower nob hill”
these are areas you should probably avoid.
ross said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:36 pm
San Fran is a great city. Its very clean, great culture in general, but very expensive also. It has a large gay population I believe and has many beautiful parks, and lots of stuff to do. Some great schools as well, wonderful arts community.
whipper said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:37 pm
go to the restrant just out side the golden gate bridge and the alkitras tour is awesome and go to the top of the tall hill by back street awesome go to all the parks and ride a trally and go to the great pier
edwards said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:37 pm
It depends on where you live in the USA. It’s a big country with so many different places, so the experience can vary in different areas of the country. I’ve been to areas of the US where I felt out of place, but I’ve also been to areas that are some of the nicest places I’ve ever been. Some people like living in the United States – other people might not, it really depends on personal preferences.
There are good and bad people in every country, you will meet people who you like and you will probably meet people who you dislike, same as in any country.
kramer said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Just don’t join any sort of gang.
matt said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm
stay away from all the gay bars
jonas said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm
well its really nice and open and big and just plain beautiful…i go there at least once a year….its a but expensive to live there so be prepared lol!!
some fun places to go that i can think of are
–alcatraz state prison!! [[its not a prison anymore dont worry]]
–fisherman’s wharf
–pier 39
–golden gate park and surrounding area
–aquarium
AND MUCH MORE ,JUST GO AND EXPLORE!
mark said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:39 pm
well skip all the tourist attractions… like Pier 39 and alcatraz, My only advice is DONT.
booby said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Well, be prepared….San Francisco is a very expensive place to live. Housing is very expensive! I’m wondering why in particular you chose San Francisco. It is a beautiful place, but I wouldn’t want to live there. I live near San Francisco, but far enough away that I don’t have to live with the crowding and craziness of the city.
Many people who live there find that it is too difficult to own a car. Parking is expensive, and if you don’t have a parking space at your apartment, it is difficult to find an open space. Many people walk, bike, or take the bus or streetcar.
The weather there is usually cool, and often foggy, although in the summer there are some sunny days that get warm.
I’m not sure what other kinds of things to tell you. I do visit the city often.
denny said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:40 pm
HAI FRIEND,
first of all , i say ” heartiest congratulations to you. i think you will have peace & nice journey.
the best hotal in san francisco is “JW Marriott Hotel San Francisco ” it is a nice place to see. you can enjoy it. it has a lot of facilities. whereever you go my whishes will always come with you. “be ahead in your life”.
andy said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:40 pm
it’s nice in here buddy! dont you worry. you can do everything you want to do. but you ought to know, you be living in one of the most expensive city in the world! you really need hard work!
kimmy said this on July 15, 2008 at 12:41 pm