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San Francisco – initial culture shock

It’s just over a day since I arrived to San Francisco, and it’s time to write down some initial reflections, to prevent me getting too used to them:

  • starting off with the weather. It’s actually kind of cold. Around 14C throughout the day, even though reports are optimistic and claim 22C high. It’s also bit windy in some areas, making this climate even more annoying. It’s no bad, it just means I can’t walk around without a jacket.
  • hills are fun. Terrain button in Google Maps actually makes lots of sense now. You actually have to consider elevation when moving around.

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  • I’m still afraid of getting lost. It’s not that hard once you figure out which roads are connecting ones, but from the map, it looks like something from an ant farm:

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  • Solution to getting lost is of course – Google Maps enabled phone. Luckily @alpheus1 borrowed me his Google I/O Android G2 phone with powerful SIM. With all those apps on your phone, that use locational services (like where’s the closest cinema, shopping and what is the best public transport route from “here” to “there), you suddenly see the Future of Mobile. It’s very bright and I can’t wait for it to come to .si
  • Lots of Chinese take-away/restaurants here, the other half are hair saloons and spa’s. There’s also a place where you can legally buy medical marijuana (if you “need” it). Economy of local business development in neighborhoods has to be fascinating.
  • Lots of Hybrid cars on the road, together with very big cars. Think like SUV .si, just bigger.
  • People are much nicer here. Joggers in the morning actually greet each other.
  • Units here are just wrong. I wanted to buy 1kg of apples in the afternoon and realized I have no idea how to explain in local language. If you are wondering, you want to get about 2 lbs (pounds) of apples.
  • Working with people from all timezones is funny. My Dashboard looks currently has 5 clocks, so I don’t have to think:

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  • For now I still care for weather at home, so I can follow local chatter in chat rooms:

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  • Don’t let the weather report mislead you. It’s 14C all day.
  • I have yet to try roller skating over these hills, but it seems that they’ll be at least useful for weekend sightseeing tours around the city.

I have yet to connect with local scene so the report on that follows a bit later, but just looking at events list for next week shows some very promising things.

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— everyday life, Tech

10 responses to “San Francisco – initial culture shock”

  1. SF is great, you'll love it for sure! Just don't forget about that what Twain said: “The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco.” …and jackets in these summer days rule, yea they do!

  2. Medical marijuana, according to wiki it seems that it solves more problems than suicide 🙂

  3. Good luck with them 'mericuns! They're a strange bunch, but with a bit of hand-waving and gesturing you should be able to communicate with them. Don't forget to speak English really loud, that way they might actually understand it.

    But seriously, enjoy & have a great SF-summer!

  5. When I was in Frisco for the first time (in July) I was packing suitcase when there were 35 degrees (Celsius) in Slovenia. The first thing I bought there was a jacket 🙂

    Behind San Francisco Hilton in the Center is a nice little Taiwan restaurant which had great breakfasts for small prices.

  6. Pozdrav,
    it seem like a whole bunch of Slovenian people are coming to SF this summer 🙂 :rahla presene?enost:. Tudi mene je odneslo za naslednje 3 mesce sem (sicer nisem prišla ravno samo po?itnikovat in absorbirat SF vzdušje, ampak tud delat – na UCSF), nekaj dni prej tabo. Lepo bi se bilo kdaj sre?at, LP
    Katja

  8. With all those apps on your phone, that use locational services (like where’s the closest cinema, shopping and what is the best public transport route from “here” to “there), you suddenly see the Future of Mobile. It’s very bright and I can’t wait for it to come to .si

    It is already here 🙂 Check out odpiralnicasi app for the iPhone 😉

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