Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The Streets of the America's Cup

What's San Francisco like? I was asked that a lot last night at a gathering of New Zealanders in the Waka (an enormous Maori canoe) in San Francisco for the America's Cup. It was meet and greet for all the notable Kiwis in California. So how did I get in? The classic Kiwi way...my friend asked: "Oh yeah could I bring my friend Jody too?"

Me and my old Wellington flatmate Matt in the Waka


Entrance to the Waka in San Francisco

Kiwis get really mad when it's suggested they might know another Kiwi, but last night I spotted: an old boss from Radio New Zealand, an old flatmate and an old childhood friend from Whakatane! Anyway - for all you visitors to San Francisco, here's a ten pointer to explain a few things...what would you add?


*Fancy reception: That guy you're talking to dressed in a holey shirt could be a Dot.com millionaire who owns the company. Or a student who wandered in for the free drinks.

*Beautiful clothes in the stores but no one's wearing them. I am not the first person to notice this. Dame Edna Everage famously said it first.

*Everyone says there's still a downturn, so why can't you get a seat in even a mediocre SF restaurant on a weeknight at 6pm?

*Likely to overhear: “Mom and Mama are taking me to movies tonight.” “Oh cool, my Dads took me on Saturday night.”

*Everyone's talking about...Catfishing (false info on your online dating profile)

*Everyone's talking about....A name for the New Mission, the place above the 22nd where all the new restaurants are going in.

*The cyclists who had custom $5,000 bikes in their garage now ride a fixed-gear bike.

*Don't say: “The coldest summer I ever spent was the summer in San Francisco....” We. Know.

*Don't ask anyone in the Steampunk Culture about Burning Man. No one admits to going anymore.

*I know, people never seem to be working here...they're always exercising and hanging out.

*The British “I'm on gardening leave” is replaced here with “I'm between start-ups.”


34 comments:

  1. How about don't ever call The City by saying San Fran, is that still no good?

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    1. San Fran is still a No no apparently, but the worst word crime is still "frisco!"

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    2. Hearing it called Frisco, makes my teeth nash:-)

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    3. Oh yes and yuck, I'd forgotten about that one, it's been so long since I've lived up that half of the state.

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  2. Sounds like fun Jody. So true about the scrappy guys being millionaires around here. I agree also about dressing up. WHo is buying the beautiful clothes? It's rare to see the well dressed in the Bay Area. Hmm, interesting about the Burning Man. I was wondering if it was still cool!

    xxKim

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    1. I know loads of people my age who go to it now - so I would say "No." Having said that I would love to go once.

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  3. Right, Jody. Glad you had a good time. As for the Americas Cup, well, does your memory go back as far as the "Fremantle Doctor"?

    Blessings and Bear hugs!

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    1. I know not a thing about sailing - I get horribly sea sick - and of course now its a lot of running side to side and doing the wheel turning.

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  4. Looks like you had a great time!! I've never been there!! Gorgeous pictures :)) xx

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  5. hilarious......when living in America I once introduced one Brit friend to another only to be reminded by the first friend that they had introduced me to the other one in the first place!!!!

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  6. I never got burning man anyway - whats fun about sandstorms and fire and wind. Sounds like a bad episode of game of thrones...

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    1. I think anything that involves an RV must be thought about long and hard...my husband says its all cons

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  7. Great post Jody! that is what I am going to say now: I am between start-ups!!!!

    Never been to San Francisco - gotta go!

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  8. I didn't know what catfishing was until a few weeks ago...I need to get out more :)

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  9. First I ever heard of catfishing at my sea
    So out of the culture. poor little old me
    A holy shirt millionaire you say
    My they are cheapskates at your bay

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  10. How fabulous to meet up with your Kiwi friends at home. I seem to have been watching the America's Cup in the last few days as my husband keeps switching it on. I can't for the life of me work out what is happening or where they are going but blimey, they're fast.

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  11. YOU ARE SO GREAT!!!!!!!LOVE THE LIST!LOVE THE FACT YOU SAW OLD MATES!!!!!!!!!

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  12. I love your blog header! awesome, I came via Dainty Dolls House blog. We can follow eahc other if you want :-)
    http://hind-toufga.blogspot.se/

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  13. love your photos, sounds like a great time!!

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  14. Your team is kicking our teams butt! I get seasick too, but love to watch those amazing boats.

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    1. Nice to watch from the shore with a good kiwi sauvy in hand and coupla pineapple lumps

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  15. I knew nothing of the Americas Cup until quite a few years ago we were in Valencia and looking out to the ocean and we saw the most beautiful sight....there in the sunshine were many many boats all travelling at speed but looking so cool. You have mates all over the world Jody and not one of them is uninteresting!

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  16. Hi, I found you through Young at Heart, one of my favorite bloggers. Great post, thank you

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    1. Hi Wally, thanks for popping over, had a good laugh at your blog post today about static stuff

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  17. It looks like a great time Jody and I love your 10 list! The holy shirt thing was a thing back when I lived there, but everything else--I will need to buy your guide to No Cal survival for my next visit.

    xo Mary Jo

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  18. Wow you Kiwi's do know a lot of people! he he he And that Canoe! was it real? It looked HUGE!!

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    1. For real, must google it, have no idea how they got it here. Also had loads of good wine and nibbles, a must for a canoe!

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  19. I'm between nothing and a start up. Does that count?!

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