Los Angeles is a complicated place. It has perfect weather, famous people, and insane traffic. In the years I've been attending school in LA, I think the city and I have gotten used to each other, and I've compiled these observations.
1. It's dark, but it's beautiful. Some streets, even in densely populated areas of LA, have few street lamps, or street lamps that do not offer much light. It's kind of odd to need a flashlight when running in a major city. However, there's nothing like all the beautiful views at places like Griffith Observatory, The Narrows Overlook on Mullholland Drive, or the bluff at Loyola Marymount, so don't be afraid of the dark.
2. You might gain 20 pounds. The following is a list of real things I have eaten or seen people eat in and around LA: an ice cream sandwich made with peanut butter pretzel cookies, an ice cream sundae made inside a cupcake, a hotdog with onion rings on it, an ice cream sandwich dipped in chocolate and covered in sprinkles, a strawberry cookie dough milk shake, strawberry lemonade cake, and a stuffed cookie. Consider a food journal, because those things are appalling, readily available, and so, so delicious.
4. You might lose 20 pounds. Peanut butter pretzel cookies aside, you may find yourself shrinking after a few months on the West Coast. The weather in Southern California is wonderfully comfortable and the landscape is hilly. Even if you're not the outdoor-adventure-type, the climate in LA is always calling you off the couch and out to the beach for volleyball, running, hiking, or tennis. Of course, if you hate applying sunscreen, there's no shortage of trendy exercise classes popping up all over the place that, for a small fee, will not only cure your hangover blues but will also give you the most phenomenal butt muscles ever. Speaking of phenomenal butt muscles...
5. Forget what everyone says about how skinny everyone is in LA. LA is incredibly diverse, and having different people means different bodies and different ways of life. Unlike where I grew up in the Midwest, where modesty (or maybe a dash of shame) seems to keep people in tankinis long after middle school graduation, my experience in California has shown that people seem much less apprehensive to show off their bodies. I've embraced this new lifestyle of confidence, but I still keep my tankini around, just in case.
6. The traffic thing. Traffic is an abomination, and it's ironic because having a car is one of the more convenient ways to get around, but you mostly just sit in traffic. Try downloading many entertaining audiobooks or subscribing to satellite radio to while away the hours on the 405. The good news is that Angelenos are relatively experienced drivers, perhaps because they live in their cars, but there are some jerks and daredevils out there. Generally, people aren't going to think one car length is going to make any real difference. In other words: people might actually let you into the lane you need to be in, just make sure you do the same when it's your turn.
7. No matter what, you'll have tons of fun. There is never a shortage of exciting things to do. I went to Corgi Beach Day, which is every bit as fantastic as it sounds (https://www.facebook.com/SoCalCorgiBeachDay). In terms of fun that doesn't involve dogs, there are outdoor movies, clubs with 18+ nights, beach volleyball tournaments, concerts, and much, much more.
So many corgis, so little time.
