- Brian Norris
When first moving to Washington, D.C., I didn't know many people outside of the office. InterNations has changed that with some exciting events.
Living in Oakland
Oakland is a large city located in the San Francisco Bay area of California. It is an important center for shipping, featuring one of the country’s largest ports, as well as being a center for transport in the area. Oakland is sometimes known by its nickname of ‘Oaktown’, as a result of its scenery which features a lot of woodland and oak trees in particular. Oakland is a diverse city which attracts a number of tourists. Some of the most popular places to visit for tourists and newly arrived expats living in Oakland include the Oakland Zoo, which has a popular elephant exhibit, and Jack London Square, dedicated to the author, is another popular attraction. Expats living in Oakland will find that art has a strong presence in the city, with many galleries to visit for the interested expatriate in Oakland, whilst there is also plenty to experience in terms of shopping and restaurants. The city is furthermore known for having a fantastic music scene, with the downtown area offering many bars and nightclubs and a lively area at night.
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Moving to Oakland
Oakland has fantastic scenery as well as being a busy economic hub, but the cost of living can be high in line with others in the San Francisco Bay area. The city has a Mediterranean climate with a high percentage of sunny days, and is ranked as being one of the best climates in the US. There are a number of schools in the area, both private and public schools for expatriates moving to Oakland with families. The city is also home to a number of colleges and universities, including Lincoln University and Patten University. Getting around the city is easy for expats moving to Oakland, with a number of rail services as well as ferry services to other areas of the San Francisco Bay area. In addition, the city is located near three airports including San Francisco International, which makes for easy travel to and from other parts of the US as well as overseas. Last but not least, cycling is popular in Oakland thanks to the number of cycle lanes implemented throughout the city.
Working in Oakland
The largest source of employment in the city is related to shipping, and expats working in Oakland will find that there are a large number of jobs in this field. However, shipping isn’t the only industry present, as there are a number of large employers based in the area such as Ask.com, Kaiser Permanente and others. Other fields where an expat in Oakland may find work in Oakland include education, work for the Alameda Council, as well as in the retail and leisure industries. Expatriates working in Oakland can benefit from joining InterNations, an extensive online community with thousands of members from all over the world who may be able to provide you with information and advice about searching for work, as well as more general information about the area and relocating to the US in general.