J1 San Francisco 2013

JSK 252

Hey hows it going? Myself and 2 other lads are thinking of going to San Francisco at the end of June. We probably would stay in Berkeley near UCB area because there seems to be plenty accommodation around. I was there for a week last summer (along with a week in Boston and a night in Newport) visiting lads on J1 over there and I regretted not going on the full J1 in the end to San Fran! Frat houses are the cheapest option by a mile and from being over there, they aren't too shabby! Is anyone else thinking of going out there? What plans have ye all got?

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

I'm heading out next week for an internship & I can Say one thing before I get there jobs aren't easy to find and it ain't cheap! Ill post up here if I see anything helpful while I'm there!

Super_Marrio

Yeah 3 of us are planning on heading to Berkeley. Gonna apply for our visa this week, still hard to gauge how much money to bring over though!

Emma_Connolly

Myself and two girls are thinking the exact same! Its alot of money though, and wages aren't the best in Tyrone at the moment! lol. J1 visa looks great and berkley seems to be where the cheapest accomodation is aswell as the best craic! There's a lot to it isn't there?

JSK 252

I'd say bring as much as you can to keep you going! California compensates for this by having one of the highest minimum wages in the USA. San Francisco is an unreal spot even for just the week I was there. Hopefully get everything sorted in the next 2 to 3 weeks! Can't wait to go back!

Fistmemam

tell me sumthin I don't know xxx

openup

I'm also thinking of heading over to San Francisco this summer. I was wondering if anyone know of any difference between USIT and Go4less? Do you book the flights through them or...?
Also, is it really so difficult to get a job? I don't expect to earn really, I just want to support myself while I'm out there!

Catfishxox

JSK 252 wrote: »

Hey hows it going? Myself and 2 other lads are thinking of going to San Francisco at the end of June. We probably would stay in Berkeley near UCB area because there seems to be plenty accommodation around. I was there for a week last summer (along with a week in Boston and a night in Newport) visiting lads on J1 over there and I regretted not going on the full J1 in the end to San Fran! Frat houses are the cheapest option by a mile and from being over there, they aren't too shabby! Is anyone else thinking of going out there? What plans have ye all got?

Hey! Me and 4 other girls are heading to San Francisco on 1st June for the summer too pretty much have the same plans as you guys, frat house in Berkeley! You got any idea when we can start applying for rooms there? Anything we've found online says the summer accomodation stops mid August so we're planning a 2 week roadtrip around LA & Vegas after...

positive thinking123

Hey guys, think me and a few friends are planning on Berkeley this year as well. Group of us were on a j1 in California last summer and its serious craic
We also visited San Fran for a few days to meet up with friends who were staying in Berkeley. Jobs didn't seem hard to find. There are a lot of bike rental places in and around the Golden gate bridge and nearly everyone I was talking to up there were working in different bike places. The rent was cheap enough in the frat house and drink is really cheap as well.

suzy21

hi, myself and a friend are heading over this summer we have been looking at frat houses in Berkeley. Anyone know which houses are meant to be better?

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

Well lads im here a week now so I thought Ill give ye a bit of an update! Living in the city is probably not going to happen for ye, I am living about 20-30 mins away from the city and rent here is even very expensive. The subway(BART) is also expensive from where I am living if you have to make a return trip everyday itll cost you about $46 a week the train also stops at 1 am so a night out in the city will be hard to come by cab home for me costs about $50 (at least ye will have a choice though we had to live where we were put as we are interns) dont expect to earn a lot just expect to break even as thats what I am hoping for and I am getting above minimum wage were a bunch of interns and earning fck all. If I was ye I would focus on Berkeley ( We have heard it is a bit dangerous) but we drove up there the other night and it was amazing I preferred it way more to the city and accomodation shouldnt be a problem when the students leave although jobs might. They are massively strict here on id so far I am 22 so I have no problem if I use my passport so if your under 21 dont know if theres a point. Any questions I can answer I will, and Ill update this every so often aswell!

dropping_bombs

TEMPLAR KNIGHT wrote: »

Well lads im here a week now so I thought Ill give ye a bit of an update! Living in the city is probably not going to happen for ye, I am living about 20-30 mins away from the city and rent here is even very expensive. The subway(BART) is also expensive from where I am living if you have to make a return trip everyday itll cost you about $46 the train also stops at 1 am so a night out in the city will be hard to come by cab home for me costs about $50 (at least ye will have a choice though we had to live where we were put as we are interns) dont expect to earn a lot just expect to break even as thats what I am hoping for and I am getting above minimum wage were a bunch of interns and earning fck all. If I was ye I would focus on Berkeley ( We have heard it is a bit dangerous) but we drove up there the other night and it was amazing I preferred it way more to the city and accomodation shouldnt be a problem when the students leave although jobs might. They are massively strict here on id so far I am 22 so I have no problem if I use my passport so if your under 21 dont know if theres a point. Any questions I can answer I will, and Ill update this every so often aswell!

