May 19, 2009
ANDREW FU: Ultimate Road Tripping Across United States for Silicon Valley Software Engineer
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Have you dreamed of discarding your responsibilities, giving you time to tour the country and learn firsthand about the diversity of people on the continent? Chucking his job software engineering job in Silicon Valley for the ultimate road trip, Andrew Fu sold all his possessions then seized the summer and headed across the country. This past weekend he traveled to West Virginia.
Speaking to Fu via phone prior to his visit, he told HNN that he had no real preconceived ideas about the Mountain State, except for a low income area when compared to New York City or San Francisco. When asked specifically about the horrid hillbilly and other common stereotypes, the former software engineer who will be working on his master’s in North Carolina emphatically explained that he knew nothing about the imagery of “Beverly Hillbillies” or “Wrong Turn.”
His adventures had already taken him to a horse ranch in the Great Plains where he drove a tractor, shoveled manure, and fed livestock, to a Kansas homeless shelter where he ate “an abundance of pork chops, green beans and an interesting white bean soup providing enough calories for the entire week,” to New Orleans where he became a street musician, and even to a pancake eating contest.
When asked what inspired him to take the trip, Fu’s explanation is simple, “I wanted to cut back the clutter in my life. This trip will show that only the bare necessities are needed to sustain myself and that the best things in life are free.”
Andrew lives out of his car, eats meager meals of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and canned fruits, and goes wherever the road takes him.
“I was inspired by others who fully lived life and realized their dreams. The way for me to fulfill my dream of an adventure was to hit the road and live it day by day” says Fu. His goal is to discover the American frontiers by exploring the diverse cultures and environments offered in America, according to his website http://www.whereisthefu.com By interacting with different demographics firsthand – musicians, blue-collar workers, the homeless – he hopes to understand the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our country. “Different experiences help me get out of my comfort zone and see things from another perspective,” he says.
Fu’s first West Virginia stop was in Beckley, where he hooked up with some mountain climbers for an outing. He also took in a view of the Gauley River and visited Tamarack “I walked up and introduced myself,” and he soon was climbing hills with the group.
Arriving in Huntington on Friday evening, he blended into the crowd at the police memorial service. Following the event, he literally found a home at the nearby firehouse. He explained that in a serendipitous manner he finally came close to his childhood “dream” of wanting to be a firefighter.
Thanks to an invitation from members of the Huntington Fire Department to hang out, he toured the main station, slid down a pole, and learned about life as a firefighter, including living out of the station. Although most of those on duty were married, the profession has a 75% divorce rate. Retirement is a huge concern due to the physicality of their work. Suffice to say that he learned about Huntington’s pension crisis and insight into ongoing collective bargaining efforts.
Strolling down Pullman Square on a Friday night, he learned what Huntingtonians know already, when Marshall graduates its class, the college town empties of diversity for the summer. Actually, the current intersession period found little late night excitement. He ventured to Club Babylon where at 1 a.m. he, the bouncer, the bartender and other employees were the only one’s at the huge nightspot.
When asked to pay a cover charge, he skirted the fee with an ”I’m the only guy in the club, why should I pay cover” paraphrase. Interestingly, Fu said club management are determining whether to stay open Friday and Saturday nights in the summer or just on Saturday. Based on his visit, it appears that Saturday will win.
During his travels, particularly in the South, hospitality is not the only difference he’s observed from Silicon Valley: Couples get married just after high school and/or college. California has a large late 20s single scene where groups hang together. College grads put career first, not a relationship.
He finds some merit to the waiting to find someone special, adding that those marrying young have not yet developed “skills in conflict resolution” and, of course, their “hormones” are still surging. The young professionals “still looking for partners” in their late 20s can apply what “wisdom” they’ve learned in their journey before making a lifelong commitment.
While complimenting the friendliness of West Virginians, he overheard many discussing the difficulty with finding employment. And, although the “pretty fit” group in Beckley were engaged in physical recreational activities, the young wanderer found those in Huntington were “well fed with bigger waist lines.”
However, he had previously observed that the South still has the cigarette habit commenting that in that region he notice many ‘smoking’ and ‘non-smoking’ sections in public areas.
A visit to Huntington would not be complete without a stop on campus to see the fountain and learn about the plane crash and the shooting of “We Are Marshall.” Fu remarked that the campus was “beautiful” and asked me to point out the direction to the football stadium. Meanwhile, I educated him about the crash and movie in the Drinko Study Center, where the former software profession complimented the “big screens” on the computers.
