I am lucky. I am a native Californian! I was born in Southern California and have lived here all my life (except for some occasional trips to various states for work and for vacations). I have spent my life living among the palm trees and wondering how much time I should spend at the beach. California has a variety of faces and perspectives… and for a lot of people who move here, it’s exceptionally challenging. I have a lot of friends who moved here and everyone’s perspective and experience in making Los Angeles feel like home is different.
Today we have a guest post from Lisa Roberts who is sharing her experiences when she moved to Los Angeles.
7 Things I Learned After Moving to Los Angeles
by Lisa Roberts
Living in different states and cities brings a lot of experience to the table. Every place has a distinct charm, atmosphere and local culture. Communities are very diverse, and each follows its own set of rules. The same can be said of different areas of life, like finding a job, commuting, getting your diploma, finding someone special, etc. If there is one city that takes this mix, puts it in a blender, and sets it to high speed, it’s LA. For someone, the final result of this mixture will be a big pile of nothing. For others, it can turn into a winning combination. Whatever the outcome is, one thing remains the same; you will feel lost in LA for some time, and you will need to get accustomed to it. As if that wasn’t enough, the COVID-19 outbreak is not setting new rules for everyone. To help you in this process, here are the seven things I learned after moving to Los Angeles.
1. You will meet all kinds of people
If there is one thing that LA does not lack, it’s the diversity of its residents. African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian – Los Angeles has them all. You will encounter rich people, spoiled ones, well-mannered, hard-working, lazy, pretentious, down-to-earth, friendly, angry. Los Angeles is a crazy vortex of everything, and if you are not prepared for it, it will catch you off guard. Nevertheless, you will learn to love it and everything about it very soon. Once the LA current takes you, you will learn to roll with the punches.
This is the corner of Rodeo Drive and Dayton Way (one street north of Wilshire)
2. The weather in LA is the complete opposite of its residents – predictable!
When you move to LA, you can expect only one thing with certainty: the weather is always hot. No rain, no snow, no blizzards, no hail, always and only sunny days. If you are not a summer person, this might be an issue. But, if you are, you will always feel energized and ready for anything LA throws at you.
3. Making new friends will be hard at first
The unusual mix of cultures and personalities in the local community might pose a challenge when it comes to making friends. They all live in their own world, and you will need some time to get accustomed to that flow. Life in LA is fast and full of 180 degrees turns. As a result, people learned to toughen up so they can hit back with determination when a challenge presents itself. However, once you break that hard exterior, you will make friends for life who will always be there for you.
It is also important to understand the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. With people keeping social distance, it is even tougher to make a close connection if you are new in the city, but there are ways to overcome this. Facebook and Instagram can be a great way to connect with people in your community, and after the initial hellos, you can organize a virtual coffee date or even work on separate projects during a conference call.
4. The commute might drive you crazy
After living in LA for many years, it amazes me that 405 can be completely empty at 6 PM yet all jammed at 2 PM on a Saturday. Of course, this has a lot to do with the pandemic, as the 405 is usually blocked up until 7 PM, on a good day. If you are considering living and working in different areas of the city, it would be best to get to know the city before you make your final decision.
Life on the 110 Freeway; heading downtown!
5. Expectations will pull you down – ditch them!
When you live in Los Angeles, things change rapidly, for better or for worse. Having expectations without the experience to back them up will only cause you a massive amount of stress and lower your self-confidence. It is crucial to take your time, forget about the expectations, and roll with the flow. As time goes by, you will start recognizing patterns in all spheres of your life.
6. Hunting for an apartment will test your patience
You’ve probably heard stories about how difficult it is to find an apartment in LA, and unfortunately, most of them are true. You will have to choose between settling in at a good location and paying more or staying outside of the main circle of events and hoping for a more affordable deal. Living here is exciting and this can be a great experience (https://www.losangelestransfer.com/moving-to-la-with-ease/), but moving to LA and finding your perfect home will require some work. The process might be easier with the help of a friend or relative that lives in the area, and having someone you know close by might make you a little less homesick. Keep in mind that rent is not cheap, so do your finances before hunting for an apartment.
Aerial view of Downtown LA. The far left has the 110 freeway going through the city.
The pink-ish layer of sky behind the buildings in the far distance is thefog and a marine layer often at the beach.
There are many cities between DTLA and the coastline!
7. Immerse yourself in the city from the start
This is the most important advice of all. Whatever happens in LA, be it good or bad, will be an important experience. Los Angeles will test you 7 days a week, but the result will be outstanding. You will grow into a strong and capable person who can deal with any situation, no matter how difficult it is. It will be hard and time-consuming, but the reward is tenfold. LA is full of surprises, opportunities, and exciting things to see and do. Learn about LA as much as possible, and experience everything. However, keep in mind that it can be overwhelming. With that said, pace yourself. Take it slow, one thing at a time, and enjoy. If you try to do too many things at once, you will soon feel exhausted.
An aerial view of the LA basin. The cluster of skyscrapers at the far left is Downtown LA.
Los Angeles – a city full of opportunities
Newcomers to LA will have a tough time adjusting, but it’s just a standard way of how things work here. As my closing advice, start getting your things sorted out as soon as possible. Look for a job, learn your way around the city, fix yourself with a nice hairdresser. Get out there, meet people, and start making connections. You have to push forward until you start seeing results. It is a difficult path, but with a high reward at the finish line. I hope that these seven things I learned after moving to Los Angeles will help you find yourself in this vast city. Good luck!
Author’s bio : Lisa Roberts
Lisa Roberts has been engaged in writing blog articles for the last 7 years. Although she started off her career in the moving industry, writing for big company names such as Capital City Movers NYC, the experience brought her diversification the content topics she covers. Today, her range of topics spans from moving across the globe to everyday lifestyle tips, traveling, marketing and software-related news, etc. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys running, reading books, and spending time with her dogs, Lue and Sill. As a great lover of life, she finds something practical and useful in every experience, which contributes to her portfolio as well.
Photos used:
https://pixabay.com/photos/city-los-angeles-cityscape-skyline-1031706/
https://pixabay.com/photos/los-angeles-downtown-center-2679490/
https://pixabay.com/photos/rodeo-rodeo-drive-beverly-shopping-500716/
https://pixabay.com/photos/los-angeles-california-skyline-1598747/
LA-Story.com thanks Lisa Roberts for her insightful article on what it’s like to move to Los Angeles.
There is so much more you can learn by visiting Los Angeles can checking out the diverse areas of the city as well as outlying cities west of Downtown LA, south of LA (think coastline) and going east to the LA county border as well as Orange County.
Stevie Wilson
LA-Story.com
Want to leave a comment or ask a question? Please send an email to stevie.wilson@LA-Story.com
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