I am a West Coast girl, born and raised; however I have also had the unique experience of living on the East Coast, in both New York and Florida. I have lived in one of the rainiest states, one of the coldest states, and one of the hottest states. I have experienced some of the most conservative, as well as some of the most liberal, cultures in America. Of all the different societies I have had the chance to experience I am still completely in love with the West Coast. The difference in cultures is very evident. Even in the airports it is easy to recognize the people that are from the coast I am on and the people who are visitors. The demeanor, style, and even manner of conversation makes people from the West Coast versus people from the East Coast very easily identifiable.
The West Coast is much slower paced, people don’t rush from place to place. In Oregon specifically, a lot of people ride their bikes or walk everywhere. There is a universally casual implied dress code that everyone follows, going to work in jeans or going to class in sweats every day. People spend the majority of their time outdoors. There are more places to go hiking, swimming, and camping throughout the West Coast than the East. The stereotype that the West Coast has a hipster epidemic is not 100% untrue, however, I have yet to meet someone who is a hippie just for the fun of it, as opposed to genuinely wanting to promote the beliefs and lifestyle of a true hippie. There is also a much higher emphasis on conservation and environmental issues on the west side of the country.
The East Coast however is a much faster lifestyle. There are few breaks and vacations, and people tend to work the typical nine to five day. It is a much more formal culture, with people going to work in suits or heels as opposed to jeans or combat boots. People walk very fast (something that I have personally had the hardest time adapting to), and always seem to be going somewhere.
The East Coast was the starting point of some huge companies such as American Express, Under Armour, and Verizon; but the West Coast has created Nike, Apple, and Starbucks. Both coasts are major areas for very successful corporations and businesses, despite their major differences.
I don’t want to say that the West Coast is necessarily better than the East Coast, but it is. The West Coast promotes a much more relaxed, much less stressed lifestyle. Experiences and adventures are prioritized over a successful career in an office. Most people I have talked to can recognize whether people are from the East or the West after just a short conversation, and sometimes after just seeing them.
I am a very West Coast girl, from the way I dress to the things I eat. The overuse of styrofoam frustrates me, and I am always the last person to arrive places because I don’t know how to rush everywhere. I am living on the East Coast for the next few years of my life, and have been for over a year now, and I love it; but nothing will ever change the fact that I am a West Coast native.