As for his next stop, he told us he would visit the District of Columbia. Wonder if he can cajole a “night” at the White House?
http://www.prweb.com/releases/roadtrip/america/prweb2355184.htm
http://whereisthefu.com/
http://whereisthefu.com/maps/
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ANDREW FU: Ultimate Road Tripping Across United States for Silicon Valley Software Engineer
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Have you dreamed of discarding your responsibilities, giving you time to tour the country and learn firsthand about the diversity of people on the continent? Chucking his job software engineering job in Silicon Valley for the ultimate road trip, Andrew Fu sold all his possessions then seized the summer and headed across the country. This past weekend he traveled to West Virginia.
Speaking to Fu via phone prior to his visit, he told HNN that he had no real preconceived ideas about the Mountain State, except for a low income area when compared to New York City or San Francisco. When asked specifically about the horrid hillbilly and other common stereotypes, the former software engineer who will be working on his master’s in North Carolina emphatically explained that he knew nothing about the imagery of “Beverly Hillbillies” or “Wrong Turn.”
His adventures had already taken him to a horse ranch in the Great Plains where he drove a tractor, shoveled manure, and fed livestock, to a Kansas homeless shelter where he ate “an abundance of pork chops, green beans and an interesting white bean soup providing enough calories for the entire week,” to New Orleans where he became a street musician, and even to a pancake eating contest.
When asked what inspired him to take the trip, Fu’s explanation is simple, “I wanted to cut back the clutter in my life. This trip will show that only the bare necessities are needed to sustain myself and that the best things in life are free.”
Andrew lives out of his car, eats meager meals of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and canned fruits, and goes wherever the road takes him.
“I was inspired by others who fully lived life and realized their dreams. The way for me to fulfill my dream of an adventure was to hit the road and live it day by day” says Fu. His goal is to discover the American frontiers by exploring the diverse cultures and environments offered in America, according to his website http://www.whereisthefu.com By interacting with different demographics firsthand – musicians, blue-collar workers, the homeless – he hopes to understand the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our country. “Different experiences help me get out of my comfort zone and see things from another perspective,” he says.
Fu’s first West Virginia stop was in Beckley, where he hooked up with some mountain climbers for an outing. He also took in a view of the Gauley River and visited Tamarack “I walked up and introduced myself,” and he soon was climbing hills with the group.
Arriving in Huntington on Friday evening, he blended into the crowd at the police memorial service. Following the event, he literally found a home at the nearby firehouse. He explained that in a serendipitous manner he finally came close to his childhood “dream” of wanting to be a firefighter.
Thanks to an invitation from members of the Huntington Fire Department to hang out, he toured the main station, slid down a pole, and learned about life as a firefighter, including living out of the station. Although most of those on duty were married, the profession has a 75% divorce rate. Retirement is a huge concern due to the physicality of their work. Suffice to say that he learned about Huntington’s pension crisis and insight into ongoing collective bargaining efforts.
Strolling down Pullman Square on a Friday night, he learned what Huntingtonians know already, when Marshall graduates its class, the college town empties of diversity for the summer. Actually, the current intersession period found little late night excitement. He ventured to Club Babylon where at 1 a.m. he, the bouncer, the bartender and other employees were the only one’s at the huge nightspot.
When asked to pay a cover charge, he skirted the fee with an ”I’m the only guy in the club, why should I pay cover” paraphrase. Interestingly, Fu said club management are determining whether to stay open Friday and Saturday nights in the summer or just on Saturday. Based on his visit, it appears that Saturday will win.
During his travels, particularly in the South, hospitality is not the only difference he’s observed from Silicon Valley: Couples get married just after high school and/or college. California has a large late 20s single scene where groups hang together. College grads put career first, not a relationship.
He finds some merit to the waiting to find someone special, adding that those marrying young have not yet developed “skills in conflict resolution” and, of course, their “hormones” are still surging. The young professionals “still looking for partners” in their late 20s can apply what “wisdom” they’ve learned in their journey before making a lifelong commitment.
While complimenting the friendliness of West Virginians, he overheard many discussing the difficulty with finding employment. And, although the “pretty fit” group in Beckley were engaged in physical recreational activities, the young wanderer found those in Huntington were “well fed with bigger waist lines.”
However, he had previously observed that the South still has the cigarette habit commenting that in that region he notice many ‘smoking’ and ‘non-smoking’ sections in public areas.
A visit to Huntington would not be complete without a stop on campus to see the fountain and learn about the plane crash and the shooting of “We Are Marshall.” Fu remarked that the campus was “beautiful” and asked me to point out the direction to the football stadium. Meanwhile, I educated him about the crash and movie in the Drinko Study Center, where the former software profession complimented the “big screens” on the computers.
As for his next stop, he told us he would visit the District of Columbia. Wonder if he can cajole a “night” at the White House?
http://www.prweb.com/releases/roadtrip/america/prweb2355184.htm
http://whereisthefu.com/
http://whereisthefu.com/maps/
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
