Everyone knows about California. The sun, the beaches, the palm trees. But what everyone thinks defines the state and it's people aren't exactly true. As someone who was born and raised in California, then moved to Missouri for school, I heard quite a few things whenever people found out where I was from. There were questions about how I got out here, why I chose to leave, and why I picked the school I did. The most frequent thing I ever heard was "But you guys are all..." or "I thought you all...".
Let me just say, a lot of your assumptions are wrong.
1. We're all blonde and super tan.
Hate to break it to everyone, especially those guys looking for their beach babes, but not everyone in California is blonde. In fact, the state is one of the most diverse when it comes to hair color. You can see blondes and brunettes, maybe even some pink or blue hair. We love expressing with our hair. And as for being tan? Please. Not all of us live in a place where we can lay on a beach for hours.
2. We all know a celebrity.
While there may be some Californians who are tight with the celebs, not everyone in this state knows someone famous. Some of us don't even live near where the stars work or live, so how could we possibly know them? As much as we would love to be friends with actresses like Jennifer Aniston, it's just not happening.
3. We all eat super healthy (ie: gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian).
Are people outside of California fully aware of the food we have? We've got one of the best burger places in the world (In'N'Out, pictured above) and numerous other places. There are the mom and pop Mexican joints that make your mouth water or that small rundown diner that has the best waffles at one in the morning. How can we possibly eat healthy all the time with the food options we've been given?
4. We all know how to surf.
An assumption that has lead to the stereotype of us all being "surfer dudes". If you live by the water then you probably know how to use a board but if you're more inland, like me, you've never even touched a surfboard. Your waves are the mountains, not the water.
5. We all live by the beach.
Oh, how the world is so wrong about us. Not only is California diverse in it's residents' hair color, but also it's ecosystems. There is nearly every type within one state. Desert, beach, forest, mountains, etc. You name it, and we've probably got it. Some of us wake up to this lovely sight rather than salt water upon the sand.
6. We're all rich.
Oh do we wish this assumption were true. California is actually one of the most expensive states to live in and people struggle every single day to make rent and to put food on the table. There are definitely rich areas around that are full of people who've got the Benjamins, but there's also areas with people who struggle for the Washingtons.
7. We go to Disneyland like every weekend.
Do you have any idea how big our state is? To get from my hometown to Disneyland it was nearly a ten hour drive! No one can make that every weekend. While the locals in Los Angeles might hit up Mickey's house on the weekends, the rest of us have to wait for that family trip.
8. We're all ditsy af.
Shocker but, no, we're not all a bunch of idiots. Do you know how high the expectations are for us in high school alone? And how hard it is to get into places like Stanford or UC Davis? Plus, do you know where most of the headquarters are for companies? Apple, Google, Uber, and a whole bunch of others call Californian their home. You really think they'd pick a state full of ditsy people?
9. We all speak Spanish.
Everyone assumes we all speak Spanish, that it's required for us in order to graduate school. While a good chunk of us do there's also a good chunk of us that don't. Spanish is taught in schools but so is French, Japanese, Latin, and Italian. Not everyone chooses the easier language.
10. We're all just a bunch of jerks.
Sure, every now and then you're gonna meet some snob or some idiot who keeps cutting you off on the interstate, that's not all of us. Californians can be some of the nicest and most helpful people who will meet. We've learned from the beginning to stick together and to our friends, and that's what we'll always do.
