It was okay
Probably shouldn't have went with limited funds, but it turned out okay. Visa bill isn't that bad..probably.

Would I live here? Yes.
Can I do it right now? No.

Definiately comming back this summer, thats for sure.

ps: there sure are alot of Korean bbq places there.

I lived in Sunnyvale for 4 years. I moved back to Vancouver this January.
I was working there with a TN Work Visa.
If it wasn't for needing to be closer to my GF and family being here in Vancouver, I would of never moved back here.

Norcal is much better than Vancouver IMO, the weather is better, people are friendlier with none of the Vancouver attitude, living expenses are overall cheaper than Vancouver, car scene is wayyyy larger and better, less taxes, and the rich people there are actually rich and not posers like in Vancouver. Easier to make money and save money.
The only that I find better in Vancouver by a large margin is that Vancouver has overall much better food

Majinhurricane: What you see on TV cannot and should not represent all of California. Most of the stuff you mentioned is Socal, which IMO is not nearly as good+cool as Norcal.

I've been to alot of areas in the states, such as phoenix, glendale, tuscon, las vegas, portland, seattle, san fran etc...

Not a fan of strip malls.

Visiting a city/state is MUCH different than living in one.

Before moving to Norcal, I visited most of the major west coast cities in the USA as well.
It's the same thing with Vancouver - If anyone from around the world comes to visit Vancouver, they will think it's awesome, but if you live in Vancouver (or any major city for that matter) you will learn to "understand" the city more, with it's good points and bad points.
I personally think that Vancouver is a good city, but it has many major issues that need to be addressed

Would you say the same about, say.. Dallas? LOL. Some suburbs are pretty horrific.

How was living in Silicon Valley? What did you do for fun? How far did you have to travel? Did you live close to your job?

Its true. I actually have quite a large group of ex-Vancouverites who brain-drained to the Bay Area right after finishing school and are quite happy there.
Speaking of the food btw, I've found that every Pho place I went to in SF was really consistent!
The other thing I LOVE about SF is that when you go clubbing, everyone seems to get along, unlike in Vancouver where lots of punk kids are looking for a fight.

^
YES.
Instead of a group of the same people starting shit, you see a group of mixed people smashing bottles.

Drinks were helllllllllllllllllllla cheap too. A good night here would be $2-300. Down south it's $100-$200 for puke noms. Less watered down too :)

The weather is better? Buddy, I just got back from SF 2 days ago and it's freezing cold and windy there. I brought 2 pairs of shorts there and I couldn't make use of any of them. I had to wear a hoody from dusk till dawn, the moment I got back here, I had to change all my clothes to summer wear. SF should really be called the windy city..

friendlier people? cannot agree more. Vancouverites are just snobby as hell, small city with big attitudes.

living expenses? i beg to differ... try buying or renting a home there in a decent neighbourhood (sunset, millbrae, for example), it'll run u up over a million dollar for a house that's smaller than here... a one bedroom suite is over a 1000USD per month if you don't want to live in Oakland or Mission..

I do agree that it's easier to find jobs down there if you have LESS qualifications, and most at times, you do make more money down there, but I will disagree that it's easier to save as the cost of living in SF is significantly higher than Vancouver.

and yeah generally, food in NorCal is not as good as Vancouver, especially chinese food..

I just came back yesterday night for a 4 days vacation.
it was very windy in SF everyday.

Very Nice City for my 1st time visit.
only stayed in SF downtown (nice) area for sightseeing & shopping.

It's really only windy if you're in the Bay Area. Otherwise, it's okay.

Shameless plug but anybody want to buy a BART transfer off me? It's good for $7. $5CDN and it's yours. :D

LOL isn't the Bay Area SF + Oakland + SJ?

Sorry, I meant only the San Francisco Bay area and not its surrounding cities.

Spugen you ever go through with this? Or anyone else?

I personally have been to SF and some other parts of NoCal a couple of times now and I love it. It has that west coast attitude and personality but quite possibly even more laid back. In general the weather is nicer too but the cost of living in the bay area is indeed very, very high. This is not an unknown though. Anyone who wants to live there should know that ahead of time. If you can deal with that, I think you could be living in one of the best cities in North America (if you enjoy the west coast style of living). North California is beautiful too and nothing like the cities of Chicago, New York, London, etc. I live in London currently and I realized after leaving Vancouver how much I love the west coast and the way of living there. Aside from Vancouver, the only other city I would consider living in is probably San Jose or San Francisco. And I am VERY particular about everything in a place where I am living.

But what they say is right. Unless you A) marry someone in the states or B) get sponsored, there is hardly a chance you will get to live in the US. So either find an American girl or get a good education that is highly desired in the US and start networking!

I think it really depends on where and how you live. If you move to the hood, you are most likely going to think it's ghetto. If you eat out all the time, you will tend to consume more fast food. Once again, it depends on where you live and how you are living your life.

I'm curious, where in the States did you used to live? I lived in California (East Bay and Long Beach) for 7-ish years and I don't see all of America being fast-food divulging, gas guzzling, ghetto-esque country. The way you are describing the "American lifestyle" is very stereotypical.

As for highways, most major cities in North America has a highway cutting through it. We are lucky to be in Vancouver, where we're highway free.

Nope.
well.
not yet. hah.