Lucky Bamboo

Recently we have been spending a lot of time settling into our new nest. Not all of the boxes are unpacked yet, but we are on the right track.

Finding a place for all of Dean’s hobbies and academic collections requires some thought. Our present furniture does not fit very well on the hardwood floor, and my wardrobe always seems to be too small.

So we need to think carefully about how to utilize every inch of our Californian square meterage. To do this, of course, we went to Ikea, in an impressive sized building located just by the popular shopping center, surrounded by tall palm trees. 

In the entrance hall, we were greeted by Holiday decoration. However it was more a European Christmas one. I have not found many adornment accents of upcoming Thanksgiving.

To gain energy before crowded shopping, we entered an even more crowded cafeteria. Everything about it, was as I suspect in all of the branches of Ikea, seemed familiar.  

The popular worldwide Swedish meatballs looked tasty to the American shoppers. A cup of coffee and chocolate mousse cake instantly gave us more strength.

We began measuring available bookcases. We tried new sofas and desks. Apparently Ikea’s American success depends on attributing more attention to the kitchen accessories (larger sizes were necessary) and bedroom selection.  Indeed, I thought that the choice of the beds seemed to be greater than in Europe.

After we finished exploring the spacious halls, I picked a charming plant - Lucky Bamboo - and a shower curtain with red patterns, perfect for Christmas décor.

Since we arrived without a car, we decided to order needed furniture online.

The return journey took us a little more time. The free shuttle to the city train was late for almost an hour. Nevertheless, we thought that the trip was a successful one, and our new space already feels like more like home.

Have a look at the newest American Ikea commercial:

                                   

                            

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Welcome home !

With these kind words, the immigration officer at the airport in San Francisco greeted me. Even though I have permanent resident status, I have to go through passport control, just like everyone else, including citizens.

For over a week, Dean and I have lived together San Francisco. My first impressions have been very positive. We live in the city, but our new neighborhood is relatively quiet.  There are a construction sites around us, but it is still a lot quieter than our Bellevue apartment.

Right by near us there is a huge baseball stadium. I have no idea which famous games took place here, but I quickly recognized that this is the same stadium on which Kanye West himself proposed to his famous chosen one ... :) Dean tells me that that is where the San Francisco Giants won the 2014 World Series baseball championship.

Our high-rise is also situated by the port of San Francisco. From a close distance we see impressive cargo ships.

We also have a wonderful marina and a boulevard by the Bay - great for long weekend walks or bike trips. On the streets you can see also my favorite palm trees, and listen to seagull squawks. We also can't complain about the weather; almost all the time it is around 20 degrees Celsius.

There don't seem to be many smaller shops or kiosks here. To my surprise, there are not as many Starbucks cafes around. But there are a lot of buses and even trams, and not only ones for tourists.

I always wanted to live by the water and now I can say that my dream has come true. Dean also seems very happy with his new job, to which, surprisingly for American standards, he can walk.

And here are some pictures of our district, Mission Bay: