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Was hoping for some intelligent, somewhat deep insights on the old world v the new world, but instead this reads like something any brogrammer fresh out of the University of Texas could have written.

“Housing is expensive! Oh the food is kind of weird! Being in the same time zone with people is good!”

I want to praise the author for being brave and moving thousands of miles to do what he wants, clearly there was risk there, but hopefully he sees more of the world than that indicated by this Twitter post.

Are you offended? I think he covered quite a broad selection of topics. Also he said the food is insanely good.
> The local sporting goods store sells a wide variety of firearms.

As somebody who lived in Downtown SF for 5+ years I don't think there is a single gun store in the city. It is also quite a lengthy and rigorous process to purchase a firearm in California.

> American's are offensively loud

I don't want to be negative, but show the hypocrisy of such a statement. Europeans are offensively egotistical, arrogant, and stand-on podiums of self righteousness.

I doubt his experiences were primarily in the city -- absolutely no mention of homelessness, human excrement, or hypodermic needles, incredible!
Well, TBF he did say Silicon Valley, not SF.
homeless citizens and needles I understand, but 'human excrement' -- what? Is people shitting in the streets as common and as noticeable as homelessness? WTF is that about, I thought SF was, by and large, wealthy? Why isn't it clean?
If I had to estimate "common and noticeable" sightings based on our old office near twitter and my experiences:

Homelessness -- multiple per block

Excrement -- every other block

Public drug use (non pot) -- every other day

Public urination -- once per week

Public defecation -- once per month

I was assaulted at the street corner near our office once in the 1.5 years we were there.

My guess is that the homeless population is just too large to manage any reasonable degree of cleanliness.

I visited about 2 weeks ago from the UK and after 2 days in the centre staying around the SoMa area, I believe SF is the most overrated place I've ever visited.

1. The homeless/junkies felt like 1/3 of all people visible. They can be seen face down in the middle of pavements and can be aggressive. Human excrement is definitely a thing there and I've not seen it before in any other city.

2. People buying $7 latte's stepping over homeless people and calling themselves "progressive" and "liberal" don't understand the meanings of those words. "Self Important" and "pretentious" are more accurate.

3. The traffic is insane. The public transport sucks.

4. The food was the best I've had in the US in that it was fresh and seemingly unprocessed. It is expensive though.

5. Tech companies annoyingly rent public spaces and decent bars when there are conferences. I'm looking at you Google.

6. Drinkable beer is expensive.

7. The Computer History Museum is good.

8. The Pier area is meh with chain restaurants.

> I don't want to be negative, but show the hypocrisy of such a statement. Europeans are offensively egotistical, arrogant, and stand-on podiums of self righteousness.

Now now :) Some Americans can be loud in settings where Europeans usually prefer hushed conversations. Generally, in places like restaurants you don't want your experience to be dominated by the Americans at the table next to you's conversation. This happens sometimes, and people tend to generalise.

When I lived in Germany everyone was always like Americans are so loud! But their own were just as loud just as often. Its as if they have a blind spot for when their own country acts the same way.

But speaking of annoying things. Europeans talk so much trash about foreigners when they think they don't know their language, like an absurd amount.

Getting a credit score as an immigrant with no close friends:

1: get a store card 2: get a bank account or two with large bank (say Chase), after you've deposited large sums of money for a few months, ask them about credit cards 3: when you get a credit card offer from someone reputable (say Cap One) accept it 4: apply for cards online that have low score requirements, then higher as your score improves and repeat, but no more than about 4 a year.

If you have a close friend who pays off their cards each month just get them to issue one of their cards in your name but don't use it. Weirdly them using and paying off their card improves your credit score.

> If you have a close friend who pays off their cards each month just get them to issue one of their cards in your name but don't use it. Weirdly them using and paying off their card improves your credit score.

This works because of a Federal Reserve regulation (Regulation B, specifically) about how spousal authorized user credit reporting is performed.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/feds/2010/201023/201023p...

If your in a country with a American Express they will give you a card based on the fact you had one in the other country.
ha, Belgium is awesome and the Bay Area is a piece of shit.
If he’s impressed by chicken and waffles, wait till he tries shrimp and grits.

What’s the bread thing about? Has the Bay Area banned bread?

If you've only eaten bread in the USA you've never actually had bread. Even Australians complain about it.