When i first began to make plans to move out here, i was very excited. I'd be leaving boring Orlando, FL for exciting Los Angeles! However, that definitely wasn't my first impression when I first drove away from the airport. All I could think was how ugly the city was! Hazy mornings, out-of-control traffic, old buildings, and pollution were some of the first things that caught my attention. What were all these people talking about? Even with its minivan-driving tourists and Motel 6's in every corner, Orlando was starting to look nice.
However, after spending a few months here it finally sank in. What makes Los Angeles special is its aura and people. Everyone who lives here just has a particular vibe about them. Real estate prices may be exorbitant, and you need to drive 30 minutes to go to the grocery store, but yet people from LA just love LA. Eventually that vibe spread and now I find myself loving LA as much as them! I'll find myself telling my out-of-town friends that traffic isn't so bad and that paying 300k for a 2 bedroom is not that unreasonable. I guess it just took some time to catch on.
- Patricia Padilla