1. Rain
People that aren't from the Washington will never understand. When you live here, you are going to get rain for over half of the year, whether you like it or not. With SoCal being in a drought, I don't see rain. From the few times it did rain, I could tell who is from the PNW and who isn't by the umbrellas. Seattleites don't use umbrellas, we just accept the fact that we're going to get wet.
2. The scenery
I went on a hike at Mt. Baldy and people were astounded by the "view". To me, it just looked like a depressed mountain with some dirt. When you're from Washington, you're used to dense forests covering mountains, and that's true scenery.
3. Actually being able to use my wardrobe
Due to Washington having rain pretty much all the time, Washingtonian wardrobe is filled with rain jackets and sweatshirts. When I moved to SoCal, I had to leave over half of those items back home because they serve no purpose here. Whenever I get to go home, I love being able to wear my sweatshirts and rain jackets all day long.
4. The "cold"
In Washington, we may not have it as bad as some places in the Midwest and the East coast, but it definitely gets colder compared to SoCal. Some of my friends complain when the temperature drops down to the 60s and 70s. I just laugh at them because that's t-shirt weather to me.
5. Dick's Drive-In
Whenever you visit California, everyone is like, "You MUST try In-n-Out, it's so good!" I've tried it, and sorry to break it to you locals, but it's not that good. In Washington, we have Dick's Drive-In. It's faster, cheaper, and MUCH better than In-n-Out. I can't begin to explain how much I miss making late night Dick's runs with my friends back home.
6. Going to Seattle
Seattle is so wonderful. The Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, buskers, magicians, Benaroya Hall, the gum wall, Seattle has it all. Even though it's a hassle to go into Seattle most of the time, some of my favorite memories are my friends and I going to Seattle with no plans and just adventuring!
7. Trail running
Running through the suburbs and the city is nothing compared to the running trails back home. The views here in SoCal are just not fascinating to me, and they're all so flat. Running over crisp (usually wet) leaves, hills and being surrounded by tall trees is the best place to run. I got lost in the trails at first, but after a while, I got the hang of it, and once that fear of getting lost is gone, the fun can begin.
8. Costco
The free samples. The food court. The massive bulks of food. Costco was my favorite part of every weekend back home. My family shops here so often, the employees know my family member's names. Costco doesn't seem to be as big of a deal in California. Costco's first headquarter location and Kirkland Signature being the only way people know of my hometown, I love Costco.
9. Friends
I'm the first person from my high school to attend Pomona College, or any of the 5Cs, so I came here not knowing anyone. I may have made some great friends during my first year, but nothing will beat the bond of my friends back home. Those that I've known ever since moving back to the U.S. Thanks for being my friends for 10+ years. #OGsquad #LuisIsWithUsInSpirit
10. My family
Being on the other side of the West Coast is too far from me. Even though I love and have been blessed with the opportunity to go to a school like Pomona, I miss my family more than anything. I think about them everyday, even if they may not know that. But everything I do in college is for them. I miss them the most out of any of the items on this list.
