Portland, OR

As soon as I returned from Jackson, it was off to Portland in search of work and a place to live. Brand new to the city and without any contacts, I was grateful to stay with my mom's previous work colleague. Yafit and her family live in Beaverton, a beautiful suburb nestled west of town.

One of the main goals of my short visit was to get a feel for the layout of the city. Central Portland is divided into four or five quadrants (depending on who you talk to), each with its own unique vibe. The traditional west side refers to everything west of the Willamette River, while the eclectic east side is everything east of the river. Fortunately, the city has strong public transit infrastructure, including the MAX light rail, busses, and street cars. Portland is also extremely bike-friendly.

Southwest Portland includes downtown, Pioneer Courthouse Square (Portland’s "living room"), and several museums and concert halls. The area is also home to Portland State University, the Waterfront, and Washington Park. Oregon Health and Science University--where Yafit works--is perched atop heavily-wooded Marquam Hill, which overlooks downtown Portland.

Northwest Portland has some of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods, including the Pearl District and Nob Hill. The tree-lined streets of NW 21st and 23rd Avenues house quaint shops, boutiques, restaurants, and cafes that are built into old historic houses. This neighborhood is also near Forest Park, offering more than 5,000 acres of native forest and hiking trails.

North Portland consists of residential, industrial, and commercial areas. “NoPo” contains some of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods, and is home to the University of Portland. N Mississippi Ave. is lined with trendy bars, restaurants, and food carts.

Northeast Portland embodies a diverse collection of neighborhoods with important landmarks like the convention center and airport. NE Alberta St. organizes an art walk on the final Thursday of every month each summer. You can also catch a movie or live show at one of the area’s historic theaters.

Southeast Portland is famous for quirky streets like Belmont St., Hawthorne Blvd., and Division St. where there is no shortage of shopping, entertainment, and great local food--not to mention funky street art and colorful murals. Thriving small-businesses are abundant, especially in the food cart scene. At 190-acre Mt. Tabor Park, you can marvel at the downtown views from an extinct volcanic cinder cone.

My three-day trip to the City of Roses was a whirlwind. I quickly realized that my agenda was overly ambitious due to unforeseen logistical challenges. For example, it was difficult to navigate a large and unfamiliar city by public transportation, all the while maintaining a readiness to both network and explore. Needless to say, I was exhausted on my flight back to the Mile High City. Still, I reflect positively on my first impression of Portland, excited by the culture and overall vibes of my next potential home. I remain optimistic about expanding my newfound network and connections in the coming weeks.