CALIFORNIA Thread (LA,San Francisco,San Diego, Sacramento..Anywhere in CA)

[vivalavida]

^^ sis vivalavida, no relatives at all here in the us? i admire your courage. I'd say go, but of course mas maraming hurdles. We are in the same situation, the only difference is I was born a citizen but was born in the Phils. Being a citizen makes almost everything easier for you.

San Francisco is a very lovely city, very liberated and great night life. Kaya lang kung lamigin ka, the bay area is not for you. It's about 10-20degrees F cooler than LA or Vegas all year round.
Mas mahal din ang cost of living dito so if you were to rent your own 1 bdr or bachelor style apartment, make sure na medyo malaki ang kinikita mo. Most of the new immigrants I know try to find a roomie or rent a room in a house. Very friendly din ang mga tao dito.


Los Angeles is a very diverse city (SF is too). Halos lahat ata ng nationalities represented dito. Weatherwise, mas masarap ang weather dito, tamang tama lang, hindi mainit or sobrang malamig. I would like to think na mas affordable ang mga apartments dito esp if you get one close to the downtown or valley area (basta wag lang sa west LA, and the mountains- mas mahal). Marami ding jobs, higher mimimum wage than Las vegas and a lot of filipino areas, stores and businesses. LA thrives on  film tv and anything showbiz related industry.

Las Vegas is a different story. you might think na everything here is all glam and glitter, but that's just within the little "strip" that it is famous for. About 2-3 miles away from the strip it's mostly DISYERTO. Taking that into consideration, the weather is harsh- summers are ridiculously hot and dry, winters are brutally cold (sorry to say that). Minimum wage is much lower compared to SF and LA. But of course, cost of living is also much lower, you'd probably have no problem finding an apartment of your own that's within your budget. LV thrives on the casino, shows, gambling industry. But that's not all encompassing. I'm sure there are a lot of other industries out there.

The thing that I forgot to mention to you is that in all of these 3 places you will need your own transportation. MAHIRAP ANG PUBLIC TRANSIT. There are places where the public buses do not go and taxis will cost you an arm and a leg. You definitely need to get your own car, kahit 2nd or 3rd hand lang, (which are still in top condition) so that you can get around. Kaya lang in order to do that, you should be able to pay cash outright, because they wont probably offer you financing unless a relative of yours co signs for the loan. Yun ang pinakamahirap na pinagdaanan ko dito. 

I think you can find some related jobs to your field in any city that you decide to move to.

btw sis, if you don't mind, how old are you? if you're below 25 it's going to be a little bit tougher to live on your own here. They won't even rent you a car if you're below 25.

pm me if you need more advice! goodluck!

Hi sis thank you for your post. i learned a lot. what city are you living in right now and are you living alone? where do you suggest i start and look for a apartment/ job while im still here in p.i?

share naman how you first started there.

TIA! 

[vivalavida]

^^ by the way. i'm 24 

[twentysomething gal]

just pm'd you sistah =)

i forgot to mention -- I found my job thru a headhunter in the philippines. I used to work in public accounting. when I moved to LA, the need for external auditors was so bad that I was actually able to recruit 2 more from my old company in the Phils.

It's up to you sis, but if I were you I'd move to a place where I have at least a friend who can help me get settled in, and to help me from getting homesick. The first couple of years can be really tough.

[maldita_ako]

Nag babalik LA Kami ng family ko, but this time were living in Pasadena. Tama isang sis natin, mababa minimum wage sa Vegas. One reason why we went back to LA. Question ko Lang, Saan b Filipino store [textspeak!] sa Pasadena? Were in old Pasadena & how much ang metro train fare or saan ako makakakuha ng info flyers sa route ng bus at metro train? Thanks!

[twentysomething gal]

^re: filipino store, the nearest one I know from where you are is in Eagle Rock, LA/Glendale area. Seafood City along Colorado Blvd.

for the metro bus, try this link. kaya lang dapat alam mo kung alin line... http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/default.htm

[Vera]

^ sa una talaga mag-aadjust skin mo and hair. i dunno. i was pimply my first few weeks here. after a while, you get used to it. you're probably stressed too from all the changes and requirements/responsibilities. it gets better naman.

Hey, me too (on getting pimply). I was really surprised. But now I'm adjusting na.

[Vera]

Anyone here who just took the plunge and went to the states without any relatives to live with

this is how i plan to go there. hope someone can help me.

i'm still thinking if its san francisco, vegas or LA - i was born in LA, i'm a citizen but i really have no one to live with for awhile. siguro the most that my relatives can do for me is rent me a car. ( long story )

i plan to go there by myself. look for a job. just take a risk.

san ba maganda sa advertising, marketing field?

hope someone can help me- tips and advice please

If you're into technology, San Francisco is like the hotbed of innovation BUT there aren't many job openings these days because of the recession. Bay Area's unemployment rate soared more than 60% from last year's.

You may try monster.com to look for jobs. Try craigslist also. It would be better to look for a job while in the Philippines, unless you have plenty of buffer that will allow you to bum around for months while looking for work here then that's fine.

[Vera]

I disagree about getting around San Francisco (city).  The Muni (bus/tram) is really easy to use here, and there are carshares like Zipcar in case you need to go to the grocery or need a car for a bit.  In fact, if you live and work in the city I suggest not getting a car, because if your rent doesn't include a garage or if you end up sharing an apartment with someone, it would not be surprising to have to shell out at least $150 for parking.  You can also play the street parking game, but in areas with a lot of multi-tenant buildings this is a pain.

I live in the Bay Area. I agree that Muni transit is a great way to travel around downtown San Francisco -- saves you the headaches of looking for parking that often charges a lot. But that doesn't mean I prefer riding Muni than driving around. Nothing beats having your own car of course, and looking for parking space is a given.

