First Impressions of San Jose

We have been here almost two months now and I think it is safe to make some initial observations of our new home. My wife and I are constantly asking ourselves what the city is like and how it is different or similar to Denver. There is a lot of emphasis in the "missional church" philosophy to take the posture of a missionary in your community. I think that can be overblown now. Yes, America is extremely diverse but it is still America and the differences between different states like California and Texas are more subtle and often exaggerated.

San Jose is interesting because it is being urbanized like so many other places in the world. However, I feel like the Silicon Valley is one big suburb. There are virtually no tech companies in the downtown area. They are all spread out in business parks throughout the whole valley. As for ministry, it is probably best for us to speak of the urban system as we work with people around the city because that is what it is. Transportation is so easy, people will drive wherever they want to go. Thus, it is a more fluid system, than a self-contained geographic area. Downtown's have become places for entertainment and large events in addition to having old school neighborhoods with a centralized location. One of the large problems across the country is that major grocery chains are lacking or moving out of urban areas. Until a the brand new Safeway opens up in DT San Jose, the only choice in the area is a Hispanic grocery store that has had to expand its inventory to meet the greater needs in the area.

I don't know what it is about California, but I have been cut off more times in the last month than in the last five years in Colorado. I don't know if I am not going fast enough, or because I drive a junky old VW it screams cut me off. I am not sure. Maybe, its because I am the only one in the entire valley of 1 million plus people with out of state plates, particularly CO. Maybe they are Californians who moved to CO, didn't enjoy the warm hospitality of the NO VACANCY bumper stickers and left. I have met a few Californians among others with that their story.

I have now repented of my former "Colorado Native" elitism. Yikes, besides it isn't helping me make friends with the locals out here. Not to mention, most people who live in California love it and never left. Unless they have an accent, safe to say they have always lived here. Note to all you in Colorado, better work on your hospitality.

Merging is murder too. I heard several Californians making comments about drivers in Colorado not knowing how to merge. I now know what they were talking about. What they mean is, in Colorado people will get out of the lane you are merging into or adjust their speed to avoid having to slow down because someone pulled onto the highway in front of them doing 35mph. This leads to people never learning how to properly merge and using the entire on-ramp to wait for the perfect moment and then end up being the moron stopped at the end with cars wizzing by at 70 mph. Out here, you are on your own. You better floor it or you will be forced into the next off ramp.

The mass transit system is more developed and cheaper than CO. I don't get the impression people use it a lot. There is talk of shutting down some underused lines. For all the press about California trying to be very progressive in emissions, they still love cars. But lets be honest, this is an American thing, not just a California one. I had a Korean prof in college say that for Americans, "The automobile is an extension of your personality." (must read with Korean accent or its takes away the force). So true... out here, that personality is BMW and Mercedez Benz. In CO, its SUV and Subaru.

One thing I really enjoy... BIKE LANES!!! They have them on nearly every major road. There is no where you cannot easily ride a bike. Its AWESOME! I love it. Of course, like mass transit, it doesn't look too popular so far. I think I can safely say that cycling is not as popular out here as Colorado, but that shouldn't be a surprise. There is little doubt Denver has the most cyclists per capita.

I still don't feel like I have a good idea of what people do here for fun. Downtown is busy on Friday and Saturday night but not like LoDo, not even close. Its still developing its own scene. Plus, with Santa Cruz 45 minutes away, there is no doubt it is the place to get away. People can camp in the Santa Cruz mountains, go sailing, hit the super cool boardwalk, and all sorts of stuff.

Okay, that is enough for now and I didn't even get a chance to complain about the Cali DMV. Wow, was that an experience. That is a post all its own.