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So, here I am in California. I’d like to be able to say the move is going smoothly, but it seems I’m not so lucky. The customs officer who filled out my visa was a bit harried at the time, and filled out my I-94 incorrectly (he listed a B2 visa rather than a TN, despite having recorded a TN in my passport…) In a way I’m glad I didn’t notice at the time, as I would have missed my flight if I had stayed to have him fix it. As a result, the Social Security Administration doesn’t want to issue me a Social Security Number, which puts a bit of a wrench in the works. Despite this, I was able to get a bank account open, and my company says I shouldn’t have a problem starting work as I will be getting an SSN eventually – so it’s not that bad. I won’t be able to get a local credit card, or cell phone, or pretty much anything else though. I’m hoping a letter from my employer will suffice in place of a credit check when I try to rent an apartment this week.

I’m getting the hang of the local transit system, as my motorcycle won’t be shipped down until I get my I-94 corrected, and this morning I found the northbound San Carlos Caltrain platform had been ‘decorated’. Yes, I do know the way to San Jose

Also, while I’m looking for a more permanent place to stay I’ve been staying in a hotel in San Carlos, not too far from the airport and air museum. This weekend there was a helicopter air show, which I mostly missed due to house hunting, but I did pass by the airport and grab a couple of photos:

This little guy was flying loops and rolls and all sorts of other crazy maneuvers. Unfortunately I only got to see the preview on TV – I was in Sunnyvale at the time of the show. This morning on my way out a whole group of military helicopters had showed up:

I’m not going to get to see them in the air either, it seems. Oh well.

Just this morning, a PODS container arrived in my driveway. If I manage to wade my way through all the associated paperwork, it’ll be headed down to California shortly after I arrive there. Although it works out to be a bit expensive, I definitely like the idea of having one box to move, rather than having my many boxes transferred between moving vehicles and warehouses along the way. On the other hand, if it gets lost, then everything is gone… Hopefully everything will work out though, and I’ll soon be posting photos of its arrival at my yet-to-be-determined new home.

So I’ve gone and got myself a job. In California.

I recently made a trip down to the Bay Area to check things out, and see if I couldn’t find a place to live while I’m down there. During most of the week I spent there I didn’t have a car, so I got around by public transit. People told me that I was crazy, but I already knew that.

Between BART and Caltrain the service itself didn’t seem too bad, but signage was occasionally a problem. When there’s no indication at track level as to which direction the train will be going, things can be confusing. Millbrae Caltrain platform 5, I’m talking about you! On my first day, shortly after figuring out that the train headed south to San Jose, a backpacker who had been walking up and down the platform since before I arrived asked me which way the train went, and he was then asked the same question only a few moments later…

On a brighter note, cars seem to stop for pedestrians almost without fail, to the point that people will pretty much slam on their brakes if they see you waiting at a crosswalk. Contrast this to Markham, where you’re lucky if drivers even notice you, nevermind actually stopping.

It was pretty warm there, but according to my new boss you can get by without AC if you’re only at home in the evenings. This is something I have a hard time believing, given the temperatures I saw during my trip, but we shall see. I came away with a few leads for apartments, although given I can’t really go down there until the University gives me my diploma, I’m still a way off actually moving.