December 2023 marked about two years since our family moved to the US. This post brings together some of the places visited during that time and practical topics for people making a similar move.
Not everything is rosy
Relocating involves more than enjoying a new place. The expats in the US articles cover practical questions such as:
- Finding a suitable place to rent
- Building a credit score
- Getting a driver license
- Buying a first car
- Understanding the US healthcare system
The cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is another consideration when comparing a job offer and the household budget it needs to support.
The blue sky and California weather
California has very different landscapes and climates, from the coast to the mountains and desert. Lake Tahoe offers a very different setting from Los Angeles. Conditions vary by season, so clear skies and clean air should not be assumed everywhere or every day.
Running by the sea
Coastal trails offer another way to spend time outdoors. Weather, air quality and trail conditions still matter when planning a run.
Access to nature
Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve is one example of a place to explore California's grasslands and wildflowers.
12 national parks by December 2023
By December 2023, we had visited about 12 national parks in two years: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Pinnacles, Redwood, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Lassen Volcanic and Grand Canyon.
You can read more about these trips and tips for different national parks:
- Yellowstone National Park
- Pacific NorthWest National Parks: Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Crater Lake and Lassen
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Zion National Park
Road trips and scenic drives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItrukdRXwI4
Road trips make it possible to combine different parks and landscapes. Distances and services vary, so each route needs its own planning.
California flowers in spring
K-12 education: comparing approaches
Curriculum and classroom experience vary between schools, so a single family comparison cannot describe education across the US or Asia.
For the earlier discussion, see "We bake and join clay club" — one of the main differences between elementary schools in the US and Singapore.