For the last 4 years I’ve had one goal, one dream, and one place I wanted to live: the San Francisco Bay Area. I’d tell everyone I knew, whether they cared or not, that the Bay Area is where I’d move to one day. I’m on my way to making that dream a reality. For the last 6 weeks, I’ve been living in San Francisco and interning at Oracle in their Applications User Experience group. I feel extremely fortunate to have this opportunity.

Although I’m living my dream this summer (and sadly half way through), I’ve had quite the streak of bad luck. Friends joked that I should make a list of everything that has gone wrong in my life these last few weeks. My roommate, Kat, suggested something a bit more positive. She suggested that I make a list of everything I’ve learned, realized, and experienced so far this summer. So here it goes:

101 experiences, lessons, thoughts, discoveries, realizations, things I’ve done, and random musings from my first 6 weeks in San Francisco:*

1. Conquered learning and navigating the CalTrain
2. Conquered learning and navigating the Bart
3. Learned that eye sight can actually improve with age
4. Experienced heartbreak
5. Learned that Kathy Ems is an awesome roommate
6. Planned on moving back to SF in May 2011 (and moving in with Kat again)
   

   Roommates getting ready to go out for the night!

7. Discovered how great a produce box is
8. Lived in an actual city for the first time
9. Living without a cell phone for almost 3 weeks
10. Lived without a car over a month
11. Went out to a latin dance club and enjoyed every second of it
12. Tried Ethiopian food (Loved it!)
13. Tried Calamari (didn’t like it)
14. Tried Tuna (didn’t like it)
15. Tried Shrimp/dim sum (shrimp is one of my least favorite foods ever, and will continue to be avoided at all costs)
16. Tried Hot Pot in a restaurant (very fun!)
17. Rode cable cars
18. Did touristy stuff like buy an I <3 SF tshirt
    

    Visiting Chinatown with John Wayne and Ankit

19. Went on a date with someone unexpected
20. Started an internship at Oracle
21. Longest commute to work (an hour!)
22. Decorated my own cubical
23. I have an iPad for the summer
24. Learned that I like red wine much more than I thought I did.
25. Learned that design industry is even more different from school than I would’ve imaged.
26. Learned some plumbing basics
27. When you don’t have a cell phone – watches are important
28. Tried Filafel (and liked it!)
29. Learned that I like eggplants
30. Discovered how great it is to have awesome people around me
31. …and even those 2000+ miles away from me
32. Reminded that I can’t get anywhere without the support of my friends
33. …and even more so, my family
34. Learned that my enniagram type is a 4 (with a type 3 wing)
35. Went to the SF Pride parade
    
36. Struggled to stay positive through some pretty bad luck
37. Learned that I dislike the “check engine light in my car’
38. Learned how quickly unexpected expenses can arrive
39. Learned that I should always have emergency money saved up for issues like huge car bills
40. Learned what an ignition control module does
41. Learned what a Crank sensor does
42. learned what an IAC sensor does
43. Learned the value of a AAA membership
44. Learned how to get several places without a GPS
45. Bought ridiculously large pink sunglasses
46. Learned that an iPad really can function as a large phone
    

    After loosing my cell phone and unable to get a new one right away, I used Skype and the iPad as my phone!

47. Learned that it *is* in fact possible to live without a car and phone – although it does tend to make things more difficult
48. Went shopping in Chinatown
49. Discovered that Welch’s Mango Passion Fruit drink is by far one of the most amazing drinks in the world
50. Ate lavender ice cream (it’s amazing)
51. Learned that being completely thrown out of my comfort zone with little control helped me grow exponentially as a person.
52. Re-discovered the wonders of hula hooping
53. Walking a longer distance to avoid hills is actually quicker than taking the direct route up and down San Francisco hills
54. Summers without much humidity are so awesome
55. Drove cross country with my mom (Nebraska is super boring)
56. Went to the Makers Faire
57. A new look can give you an entirely new attitude (new glasses, hair cut, and hair color! woo!)
    

    San Francisco Make Over! (photo by John Wayne Hill)

58. Experienced San Francisco fog
59. Sat in the Giants dug out
60. Walked on the field at AT&T park
61. Saw The Fray perform
62. Saw Alkaline Trio perform
63. Saw Andrew WK perform
64. Saw All American Rejects perform
65. Danced around to Ska music
66. Bought new eye glasses for the first time in 5 years
    

    These weren't going to get me very far

67. Realized how lucky I am to have gone to IU
68. …and how great IU’s software deals are
69. Met some fantastic IU HCI/d alum
70. Met some awesome people
71. Saw Frog Design
72. Saw Adaptive Path
73. Saw IDEO
74. Saw Hot Studio (which I *really* liked)
75. Realized I want a Hot Tub when I grow up
76. realized how glad I am to have had the professors I have
77. Walked up Lombard street
78. Went to a huge and awesome farmers market
79. Went to IKEA, and learned that no matter where the IKEA is – it is always magical and the meatballs are always delicious
80. Went to the Haight Street Fair
81. Went to the California Academy of Sciences
82. Made a SF Bucket List
83. Went to the Golden Gate Bridge
    

    Typical Golden Gate Bridge picture (photo by John Wayne Hill)

84. Ate at In-N-Out Burger (which although is SUPER good, still does not compare to a Steak ‘n Shake Frisco Melt)
85. Decided that I hate my portfolio and I want to re-do it…again
86. Read about Expectations Hangovers
87. Ate at a Tapas restaurant for the first time
88. Had composting at both an apartment in the city and at work – which is awesome!
89. Furthest I’ve lived from Cincinnati for an extended amount of time
90. Learned how awesome I feel if I’ve made a good homemade meal and eaten it
    

    Homemade chili - one of the many yummy meals Kat and I have made

91. Visited 13 different winery’s in the Russian River Valley (more on this in a later post)
92. Hung out in Golden Gate Park
93. Sat in a field of wild-growing calla lilies (my favorite flowers!)
    

    Calla Lilies in Golden Gate Park

94. Learned that when you don’t things thinks can get worse, they can
95. Learned that when you think things can’t get any better, they can
96. Was told “Have great adventures” one day instead of “Have a great day”
97. …decided I liked that phrase and I would adopt it
98. Felt more sure of myself and who I am than ever before
99. Felt more unsure of myself and who I am than ever before
100. Video chat is such a fantastic way to keep in touch with people
101. Realized that I’ve got a lot to do to finish my bucket list and only 6 more weeks to do so…

* These aren’t in any particular order, and I have many more photos from my first 6 weeks. You can find them on facebook!