“It’s going to be a culture shock,” they said.

“It’s so different than here,” they said.

“You’re gonna freeze your butt off,” they said.

Well… They were right (About all of it).

About eight months ago, I left my warm, cozy climate of San Diego, California for the foggy mountains of Lynchburg, Virginia. It has been an interesting transition. The eastern side of the country is like a completely different world. Ever since the day I stepped off the plane, I’ve been noticing new things about this place that I never would’ve seen back home.

The first easy difference to spot is the landscape. I traded palm trees and sandy beaches for pine trees and farmland. At first, I was convinced that the Pacific Ocean would always be my favorite, but every night I fall in love with Lynchburg sunsets a little bit more. The snow in wintertime is pretty and picturesque (until I have to actually go somewhere), and my new favorite pastime is driving on the windy mountain roads when the sunlight comes through the trees and hits the windshield.

The best (and worst) difference between Southern California and Virginia is the food. Living in close proximity to the coast, and to Mexico, makes San Diego the ideal spot for amazing seafood and authentic Mexican food. The first thing people say when they try either of these for the first time is that it tastes so fresh. Same goes for In-N-Out. (I miss you, In-N-Out.) San Diego is also a melting pot for a ton of different cultures, which means delicious Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Japanese food is at arms’ length. Whereas in Lynchburg, it’s hard to find the qualitative equivalent.

I feel the need to bite my tongue though, because as much as I miss a lot of fruits and vegetables in my diet, there are several (unhealthy) menu items that California needs to adopt ASAP:

Sweet Tea. At first I didn’t understand it, and for that I deeply apologize. This southern staple needs to become a thing in SoCal. (Because now I’m slightly addicted.)

Mac N’ Cheese Bites. These little triangles of cheesy goodness are God’s greatest deep-fried gift to mankind. Seriously, I need to write Sheetz a personal thank you note, because I don’t know how I’ve lived this long without them in my life.

Cracker Barrel. Anything from this grandma’s-secret-recipe style restaurant is bound to blow your mind. I know, I know, it’s a national chain. But there are ZERO Cracker Barrels in San Diego. Or anywhere in Southern California. Or anywhere in the entire state. (My personal favorite thing to order is a steaming hot plate of chicken and dumplings.)

As much as I love gaining ten pounds on deep fried, smothered-in-gravy goodness, I think the thing I miss most about California is definitely the lifestyle. I miss the way that people react to life. Because as nice as southern hospitality is, I like the laid-back, “take life as it comes” attitude of Southern California. Call me a hippie, but I like that a lot of people in SoCal are really chill. (And I still prefer saying “hey guys” over “hey y’all.” But maybe that’s just me.)

Don’t get me wrong though, I love all the fun adventures and discoveries I’ve made on this side of the country, and I love Virginia. This state is beautiful. Plus I love the outdoors, so I always have something to do. I just don’t think here will ever feel like home.

San Diego will always be my first love.