Which one you may ask? The city famous for its treacherous earthquake in 1906 and then again in 1989, its maximum security prison that once held Al Capone, and oh yeah, that big red bridge they call the Golden Gate – San Francisco.
I am lucky enough to be spending my summer working in the beautiful, but oddly cold for summer, city of San Francisco. Burson-Marsteller hired me on as an intern in their technology practice and although I’m only a few days in, I can tell that I’m going to love every minute of it. Everyone at the office is so friendly and willing to help and also… who else gets to play Apples to Apples on their orientation day in the office? The answer is probably no one.
My first day was a bit on the unordinary side as I had some trouble getting to work. The BART ride wasn’t quite as eventful as Caitlyn’s New York subway ride, but there WAS traffic and a medical hold, which luckily was only a stop away from where I needed to be so I was able to walk. A major lesson that I learned that morning? DO NOT FOLLOW THE MAP ON YOUR iPHONE. I was astonished when someone working at the Starbucks told me to walk the opposite way than my map seemed to be showing me. Why was that? I was on the other side of the street and turned completely around. When in doubt, ask a local for directions.
Although I’m working in the city, I haven’t had the chance to explore it yet. So when my fellow interns talk about living near ‘Twin Peaks’ or ‘outside of the Sunset’ I have no idea where that is. I provided a map for you below if you’re curious. One of my goals for the summer is to take my runs to the city rather than back here in the East Bay where I’m staying with my dad. They say that’s the best way to learn your way around somewhere, so why not give it a shot (aside from the argument of the unclean air)? I may even take a run down the Embarcadero, which I hear is pretty flat.
Overall, the first few days have gone really well. It was a smart decision to travel out to California a week before I started so I could adjust to the time difference. Right now, my body is not enjoying this whole 12-hour on-the-go thing. It’s like I’m working a double at Border Café every day. I’m up at 6:30 and I get home at 6:30. Regardless, the experience is worth it. Here are some goals for the summer; hopefully I fulfill them.
1. Step foot in every neighborhood of San Francisco.
2. Run 10 miles in Golden Gate Park.
3. Eat at Boudin’s five times.
4. Wear every piece of clothing that I thought was important enough to overstuff my suitcases with.
5. Make the most of my internship and my time in San Francisco.
~Chelsey Rodowicz
