Introduction: the land of opportunities

The United States always had a reputation for great stories. Mine began in Switzerland, where I met a philanthropic foundation that supports global projects for the poorest people. This fruitful connection allowed me to do an extended pro bono consulting in the States and later Kenya. And suddenly I was sitting on an airplane to San Francisco with WIFI on board. Living in the States never was a dream of mine, but now I had the perfect opportunity. So I set out to my first unpaid engagement for a social cause.

Homebase: feeling at home from the first day

My first impression of the city was a friendly Chinese in a Tesla. This friend of a friend picked me up at the airport and invited me to a great Sushi place. As the accommodation prices are on a horrendous rise, finding an affordable place was not easy at all. This is also manifested by the countless homeless people you encounter in the streets. Because the weather is temperate throughout the year, whole camps of tents arose. I made the right choice of booking a room in a small bed and breakfast.

Transportation: up and down the hills

The city’s topography is interesting and challenging. Some streets are flat, others so steep they need steps. Nevertheless, my absolute favourites were riding the bicycle and walking. For an American city, there are surprisingly many dedicated cyclist (green) and bus (red carpet) lanes. With buses, trains and some sort of a metro, the public transportation is not too bad. However, people are obsessed with driving big cars (SUVs). No wonder private taxi networks like Uber, Lift and Chariot are blossoming.

Districts: a miniature copy of the world

The bay area attracts people from all over the world. By crossing the city, you might as well travel around the globe. In Downtown, you will find Little Italy, China Town and the Russian Hill. The modern Financial District borders directly to Tenderloin, where you find most governmental departments and homeless people. South of Market (SOMA) booms with startups and co-working spaces, whereas the Mission is dominated by Mexicans. Every single district is worth an exploration.

People: friendly, busy and independent

It is very easy to go out, meet people and have fun. Because of my extended networking activities, I literally met hundreds of people. The majority I only saw once, but I also managed to meet many again. Especially in the Chinese community, I gained some very good friends. Everybody is following his or her dream to live a rich and fulfilled life. People seem to be generally more conscious about their choices and lifestyle. I can genuinely say, that I enjoyed every moment with them.

FOMO: about the Fear Of Missing Out

Having endless opportunities can become a burden. Never before have I been to a place with such a rich offer of activities. You can start the day with Yoga or a Rave and end it with a drink or nightlife in a museum. The latter is especially fun, as it combines exploratory learning and going out. Numerous good restaurants, nightclubs and comedy shows wait to be explored. For the first time in my life, I was overwhelmed by the abundance of high-quality activities.

Summary: more than hippies and startups

The vibrant city has treated me well. I have met some remains of the hippie culture and been part of the startup community. But I could also dig deeper and experience much more than that. San Francisco is so rich in culture, made by authentic and engaged people. I truly hope to meet many of them again - at the right time in the right place.

A warm thank to all the great people who made me feel at home in San Francisco!