Skip to main content
OLC logo

OLC Editor

SFU Staff
All Faculties
Co-operative Education

California
The fast pace work life in California is perfect for achievers and innovators.

California: Find Yourself Here

The state of California is situated on the West Coast of the United Stated. Its four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. The California Gold Rush in the 1850's brought a huge influx of population and created an economic boom in California at that time. California is populated with an incredible amount of talent and it is one of the most populated states as one out of every eight United Stated residents lives in California.

California is no stranger to us since we are all familiar with the buzz words like "Hollywood", "Disneyland" and the high tech sector such as the booming "Silicon Valley" where "Yahoo" and "Google" are situated. All these high profile entertainment and high tech industry attracted thousand of tourists to California each year. Based on world economy, California ranks among the ten largest economies in the world with domestic production equivalent to that of France. California is definitely a land of unlimited opportunities!

Working at California

The American working culture stems from the "American Dream". Americans believe that a person's self-worth is achieved through hard work and hardworking individuals are rewarded with promotion and pay raise. Although there is a huge Spanish speaking population English is still the predominant work language. Moreover, women are well respected and receive equal treatment at work. The fast pace work life in California is perfect for achievers and innovators.

Interesting Facts

Geography

  • California holds within it the most diverse environment on the planet.

  • California is bigger than eighty-five of the smallest nations in the world.

  • The redwood is the official state tree of California. Many of the giant redwoods in Sequoia National Park are more than 2,000 years old.

California Animals

  • In Pacific Grove near Monterey, there is a law on the books establishing a $500 fine for attacking butterflies.

  • More turkeys are raised in California than in any other state in America.

Food

  • Castroville, California is known as the Artichoke Capital of the World.

  • Dick and Mac McDonald opened the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California.

  • Fallbrook, California is known as the Avocado Capital of the World and hosts an annual Avocado Festival. More avocados are grown in the region than any other county in the nation.

Random Facts about California

  • The Country Store in Baker, CA has sold more winning California State Lottery tickets than any outlet in the state.

  • The Golden Gate Bridge is so big that workers paint the bridge year round. By the time they are finished with one end it is time to begin repainting the other end.

  • The birth of the Internet was sparked from the campus of UCLA in 1969 when Professor Leonard Kleinrock needed a way to communicate between campuses.

  • Cool Californian inventions: Barbie Dolls, blue jeans, the boysenberry, the pill, white zinfandel wine, the square tomato, natural soda, the computer "mouse," the wetsuit, and theme parks.

  • Berkeley was the first city in America to mail education pamphlets on AIDS to every household in the city.

  • Marin County, north of San Francisco, is said to have the world's highest concentration of hot tubs and BMW's.

Beyond the Blog

Author

OLC logo

OLC Editor

SFU Staff
All Faculties
Co-operative Education

The OLC Lead Editor manages content submissions, provides feedback on content submissions and assists with the development of content with contributors.

visibility  136
Nov 4, 2010

You Might Like These... International, Life Experience, Co-operative Education

Korea
International Spotlight: Korea

Bordered by China, Russia, and separated from Japan by the Korea Strait, Korea makes for a strong international hub of Asia.

Kaleigh sitting on a cliff staring out to the wilderness
My Co-op Work Term in Gaborone | Part Two

In Part 2 of her series, Health Sciences Co-op student Kaleigh Banister gets into the local Gabarone culture and takes a bit of time to explore the natural wonders she’s surrounded by.

Picture of Katelyn smiling
SFU Home to Canada’s Top Co-op Student

SFU Biology and Biochemistry Co-op student Katelyn Mueller was awarded the 2008 National Co-op Student of the Year award from the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education during National Co-op Week, March 23rd - 27th, 2009.

You Might Like These... Community Engagement

aerial photo of the Okavango River in Botswana
Kayla, I Swam the Delta

SFU Kinesiology student Kayla Donnawell is in Botswana, Africa volunteering with the Students Without Borders program (SWB). In this article, the fifth in the series, Kayla swims the Delta, meets elephants and chased by a hippo.

Children that Danielle worked with
Danielle's International Co-op Journey: Hope Found in Haiti

Danielle Jeong's trip to Haiti was a self-exploring and life-changing journey. Read about her work at a local clinic and how this experience challenged herself in ways she did not think was possible, while discovering she is and finding a purpose for her studies at SFU.

The author is standing in front of a castle
Working in Germany with the International Paralympic Committee

Written during Liz's time at her international Co-op with the International Paralympic Committee, learn how it was a dream come true as it helped her grow both professionally and personally.