where to move? LA or Santa Cruz or San Jose? (Los Angeles: apartments, travel)

[astrosona]

Hello,

Hello every one. i am 24 years old..i am really confused and i need your help.

I am about to transfer to Cabrillo College in Aptos. My family will come from other country to US this fall. So i need to decide very carefully because they will come to me.

I need to consider about:
1-the rate of Housing,
2-Finding job for my dad and mom,
3-and registering high school for my two small sisters. (we really want them to be in a local and small place)

as i am a F1 visa i need to register in a college and be a full time student in there.

i was thinking about the below options:

1-Cebrillo College in Aptos, Living in Aptos
2- Cebrillo College in Aptos, Living in Santa Cruz
3-Cebrillo College in Aptos, Living in San Jose (is there a bus and public transportation between San Jose and Santa Cruz?)
4-West LA College in LA, living in LA


considering my needs which of these options you think might be better? please help me and explain.

thank you all and have a wonderful time.
sona

[Jim Finn]

(is there a bus and public transportation between San Jose and Santa Cruz?)
No there is not! Live in Santa Cruz or Aptos if you are going to school in Aptos. Close by each other.

[Silicon Valley Anne]

Originally Posted by astrosona

Hello,

Hello every one. i am 24 years old..i am really confused and i need your help.

I am about to transfer to Cabrillo College in Aptos. My family will come from other country to US this fall. So i need to decide very carefully because they will come to me.

I need to consider about:
1-the rate of Housing,
2-Finding job for my dad and mom,
3-and registering high school for my two small sisters. (we really want them to be in a local and small place)

as i am a F1 visa i need to register in a college and be a full time student in there.

i was thinking about the below options:

1-Cebrillo College in Aptos, Living in Aptos
2- Cebrillo College in Aptos, Living in Santa Cruz
3-Cebrillo College in Aptos, Living in San Jose (is there a bus and public transportation between San Jose and Santa Cruz?)
4-West LA College in LA, living in LA


considering my needs which of these options you think might be better? please help me and explain.

thank you all and have a wonderful time.
sona

Well dear, you can't have it all:

Great jobs that pay well, cause the price of homes and apartments to go up
San Jose IS the Silicon Valley: you are competing for homes/apts with the highest paid workforce in the world

The commute is harsh over the hill on Hwy 17 from SJ to Santa Cruz
I don't think this is a good option for you

Santa Cruz/Aptos: slightly less expensive, poorer job opprotunities
The more inland you travel, the less expensive, AND less access to jobs

My suggestion: live close to your school and cut down on commute time.
Are you referring to Cabrillo College?

There are always people looking for the following: elder care, childcare, housekeeping services, gardening services, construction, painting

West Los Angeles: Excruciatingly expensive, more urban, you are competing with movie stars and movie support staff in this neighborhood....why? This is the antithesis of local and small.

Your family seems to expect an awful lot from you, perhaps too much. Going to college in a foreign country, learning in a foreign language, managing all of the issues regarding housing, jobs and school for an entire family...It would be better if your family gave you a year to establish yourself first. I fear that all of the family issues will detract from your ability to be a success in school. Maybe your parents could continue on with their responsiblilities whereever they are, let you get your degree and earn an excellent salary and THEN immigrate here. I fear you are setting yourself up for failure.

[krudmonk]

There are a lot of good places to live on that side of the mountains. They're some great beach towns. I wouldn't do the drive on 17 every day.

[astrosona]

thank you all.....thank you so much...well you are right actually this is the same words that my mom says to me but i can not stop thinking!!!!

i had decided to live in Santa Cruz area and i hope i could get every thing done great.

thanks for every thing!

[landrover06]

Good comments above. My 2 cents. I think it's a good decision to stay where you are. Your family should move where you are settled, then branch out from there after becoming more familiar with the areas of interest.

[DixieRooster]

Hey man,
Live in Santa Cruz - Near the boardwalk or out a little more. The cost of living is so much cheaper and the people seem more normal than the Starbucks dazzed and uptight techies in San Jose. The commute on 17 from Santa Cruz to San Jose is very hilly and slow.
I would not attempt that everyday.
Try to find a college in Santa Cruz, surely there are a few that have good programs?
Plenty of work in Santa Cruz that your folks could probably do.

Welcome to America!

[Woof]

I've lived in Santa Cruz and am eyeing it again, but it's not a cheap place to live anymore. Maybe it was cheap back in the seventies, I dunno. One of the reasons there are so many homeless people there is because of the outrageous rents.

Looking at Craigslis* just now, they seem to be running in the $1600 - 2500 range for 2 bedroom apts right now. San Jose a little less, but not worth the long commute to Aptos.

One good thing about Santa Cruz is that it has a very good bus system for such a small county.