Summary

In Part I, "San Francisco," Alexandra lives in San Francisco with her boyfriend, J. She is a "Consumer Technology Reporter" and J is a “Research Associate” (5, 8).

Alexandra tells her desk mate, Tim, she plans to leave California when J gets into a PhD program. Tim wonders if she should give up her job to follow him.

Alexandra and her best friend from work, Jasmine, drive to the South Bay to report on a new product. On the drive, Jasmine complains about dating white men.

Though Alexandra and J's house is small, the rent is cheap. In the morning, J makes coffee, a new hobby, while Alexandra makes a spreadsheet of the schools where J is applying.

At work, Alexandra keeps asking for a raise. Everyone she talks to puts her off. Tim attributes their evasiveness to an upcoming company change.

At...