Having your own car in the Bay Area is a must if you live outside of downtown SF, which most people do btw -- they just go to downtown SFO to work. It's almost impossible to go anywhere without a car especially when you're living in Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, Silicon Valley, etc.

[cutesexything]

I'm a noobie!

Anyways I was born out here in cali, and my brother advised me to get in touch with my roots I could understand filipino very well if I may say. I was from the bay area San Jose to be exact and now I'm in San Diego because of my husband is the military. SO HI! :p I hope you don't mind me being nosy!

[mooncake and leaves]

maldita ako: agree, pinakamalapit na siguro na Pinoy grocery/store, sa eagle rock, considering na nasa pasadena ka. there's another one in west covina pero malayo na yun sa yo. but they have island pacific and seafood city there along with other restaurants. but better talaga eagle rock for you.

if you're taking the bus, metro is 1.25 per ride for local. if you would be taking a bus that goes through a freeway, nasa 2.45 babayaran mo for metro. foothill runs along pasadena din ata, it's line 187 if i'm not mistaken. yun naman, dollar. for the gold line, which is the train, i think it's also 1.25. if you would be taking the bus regularly, consider getting a monthly bus pass. pero in the form of a tap card na ata yun.  available siya sa el monte station, 2nd level. but i agree- check mo muna sa www.metro.net yung itinerary mo. they'll ask you for the cross streets. check mo din neighborhood mo para alam mo kung saan yung nearest na bus stop sa bahay niyo. but old town naman, madaming buses na dumadaan diyan. saka hanggang hatinggabi ata.

[kay_olive]

hello mga sis good day po sa inyo sino po dito sa california?? ano states po ba kau...at kumusta naman po ang life..kapag bago kayo sa u.s??

thanks po...

[Vera]

hello mga sis good day po sa inyo sino po dito sa california?? ano states po ba kau...at kumusta naman po ang life..kapag bago kayo sa u.s??

thanks po...

San Francisco Bay Area. Living here in for 7 months only... now totally adjusted.

I got really depressed during the first week because I couldn't see our neighbors. I still don't know any of them up to know -- it's not just their habit to mingle and they're (in general) private people. Also, you have to drive around for some 15 - 30 minutes to get to your destination like a grocery store, unless you're living in the downtown area. That's it so far.

[kay_olive]

hi sis musta ka na jan..dito me sa california west covina..medyo nakakaka nibago pag dating dito..pero dapat practice ikaw mag drive..malalayo ang mga bilihan dito..at isa pa mahirap sumakay dahil may oras ang mga bus.. kung mag taxi ka u nid to call muna sa ofc para sunduin ka sa bahay...

ikaw lang ba ang nag punta dito sa u.s?? ano nga pala case mo??

thanks

[deesosexcy]

hi mga sis..my family is from Vacaville, CA..about 30mins away from SAC..and about 1-2hrs from SF..i studied 6th grade up to 4th yr highschool there,then moved back to PI for college....i sooooooooooooo miss the bay!!! all my friends and loved ones there..haiiii i wanna go back so badly..missed the city life,night life,party hardy people and everything..::sigh::expired na visa ko..my greencard bout to expire next yr..dina ko mapetition ng parents ko it will take forever na..now im going to dubai work as an ofw will leave na sa may 20..

[bb]

waaaaahhh miss ko na ang california!!! i wish i could go back... ang saya saya ng 3month stay ko sa OC! hehe!

[kay_olive]

mga sis ask ko lang kung meron na po ba nakapag try dito na mag apply ng tourist visa kahit na nakapending petetion..posible ba mabigyan ng tourist visa kapag nag apply??

ano sa tingin nyo mga sis..

salamat

[twentysomething gal]

^ @ sis kay, parang may nag post na nyan or na discuss na yung topic na yan but not in this thread, try looking dun sa US visa thread for answers.

sa pagkakaalam ko, it will have a negative effect sa application for a tourist visa kasi a pending petition to migrate is a very solid evidence na may intention na magstay yung applicant sa US-- which is the most important motive na tinitingnan at basis ng denial ng tourist visa. Kelangan kasi i prove mo na tourist ka lang, at you have no intention of staying sa US.

but try to see the responses on that other thread as well.

[childstar]

hello mga sis, may i just ask what's the best way to get to Sacramento from Manila.

Direct from MNL to SAC via Delta or mag PAL - MNL to LAX then connecting flight from LAX to SAC? thanks.

[kim_trasher07]

Hi mga sis! may ask lang sana ako. Kasi my yung dad ko pinadala diyan sa Foster City. Dahil may problem sa company nila, and uuwi na siya this July. Ano bang magandang ipabili anything basta beauty related(makeup? hair color? etc..) . hehe. No idea kasi kung ano gusto ko pabili sa kanya. And maganda sana yung mahirap mabili dito sa pinas.. thanks sa mga magrereply.

[Vera]

Hi mga sis! may ask lang sana ako. Kasi my yung dad ko pinadala diyan sa Foster City. Dahil may problem sa company nila, and uuwi na siya this July. Ano bang magandang ipabili anything basta beauty related(makeup? hair color? etc..) . hehe. No idea kasi kung ano gusto ko pabili sa kanya. And maganda sana yung mahirap mabili dito sa pinas.. thanks sa mga magrereply.

If you want makeup, check out Ebay.com for popular makeup brands at discounted rates. Order from there and ship to you dad's address in the U.S. You may also want to check out Sephora.com - Don't ask your dad to go to makeup stores if he doesn't know anything about makeup; it's so much better if you shop online and pick items yourself and ship them directly to your dad's address so he doesn't have to worry a thang.