With the semester coming to a close, I have discovered that I miss quite a few things from Southern California, things that, when I was a senior in high school preparing to go away for college, I never thought I would have thought I missed. Excluding family and friends, I have mostly missed the food, strangely enough. I find myself secretly hoping that these foods are going to be served every time I go to the dining hall and, I always set myself up for disappointment. Apparently, however, my internal food-optimist keeps hoping that I’ll see these foods despite the irrationality of the thought. Here is a list of what I miss most about California, it will not all be about food.
1. The Ocean
As cliché as that may sound, the ocean is something that I miss and quite a lot. It is rather soothing, with the constant ebb and flow of the waves in an endless cycle, and it is something that has always been a part of my life, being just minutes away from home, it was a good source of entertainment throughout life. Also, the ocean, or more appropriately, the beach, attracts lots of interesting people and, as strange as it may sound, being around so many unique, diverse individuals is rather enjoyable.
2. The Noise
The noise is something I both miss but enjoy when it is gone for a short while. Living in a city, there is never an absence of noise. It does not matter what time of day or night it is, something will always be taking place or somebody will always be driving somewhere. When I was a child, I became accustomed to falling asleep with the sounds of cars, sirens, airplanes and nightlife as background music. It was something that just was, and when I first arrived in Ohio, the silence was slightly disturbing. Sometimes I have come to miss the noise, it can seem to desolate when the world is silent, other times I appreciate the serenity that the silence brings.
3. The Food
California has a vast majority of different types of foods from all different cultures. There will be an authentic Mexican restaurant next to a Vietnamese Pho restaurant next to a Hawaiian Poke restaurant next to a McDonald’s. There is a variety of things to try and a person will never get bored.
4. The Outdoors
Due to the weather, many activities and facilities are outdoors. I had not seen an indoor track until arriving in the Midwest, it was very interesting to see and experience. The same was true with high schools. All the high schools I visited and the high school I attended had large outdoor areas for students. The quad was outside, as was most everything. Classrooms were indoors, but in order to move from one classroom to the next, a student had to go outside and walk across the outdoor campus to reach their next class. It was an interesting experience arriving in Ohio and having a different experience.
