Starting a Life in San Diego

So you took your flight, came to San Diego Airport.  Even you go out from the airport, with the amazing weather you will feel the your new perfect story is beginning. But even I told that San Diego is the best city and you will have great time in this city, like all beginnings you will have some problems about the first days. This post will be about the help you on your first days. 

HOUSING

As I guessed generally you talk with an agency before you came here and they give you some options to stay in San Diego. When I was deciding there were three options; Housing close to University, Dormitories and Family Stay.

All these three options have some advantages and disadvantages.


Housing
With house rental you have chance to stay in Pacific Beach or La Jolla. Pacific Beach is an amazing place to wake up near ocean, close to bars (I will explain more detailly after) but it is a little far away from university and it is a little hard to find friends there.

For La Jolla. I came with an agency named Anatolia and they have houses around La Jolla like Costa Verde, Mirada and some more. Which are big building complex with lots of opportunity (Gym, pool, BBQ and some more facilities inside). It is so close to University, complex are high quality and it is so easy to make friends and become a big family in those houses. I can insistently suggest you Costa Verde Building from the options. After I moved this building, we become a big friend-family which we can organize something as a big groups and make Sun Diego more fun. The disadvantages of that buildings are the prices and the distance to Downtown. But as lots of people do, you can start a housing with one of that agency and after 2-3 months, you can find a good friend to rent a house by yourself on the same area or maybe in Pacific Beach which could be cheaper for you.

Dormitories and Family Stay
I never thought about other options, family stay or dormitories. These are better options for underage or people who wants to be safer. Also these options are cheaper than the housing options. But a life you have more rules when you compared to housing is the most important disadvantage for the options. But in addition, as an advantage you can experience a real American life and develop your English more with family stay. So as I told it could be a better option for younger people.

TRANSPORTATION

 
Busses

Next is the one of the biggest problem for every new city, Transportation. I know that everybody has at least 1 or more trouble about their transportation. Starting with a good news, UCSD has Free shuttles from lots of place around San Diego and also inside of the campus. The only thing you should show is your UCSD ID.

You can check the routes of those shuttles with links bellow,

http://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/transportation/commuting/public.html
 http://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/transportation/shuttles/index.html


Buy or Rent a Car
In addition to Bus Shuttles, as we all know that car prices are cheaper in United States. So if you will stay in here for long time you can easily buy a car and sell it before you are leaving. To find a car you can use the web site` craiglist` which you can easily find cars with different prices. But as information please be sure about the car engine and other facilites because there are also some people sell their broken cars without showing the problems.

A second option you can rent a car for a long time. It could be a good option for short time, instead of buying a car. You can rent one of american drem Ford Mustang or more economical or more luxury car. I  used to rent my car from a car rental named Sunset Car as like lots of friends of mine which gives us a better price than others. The only disadvantage of this place is that they are so close to Mexico Border which is the one of the reason they give good price.

GROCERY MARKETS

As third, I think you will also need the information about grocery markets to buy your first needs. I will give information about the grocery markets around La Jolla but you can find those markets are all around the city. Don`t forget nearly all of those grocery markets have their own cards which gives you great discounts.



Trader Joe`s: One of the cheapest market in the sector. You can buy your vegetables, fruits and also frozen foods there.

Vons: It is also so cheap when compared the others. I really liked their soups and I can suggest you this market. This is the market I get used to buy for my big shoppings.

Ralphs : One of the best on sector. First of all it is 24 hours. Have good big packages (6 drinks :) with good prices) and also with redbox inside easy to rent a movie.

Whole Foods: It is more expensive but also gives better service and high quality. Especially you can try their prepared foods. You can pick up a plate and make your own meal. You can use your UCSD card and take %10 percentage discount.

Bristol Farms : It is also an expensive but high quality place. It is so close to Whole Foods. You can try their prepared foods and vegetables.

7 Eleven: One of the best but small markets in sector. They are also for 24 hours. They have a perfect tacos and easy-cooked and prepared meal options. If you will buy not to much thing, you can use a 7-Eleven.

NIGHT-LIFE

For final part,  I can give information about the night life in San Diego. But because of it is a bigger topic I want to write it, in one of my new post more detaily.