I have been to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and that is the farthest I have dared to travel beyond my home state. Last week I boarded a plane in Albany, had a layover in North Carolina and landed in Los Angeles, California. My flight time totaled 8 hours and was honestly more tiring than I expected. I have always been a shy girl with anxiety, but I missed my boyfriend, and he's still finishing his semester, so here I am. Of course, the moment I hugged him I knew it was more than worth it. After traveling once, I can honestly say I'm looking forward to doing it again.

First off, the flight was exhilarating. When the plane took off I felt like I was on a roller coaster going up, but this time when I looked out I saw clouds and buildings that once seemed so huge were now so tiny I couldn't see them much at all. The turbulence is a little scary, but again I felt like I was on an amusement ride and that made it much less terrifying. The seats were pretty comfortable and with a good playlist and a book or video game, so it seemed like we were landing before I could even get bored.

The next thing I noticed was how different the roads were. I was used to two- or three-lane roads, but here there are sometimes 8 or more. My boyfriend can weave in and out of traffic like it's nothing, but the thought terrifies me incredibly. The people here are used to it but I certainly am not. I tried driving and did well for a while but I got nervous and couldn't continue, though I could get used to it with more practice.

Before we got to my boyfriend's house, we stopped at Vista Point to look out at the sights, and it was incredibly beautiful. The lights in the darkness were captivating. I've never seen anything like it. I wanted to stay there forever, but I was tired, so I just took a picture (below) and we went home.

The next day I woke up ready for an adventure. I looked outside of my boyfriend's house and immediately noticed how different California is. It's brown and sandy compared to the grass and trees of New York. Fake grass is often used, and trees are not as tall—and definitely not as present. Everything is also incredibly close, and the Oneonta "mall" is nothing compared to the size of the mall here. The plants are much different, for example this is in my boyfriend's backyard:

Overall, California has a much different type of beauty, but it is beauty nonetheless. From sunrise to sunset, I'm captivated by the way things look here. Yes, I may slightly miss New York and my quiet small town, but I would be lying if I said I didn't love the hustle and bustle of this new city in its own way. The beauty is undeniable and I plan to enjoy every second of my time here.