At some point in their lives, almost everyone moves from one place to another. Sometimes it's a short move from one end of town to the other, and sometimes it's a drastic change from one country to another. While California and Utah are only two states away, moving from one state to the other felt like moving to a different country. The culture shock was astonishing.
1. Palm Trees are to California as LDS churches are to Utah.
In California, you are likely to see palm trees on almost every street--the same is true for Mormon churches in Utah. The LDS church is very popular in Utah, so there are LDS churches on almost every corner.
2. In-N-Out is a rare treasure.
In-N-Out burger is a famous staple of California. There is an In-N-Out in almost every major city in California. Sadly, there are only a few in Utah. Therefore, the chance to eat In-N-Out is very special. While Utah has many great, popular food chains, none of them beat In-N-Out.
3. Snow is a real thing.
Only a very small portion of California receives snow fall, so a lot of California natives have never even seen snow. It's more like a beautiful phenomenon you only see on television.
4. And it's freezing.
While the snow is beautiful and opens the door for many fun outdoor activities, it creates for a very cold winter. As a California native, this was definitely a difficult adjustment.
5. Park City is the new Beverly Hills.
California's Beverly Hills is the most expensive, but most beautiful city in California. The same is true for Utah's Park City. With the beautiful mountains and multiple ski resorts it has, it's no wonder why it's so popular and expensive.
6. You use the nearest mountain range to figure out the direction.
In Utah, there is a mountain range in almost every direction. Because of this, people look to the mountains to figure out which way is East, West, etc.
7. You can't wear sandals year round.
In California, the weather rarely drops below 50 degrees, which means a lot of people (including myself) choose to wear sandals all year, even in December. They're just so quick and convenient! Unfortunately, Utah's snow and freezing temperatures make it very uncomfortable to wear sandals past the month of September.
8. Instead of surfing, people ski and snow board.
Since California borders the ocean, surfing, snorkeling and other ocean-related sports are very popular. Utah, however, does not border an ocean. But it does include many beautiful mountain ranges, perfect for sports such as skiing and snowboarding.
9. The Stanford vs. Cal Rivalry is equivalent to the University of Utah vs. Brigham Young University rivalry.
Every state loves it college football, and most states have several large universities which are considered rival teams. One of California's largest rivalry pairs is Stanford University vs. the University of California Berkeley (Cal). In Utah, the biggest rivalry is between The University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Thousands of people from all over the state show up each year and cheer on their favorite team.
10. While the two states are very different, they are both beautiful in their own ways.
California and Utah are vastly different when it comes to everything from cultures to landmarks. However, from the coastline beaches to the snowy mountains, both are beautiful in unique ways.
Although my move from California to Utah was a drastic change, I'm so glad I did it. I came to Utah to attend Utah State University and had no idea it would be so different, but in such a good way. I have learned so much from experiencing life in both states, and I'm glad I've had the chance to embrace the culture and beauty of both states.
