Is the West Coast really, truly the best coast?
Moving from one side of the country to the other for college can seem pretty daunting, especially considering each side is completely different from the other. My experience so far has been pretty positive, but the homesickness continues.
On one side, living in the suburbs of the concrete jungle of the world has given me insight into some of the most colorful people with some of the coldest weather. On the other, the City of Angels has a considerably different population as well as much more pleasant weather.
I’ve always had a fascination with the West Coast: the consistent sunshine, the glamorous celebrities, the palm trees and the beaches. Coming to Pepperdine was, and still is, a dream come true for me. However, I have certainly learned of certain Cali flaws that I didn’t know existed until moving here.
One of the things I didn’t know about the SoCal life was the cool mornings and evenings. I assumed it was always warm. However, sweater weather can surprise you out of nowhere at any time of the day. In New York, I was used to the fluctuating seasons and extreme weather conditions. I was a little naive to think that might not be a factor here as well.
Another not-so-surprising realization would be the calf-expanding hills that defeat me every time I attempt to conquer them. Being a journalism major, I spend a lot of my time hiking up to the CCB. Each time I tell myself it will get easier, but I have yet to see an improvement.
New York is mostly flat with little hills; especially in the city, there’s lots of walking, very little hiking.
However, there is a distinct difference in the demographic between the two cities as well, such as the business, hustle-bustle attitude of New York compared to the mellow, laid-back atmosphere in Southern California.
In New York there is a very future-oriented way of thinking — ways to get ahead of the game and to constantly improve.
In SoCal, I have learned, there is more time to appreciate the now, and less worrying about the future. That is something extremely refreshing, but drastically different from the setting I grew up in.
Taking a deep breath and experiencing life happening around me is something great to learn in college, considering a majority of the life experiences I create will happen here. It is where I will make my friends, where I might discover myself, develop my future goals and much more.
Finally, as nice as it is to wake up to the perfect weather here in the ‘Bu every day, I find myself missing the changing leaves and rain showers I experienced back home. There’s nothing like spending fall in the Northeast just because of its endless changes and vibrancy. I never truly valued it until I noticed the lack of change in my surroundings here at Pepperdine.
Yes, the West Coast is truly all it’s cracked up to be. But does it trump the east coast?
Not even by a mile, Although, when I’m home for winter break I might be singing a different tune.
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Follow Rachel Ettlinger on Twitter: @Hey_RaRaRachel