Thanks for the info Templar. If you don't mind me asking what are you interning in? I'm thinking of heading to SF this summer after I graduate on a 1 year internship, do you think there would be biological science/pharmaceutical jobs out there?

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

dropping_bombs wrote: »

Thanks for the info Templar. If you don't mind me asking what are you interning in? I'm thinking of heading to SF this summer after I graduate on a 1 year internship, do you think there would be biological science/pharmaceutical jobs out there?

That wouldnt be my field but in my line of work ill be coming across loads of information if I hear anything Ill post it up!

dropping_bombs

TEMPLAR KNIGHT wrote: »

That wouldnt be my field but in my line of work ill be coming across loads of information if I hear anything Ill post it up!

Thanks a million, anything at all would be a huge help!

goldylocksx

Hi all, myself and friends were thinking of heading to Berkeley this summer as we heard it is cheap! Its our first j1 and wer all 22+... are we too old for Berkeley?? Some people have said that Berkeley frat houses are for younger students cz of house parties and not being 21 for clubs. Is this true?? Any advice would be great as I am new to all this!

Thanks

brownesauce

yeah me and a few lads are heading over to San Fran as well.

Ive been bored the last few days so ive been googling j1 related things for san fran,


found this blog thing. it seems fairly useful

http://sanfranj1.blogspot.ie/

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

Went out in berkely Saturday night. They were very strict on id (I'm 22 so I was grand) the semester was also not started so a lot of students were not out or back from home and it was absolutely empty so I'd imagine the summer may be the same so don't be expecting students to be around during the summer hopefully for ye there will be a big J1 population and it won't be empty!

Rm13

3 of us girls planning on heading out to berkely for the summer too! First time j1ers! Anybody know when and how you go about applying for frat houses etc??

Super_Marrio

Guys we just paid the 1st installment for Go4Less and are now gonna book flights. Can we book separately or do we have to book through our J1 company? Quite puzzled here!

dropping_bombs

Where do people stay that isn't Berkeley? Or is everywhere else prohibitively expensive? It seems that Berkeley is a good bit from the city?

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

dropping_bombs wrote: »

Where do people stay that isn't Berkeley? Or is everywhere else prohibitively expensive? It seems that Berkeley is a good bit from the city?

Everywhere is pretty expensive around the Bay Area. The reason berkely may be cheaper during the summer is the vacancies left by the students going home for the summer! Berkely is a good bit outside the city but there is the BART which is the subway but that stops operating at 12 at night!

Paddy258

Hey everyone, I'll be heading to San Fran solo on the J1.

I'll be going over in mid to late May, hoping to stay with a few Irish to make living costs manageable! I've it booked through USIT.

Maniacle

Paddy258 wrote: »

Hey everyone, I'll be heading to San Fran solo on the J1.

I'll be going over in mid to late May, hoping to stay with a few Irish to make living costs manageable! I've it booked through USIT.

What area of San Francisco are you hoping to stay in?

A friend and I are going, but we're not staying in Berkeley. We want to be closer to the city

Paddy258

Maniacle wrote: »

What area of San Francisco are you hoping to stay in?

A friend and I are going, but we're not staying in Berkeley. We want to be closer to the city

I'd love to live in the city but I think the cost of that is up there with Manhattan! I don't mind where I end up in San Fran as long as I get there!

Have you found any nice places there yet? Add me on Facebook if you want to talk more about it: http://www.facebook.com/patrick.devaney93

Maniacle

Paddy258 wrote: »

I'd love to live in the city but I think the cost of that is up there with Manhattan! I don't mind where I end up in San Fran as long as I get there!

Have you found any nice places there yet? Add me on Facebook if you want to talk more about it: http://www.facebook.com/patrick.devaney93

Hey Paddy, I got my friend (guy who I'm going with) to mail you on Facebook as mine is inactive right now. Will you send me a private mail on this about any thoughts you have about living in the city, when you're planning on leaving Ireland etc

dorio

Any one else heading to San Fran and planning on living in the city?

