San Francisco

When I was 14 I was very determinately trying to move abroad. The easiest way was an exchange year. I was way too young but I had already filled out all application, written all the letters, collecting all pictures for the personal presentation even though there was 2 years before I could even be allowed to go.

I decided to go to the US. My dream was the east coast preferably NYC or Boston. The Teenage Malin was dreaming about preppy high schools and Ivy. I highlighted all interests that could be suitable – Sailing, Swimming, Golf and Horseriding. To not end up on the countryside I applied as allergic to animals and with citylike interests such as Theater, Concerts and Opera. I just had one main concern – Please don’t send me to San Francisco (clearly stated in my application of course). The picture from the 1989 earthquake was still fresh in my mind.

I have to smile when I think about it.

It all went well in the end. There were no more earthquakes. And I had a great year. I convinced my parent to pay an extra fee so I could be placed in a school on the east coast. Somehow the exchange program divided the US fairly rough and I ended up spending a year in Ohio. The real, and very average state.

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By the way: The catastrophe on the Bay Bridge in 1989 did not, incredibly enough, cost one single life. Pretty amazing knowing that 75000 cars daily pass this part of the bridge.

Bay Bridge

ElmlidSan Francisco

2 Comments on “San Francisco”

  1. Federica

    Hilarious! Don’t you want to beat yourself up for not wanting to go to SF and ending up in the Midwest? I bet your application inspired those people that screened it to be creative in where to send you… ;-)

    My first place in the US was Iowa… I cried for the first week in my dorm room. I couldn’t believe I had to live in that place surrounded by fields for two years. But I ended up loving it at the end of the two years. It has a charm of its own, even though I can’t see myself living there in the long term… Oh human adaptation.

  2. Elmlid

    Ohio was great! It was a perfect introduction to the US.
    Luckily I had matured a bit when the application was possible to send out two years later. The fear for earthquakes was not mentioned.

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