Where to buy electric accessories (e.g. power adapters)?

Where to buy electric accessories (e.g. power adapters)?

After your arrival you might notice that you need a power adapter e.g. to charge your notebook or...

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How to find a job in the Silicon Valley and how to get a visa for the US?

How to find a job in the Silicon Valley and how to get a visa for the US?

As a foreigner the potentially most convenient way to work in the Silicon Valley is a transfer within...

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Where to meet people?

Where to meet people?

When you arrive in the Bay Area you don't necessarily know a lot of people. The culture in...

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What is the best mobile provider in the Bay Area and San Francisco?

What is the best mobile provider in the Bay Area and San Francisco?

This is a controversial question, but according to rootmetrics's results AT&T and T-Mobile provide a very good performance...

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How to find roommates and shared apartments in San Francisco and the Bay Area?

How to find roommates and shared apartments in San Francisco and the Bay Area?

The main destination for shared rooms and roommates - as for most other things, too - is Craiglist:...

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How is the weather in San Francisco?

How is the weather in San Francisco?

The weather in San Francisco is relatively mild and dry in comparison to the rest of the US....

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How is the weather in the Bay Area?

How is the weather in the Bay Area?

The weather in the Bay Area can simply be described as sunny, mild, rarely too hot and rarely...

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Which days are public holidays in the Bay Area/California?

Which days are public holidays in the Bay Area/California?

Shops and other institutions are open almost every day throughout the year, apart from Thanksgiving and Christmas Day...

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Where to go for the ultimate geek tour of the Silicon Valley?

Where to go for the ultimate geek tour of the Silicon Valley?

There are plenty of iconic sites in the Bay Area - especially if you are in the IT...

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Where to find the best shopping malls & outlets around the Bay Area?

Where to find the best shopping malls & outlets around the Bay Area?

Silicon Valley is known for its tech companies, not for its shopping centers - however you will find...

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Where to shop for groceries?

Where to shop for groceries?

A few of the most popular stores in a descending by our personal preference: Trader Joe's - super...

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How to buy a car and which one?

How to buy a car and which one?

Choose a model Great overview regarding available models from TrueCar At least in comparison to Western Europe, new...

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Where to get a mobile phone/cell phone and how much is it?

Where to get a mobile phone/cell phone and how much is it?

In the US you usually have to pay to make calls, but also to receive calls (same for...

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What to do in your first days?

What to do in your first days?

For international geeks: Get your mobile phone Get to know your new surroundings, your workplace & colleagues Get...

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When to do what before your move? (for internationals)

When to do what before your move? (for internationals)

In short for international geeks: Get a job in the Silicon Valley Get your visa Organize your shipment...

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How to find accommodation in San Francisco and the Bay Area and how much is it?

How to find accommodation in San Francisco and the Bay Area and how much is it?

Average rent in the Bay Area: Shared apartment: ~1,000 USD Studio/1-bedroom apartments: ~1,600 USD >2-bedroom apartments/(town) houses: >2,500...

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How much of your paycheck will end up on your bank account?

How much of your paycheck will end up on your bank account?

Brief answer according to our experience: a bit above 55%, after deducting... Tax (federal & state): around 30%...

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How to get a loan to buy a car?

How to get a loan to buy a car?

Banks seem only to give loans to buy a car if the buyer has a SSN (Social Security...

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How to get a credit card and which one?

How to get a credit card and which one?

You can use credit cards to pay almost anything in the US Your credit limit is dependent on...

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What's the Credit Score?

What's the Credit Score?

One of the mysterious topics when moving from a foreign country to the US is the credit score....

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How to get a Checking Account?

How to get a Checking Account?

For internationals, one of the first things after arriving in the US, is to open up a checking...

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How to get a car insurance and how much is it?

How to get a car insurance and how much is it?

 Car insurances can often only be arranged if you already have your Social Security Number (SSN), but there...

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How to register your car and how to get a Californian drivers license?

How to register your car and how to get a Californian drivers license?

To register cars as well as to take driving exams it is necessary to go to one of...

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How long does an international transfer take?

How long does an international transfer take?

To give you an idea, how long an international transfer can take and which activities need to be...

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Can I use my devices from overseas in the US (e.g. TV)?

Can I use my devices from overseas in the US (e.g. TV)?

(note: no guarantee that the below hints work, try it at your own risk) Check the type label...

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How to watch TV for free / over the air?

How to watch TV for free / over the air?

Get a good antenna and a receiver (e.g. European systems seem to be incompatible): Mohu Leaf Paper-Thin Indoor...

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How to navigate, where to park and where to find cheap gas?

How to navigate, where to park and where to find cheap gas?

 Waze: mobile app with crowd-sourced traffic data, therefore pretty reliable when navigating from A to B in the...

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Where to find pharmacies?

Where to find pharmacies?

The major pharmacies, where you will also find a selection of basic groceries, stationary, etc., are almost omnipresent...

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Where to get a health insurance, how does it work and how much is it?

Where to get a health insurance, how does it work and how much is it?

Tech companies often provide employees with a subsidized or free health insurance (also referred to as 'health plan'...

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How high are the salaries in Silicon Valley?

How high are the salaries in Silicon Valley?

Enter your job/employer/location on these salaries databases to get an idea: Payscale  Glassdoor Check the Median Household Income...

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Where to find the best burgers?

Where to find the best burgers?

Controversial question - here a few good starting points: In-N-Out Burger (not-so-secret menu) Five Guys The Counter More...

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How to get your home hooked up to internet/TV/phone?

How to get your home hooked up to internet/TV/phone?

The US' TV and telecommunication market is known for its high monthly costs compared to other countries and...

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Where to find news about the Bay Area and the local IT industry?

Where to find news about the Bay Area and the local IT industry?

Local News: SFGate: San Francisco & Bay Area News San Jose Mercury News: San Jose & Peninsula News...

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