Paddy258

Maniacle wrote: »

Hey Paddy, I got my friend (guy who I'm going with) to mail you on Facebook as mine is inactive right now. Will you send me a private mail on this about any thoughts you have about living in the city, when you're planning on leaving Ireland etc

Hey, I never got that message from your friend whatever happened there?

And I can't post you a private message on here unless we're friends.

So anyway, my first choice is definitely living in the city of San Fran. As for heading out, May 23rd will be the latest I'm heading out. I'll get my exam timetable in a month or so and the only thing I know of my exams so far is that the latest one possible is on May 15th. So if I'm finished earlier than that, I'll depart much sooner than my original date of May 23rd. Have you made any travel plans yet, even rough ones?

C_Brennan5

Hi all. I'm heading over this summer, myself and a large enough crowd, atm there's around 8/9 of us. Anyway, is anyone planning on looking at joing soccer clubs/sports clubs over there? I'd like to play soccer and perhaps coach at children's camps too.

Paddy258

C_Brennan5 wrote: »

Hi all. I'm heading over this summer, myself and a large enough crowd, atm there's around 8/9 of us. Anyway, is anyone planning on looking at joing soccer clubs/sports clubs over there? I'd like to play soccer and perhaps coach at children's camps too.

I'd be interested in joining some sports clubs over there, probably soccer and GAA. Do you reckon there'd be jobs in that line of work or have you been able to do much research into that kinda thing?

happyclapper

Hi All,

I live here in San Francisco (not on a student thing or anything) but my tip is to contact the iipcsf here as they are the irish immigrant pastoral center in San Francisco, have loads of contacts for accommodation and also I know last year they did networking bbqs and the likes for J1ers to help get work here.

Best of luck and enjoy SF! (bring lots of money as it is definitely expensive but worth it!)

cathalroarty

happyclapper wrote: »

Hi All,

I live here in San Francisco (not on a student thing or anything) but my tip is to contact the iipcsf here as they are the irish immigrant pastoral center in San Francisco, have loads of contacts for accommodation and also I know last year they did networking bbqs and the likes for J1ers to help get work here.

Best of luck and enjoy SF! (bring lots of money as it is definitely expensive but worth it!)

I am heading out in may but a friend of mine out there will be putting me up untill i can sort out jobs and accomadation, how much money would you recomend i bring?

canno360

yes lad me and 2 of my mates planning on going thier around the same time..! this could be handy!

SF2013

Heading out to San Francisco the end of May .. 2 girls . Is anyone interested in house sharing etc?

canno360

Yeah me and 2 of of mates are headin over in mid june. were lookinf for one1s to share a house with.

SF2013

Where are you'd looking to stay?

canno360

to be honest were unsure yet we havnt really looked at anything yet.. were are yous thinkin?. wer lads by da way hope dat doesnt cause problems haha

alanc94

Well me and one other lad are heading over to san francisco on may 23rd and hope to stay for at least 2 months.. weve booked the flights and stuff with usit and hope stay in berkeley area because ive heard its the cheapest.. staying in a house with a good few people is what were hoping for.. were both under 21 so anyone who is interested just send me an email at alanc1994@hotmail.com .. or just a message on facebook.. also we dont have a job yet and was wondering if anyone knows if we should try get a job before we head over or if there will be plenty of jobs there for when we go over.. any links or sites ye know about jobs and accommodation there could anyone let me know about them also please..

Inspired171

Hey SF2013, myself and my friend are in the same boat as you, looking to recruit peeps to live with. I sent you a private mail there! San fran woo

pconneely07

im heading to San Fran with a few lads... staying in the city I think..

killilea92

hey, myself and 4 other friends are goin over on the 19th of may if anyone is heading over that early try get accom sorted together? trying to get into one of the frat houses in Berkely.. plan is to find work and at the last 2-3 weeks go on a road trip to LA, Vegas etc.. hit up a festival or two and just have a serious time..

