Two weeks ago, I continued on to the next chapter in my young life, and moved away to college. With my car packed with literally everything I own, I arrived once and for all at my new home away from home -- just a 6 hour car ride away. Yikes. The anticipation, nervousness, and tears leading up to this monumental event in my life did nothing to help the pit in my stomach forming. The realization that I would be forced to live on my own in a place so far away from my family and friends finally hit me. In addition to learning how to survive on my own without the help of my parents, I've also discovered that my new home is a little different from the one I'm used to. As a Los Angeles native, Northern California has provided me with an abundance of very new experiences, or should I say "hella" new experiences (which brings me to the first point on my list!).

1. I find myself saying the word "hella" … a lot.

2. Besides the obvious use of the term "hella", people say a variety of other words that I don't understand. e.g. "slaps", "jank", etc.

3. Whenever I meet anyone from SoCal, we immediately bond over the fact that we don't live in the Bay area, unlike the majority of our student population.

4. People have warned me that it is in fact possible for the state of California to experience rainfall? (I'll believe it when I see it.)

5. And apparently I have to buy a raincoat?!?

6. Everyone here is a Giants Fan, which of course, offends me in every possible way. #WeLoveLA #ThinkBlue

7. The air isn't constantly brown and full of smog! Who knew that the sky is actually blue?

8. There are trees. So. Many. Trees. I honestly don't think I've ever seen so much green in my life. In LA, Do palm trees count?

9. In addition to seemingly cleaner air and more trees, NorCal is also way more environmentally friendly than SoCal. Everything here is compostable, recyclable, or reusable. Like, literally everything.

10. As much as I love NorCal so far, I'll always be a SoCal girl at heart.