In San Francisco

It’s been a week here in San Francisco and I’ve been all over this town. One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t even move without money pouring out of your pockets. EVERYTHING is expensive. Even walking down the street there are a lot of homeless asking for change. It’s hard to drop coins after seeing the poor in Cambodia and trying to figure out who will not buy drugs with the money. Also, I rented a car and got two parking tickets. The first was for not having my “wheels curbed,” which means you have to turn your wheels towards the curb in case your car starts to roll since a lot of parking are on steep inclines. I will contest that one since I have a drivers license from Ohio and will say I just didn’t know. Probably won’t get any sympathy though. The second one was when the meter ran out since my interview lasted for 3 hours!!!!

I used to consider myself a liberal but after a week of living in San Francisco I think I’m going to have to go back to being a conservative. Everyone here has bumper stickers telling you to do or not do something.

1. Click it or Ticket – Wear your seatbelt or you get a ticket

2. Nobody is free when people are oppressed – Yea, like these Starbucks hippies know something about oppression. Oppression for them would being denied whipped cream on their mocha latte frappa cappa rino.

3. I’ve heard about people call others a bad word about 17 times. Apparently these people aren’t as happy as I thought. A lot of attitude here in the west.

4. Homeless people – Many are fat and I saw a few drinking Starbucks. Quite a big difference from the deathly skinny people with limbs blown off in Cambodia. Most look like they do drugs and they get paid $300 a month by the city to feed their addiction. If you don’t’ give money expect to be called names.

5. To rent an apartment you have to fill out forms and applications, and other bureaucratic crap. It’s just as bad as France!

But on the positive side, the city is very clean except for the ghetto that city planners decided to put right in the MIDDLE of the city!!!! Funny how the ghetto is located one block from the richest part.
Apparently here, making money is the way to happiness. I really miss the people of Vietnam and even though many are poor, still smile and are friendly and don’t look like they will shoot you if you don’t give them change.