Welcome to L.A.
BY SHENTIM
Of all the experiences I have had in my life as a result of moving: from Virginia to Texas to Kansas to Pennsylvania to California; the move I made in California from San Diego to Los Angeles has been, by far, the most eye-opening experience yet. After transferring up here to USC, I realized that although Los Angeles is only two hours away from San Diego, it is completely and utterly different. There are so many things I absolutely hate and love about LA in comparison to SD, and here they are:

Things I Hate and Love about LA (in no particular order)

- I hate those stoplights at the freeway entrances where both lights turn green at the same time. What the hell? Are we supposed to race or something? It's supposed to alternate!

- I hate every left turn light being a yield. I've never ran so many red lights in my life.

- I hate valet parking EVERYWHERE, even at Ralph's! I didn't even know I had to get my ticket validated so I had to pay to park to buy some groceries and return a video. Ah, valet, you will not get the best of me.

Or so I thought. There is NO street parking ANYWHERE. There are red zones for no reason, passenger loading only parking, and street cleaning signs galore. After circling S. Gramercy for an hour at 2 am, my friend tells me that there's parking inside his garage. Thank you.

- I hate LA traffic. Why is there traffic at midnight? What are those lunch trailer things doing driving in the fast lane? Why are they hitting the brakes?

- I hate emergency sirens. Day in and day out, there are multiple sirens blaring. And honking. I hear one now. Must … shut ... door.

- I love how downtown LA looks during the day. It's so nice during the evening when it lights up nice and green

- I hate how during the day as I'm heading to class, I can't see LA anymore due to the thick haze of pollution. Nasty~!

- I love K-town cafes. They are a trillion times better than anything San Diego has to offer, at least Asian-wise. I haven't gone bar hopping in downtown San Diego and the gas lamp since I turned 21 back in August, but since I've been here in Los Angeles, I've been trying to rate each café. So far, I've come up with the following critique and recommendation list:

New York New York - New York looks the best. Plus my friend gets us free alcohol there since he knows the owner. An added bonus.

Bohemians - has hot waitresses. Wasn't quite as impressed with Bohemians as I was with New York. New York, more like a date place?

Bliss - Very nice display in the middle. Fun to sit at the bar, probably good to watch sports at.

Café Bleu - Very sleek and clean, but nothing too outstanding. A trendy step above places like Sool Dog, OB Zone and Yi Ga Ju.

Anyway, I know I have a ton more to go through. Oh yeah, that brings me to my next one…

- I love those bells at places like Nandarang and every similar restaurant imaginable. No excuse for having a crappy waiter when you have a bell =P

- I love the food here. Itching for some Korean food? There are plenty of 24hr places, such as the renowned Hodori as well as BCD… and can you ever get tired of Korean BBQ at places like Manna?

Oh yeah. It's been very, very helpful to have a roommate who has been in K-town for quite some time now willing to show me around. That one-degree of separation in K-Town seems to be very true…

- I hate the Mexican food here. Where are my carne asada fries!!? This imitation is disgusting. Must be too far from TJ.

- I love hot Korean girls. Damn, they're hot. Especially at Le Prive. Even if they are materialistic. Or bitchy. Or just want to drink your alcohol. I swear, the bitchier, the hotter.

- I hate the ahjummas at the clubs. Did I use that right? Do people know what I'm talking about?

- I hate how old Korean businessmen are sitting with a ton of young girls. I know this doesn't just happen in LA, but man, that just looks dirty.

- I hate posers. What's so great about driving a Mercedes when you live in an apartment? If you were a real baller, you'd be driving your SLK and parking it at a mansion.

- I hate the typical K-Town guy. Don't you guys ever get tired of smoking weed??

- I hate the typical K-Town ho. If you were video recorded while drunk and saw how you acted, you'd stop drinking. *lol*

- I hate the homeless people!! Stop preying on our good nature on a daily basis. That aside, that guy that cleans the windshields at the freeway entrance? Man he's fast!

- I hate how people park on the side of the street. As if Wilton wasn't narrow enough. AND on top of that having some idiot trying to turn left… -_-

- I love the Lakers. A hometown team to cheer for now =] as well as the Trojans~

- I love being in LA. The city lights up at night, and in K-Town, the nightlife is everything.

I'm sure a part two is in store, but for now, this is the list~