darragh1991

Story? Im heading out the end of may with some friends and luckily enough have accommodation sorted in the city with relatives, however last year I spent the summer in Berkeley, I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment with 11 other people... some craic. More than likely your going to have to share with lots of ppl to cut down costs. You can go stay in a frat house, they are rlly good craic and all but after about a month, everyone I knew living in them were sick of them. Thats just what I was told, frat brothers act like d**k-heads and everyone is given "chores" Kitchen was pretty much useless as they were filthy. But even with all that s**t there was one frat with a pool that I would nearly put up with it for. Serious house. But yeah theres a good few students renting on Ellsworth street, its a really good location and no1 seemed to care about us having party's. Like the frat houses are pretty far from the main street in Berkeley, where the bars and the bart (transport system) is, so if your walking it every morning it will wreck your head, especially if you have had a rough night. In terms of work try to get to Ben and Jerrys down by pier 39 and fishermans wharf, if not there try bubba gump shrimp or johnny rockets in the same area, and after that try blazing saddles, its a bike rental company.... they are all over the city but the main office is just off of the fishermans wharf and thats where you will most likely get listened to properly when your handing in cv's. Also if they ask how long you are staying for in blazing saddles tell them the truth as if you actually stay as long as you told them you would they give you a bonus...the longer you actually stay the bigger the bonus but if you lie u get nothing. Lastly, make sure you get a phone or a sim card first day u get there....virgin seemed to be the best.... $60 a month and you have unlimited calls and texts and you can ring irish landlines also....then apply for your social security card/number as every single job I heard someone apply for asked for both of these straight away. I f you get them quick you will have an advantage. Sorry forgot one or two suggestions..... 4th of july...rent a big truck and drive to lake tahoe, its nuts. Had so much fun and it was rlly cheap. Take the last week and a half off, go to vegas, then rent a car and drive down route 1 (the coast road) through huntington beach, laguna beach, newport beach, long beach, santa barabara Go to D.P in Isla Vista (you wownt be sorry), San Diego, L.A, And wherever else you see fit after that. Hope this helped, have a good summer. I cant wait to get the F**k out of Ireland.

seanman is me

Group of 4 -5 lads san fran bound too.

From what ive heard Berkeley is good but most people seem to think the city would be that bit better if you can sort accommodation!
Very handy for going out, maybe too handy, plus you will be nearer work.

Anyone any idea of where big groups can stay in the Bay area?

Would be class to sort something, june and july anyway, after that hopefully moving on!!

dorio

Sound for all that darragh1991! So much info on the net it's hard to come across useful stuff. I've heard some horror stories about the frat houses and sure the city seems like great craic. Did you come across any decent websites for flatmates and such?

darragh1991

Yeah I was the same last year... hard to find proper info. Ah well there was 12 of us going out there so we decided to split into two groups so we wud meet new ppl and one of the lads found a place in Berkeley and we booked it and then I posted on a j1 page on f.b and said we had room for 6 and then just chatted to everyone who wrote to me and picked the soundest 6. Worked out rlly well we are all still friends and had a deadly summer. Dont get me wrong I loved being in Berkeley its really nice, for me its a toss up between living there or the city its just that Ill have it handy in the city that im going there, Like Berkeley is a really cool place and its full of students too.

killilea92

is it 21 to rent a car in cali?

darragh1991

Yeah, To actually rent it, But depending on which policy you get everyone who has a legitimate drivers license can drive the car so all you will need is one person over the age of 21 to put their name on the car. Also you will need a credit card for most companys (it has to be the same person who is over 21 who puts their card on the car) with a limit of at least 600 i think.... Like when you get your bank account wen u go over, (id go with bank of america as they have the most atm's in the country) you will have an option of which kind of card you want so just bring it up with them when you are setting up your account. One more thing actually, I wud bring my money over in cash and lodge it straight away, as its pretty awkward trying to transfer money from an irish account over here and if you are using your account from home every time you use the atm it takes money from you, a good bit, and It has a daily limit. If you do need to transfer money I used western union as they take f*ck all and are rlly secure.

celine20

darragh by any chance do u know of any way to contact any of the frat houses bout accommodation?? iv emailed loads of different people but havnt heard anything back yet were hopin 2 stay in de alpha dealta phi frat house with de pool :)

darragh1991

Umm well I know a few people who lived there last year Ill ask them and see if they have any contacts for the frat brothers. If you go to google maps, head for berkeley and search till u find Piedmont Avenue, Thats where the majority of the frats are. If you dont have the accommodation sorted by the time you get there book a hostel in the city and the first day your there get the bart to Berkeley and head to piedmont and ask for Alpha Delta Phi, they'l give u directions, its kind of off the road a bit and then theres a back wooden gate that brings u to the pool, thats pretty much all I can remember as I was fairly well on it most times I was there, Sorry for the bad directions.

darragh1991

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/roo/3641622054.html Thats a link for someone letting there right now. Might be worth your while trying to e-mail them and ask for the head fraternity brothers e-mail so u can apply to stay for the summer? Worth a go anyways?

aliceconnor

hi , me and 1 other girl are heading sanfran 23rd of june , looking for people to share apartment / frat house etc ???

shanokello

anyone else want to share the fck out an apartment! Be unreal.. 3 or 4 of us heading out 4th of June.. dont really mind where we live!