Poor Kids of Silicon Valley

The problem is that unions will take advantage of all that money and increase wages and pension benefits for their workers instead of hiring more workers and increasing employment in general. This is what happens when there's an influx of money, it causes inflation.

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A couple of years ago I had this offer to relocate to Sillicon Valley to work at my company's new office there. H1B visa, great salary, incredible project, a dream come true.

I live in Barcelona and there are few cities in the world which can compete with the Barcelona package, even during times of 'crisis' - great climate, beautiful architecture, laid back lifestyle and great cuisine.

San Francisco was one of those cities and I didn't want to miss the opportunity now that I had it. And Sillicon Valley - it's like coming to the centre of the tech world where history is being forged.

So I came over to explore and see if it makes sense to relocate.

It was my first time visiting the United States and I was so excited !

I had Scott McKenzie playing in my headphones when my train arrived in San Francisco. It was an emotional moment and I almost felt bad that I didn't have a flower in my hair :).

It felt incredible to be there. People were smiling and saying 'Hello', there were techies everywhere and the city looked very nice indeed. I went to Haight Ashbury and then the Golden Gate park, some guy offered me a joint and I just sat there listening to drummers and looking at the great, powerful oak (? pine ?) trees surrounding me.

The air, the drums, the joint put me in a state of trance and I felt as if the city started speaking to me - "Come here, in here there is power, this is the place to be if you want to change the world'. I've felt it's power, I felt it's might, I've felt that it's now or never.

But there was something else in it's tone. A kind of strange arrogance and slight bullying, a kind of 'either you're with me or get the fuck out of here' kind of vibe.

At first I didn't give it much thought when I saw the homeless people - drunks, addicts, ex cons, whatever... But then I started to notice that there's lots of them in the city and as it started to get dark, the streets became filled with these people - fucked up, strange and scary, outcasts, abandoned, ignored, useless... I almost ran back to the train station.

The next days that I stayed there I couldn't help but see homeless and the poor people everywhere and I just couldn't comprehend it.

How is it possible that the place were the greatest fortunes are made is filled with so many poor people ? I mean, I know it's their lives and they're responsible for that... but still ? Why did they get to this state ? Is the society there so 'cruel' that you either make it or fuck off ?

How come there are no homeless (or at least bum-looking) people in Barcelona ?

This contradiction was one of the reasons that I refused the offer to relocate. I can't explain it rationally - rational people don't base their decisions on such ridiculous details - but nevertheless it's been a big factor in my decision.

But there is food for thought there.

That said, I still want to come back to San Francisco and Sillicon Valley, seems like there's so much to explore there. And I know I will, probably soon and maybe then I will be able to understand it better. But for now, it's in my list of mysteries.