LA Dreams - Em

I have always dreamt of moving to Los Angeles, and now that I’ve lived here for just over a month, I can confidently say that it’s nothing like I expected.

• I really thought I’d be closer to the beach… Like I envisioned it being across the street from my front door. This is definitely not the case.

• I’m not sure what I pictured when I thought about the house I’d be living in, but it was certainly not a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, studio-style bungalow in a weird, half-gentrified neighborhood with 7 strangers.

• Where are all the famous people that supposedly live here??? I honestly haven’t seen any of them. Am I even in LA??

• That being said, I have seen some incredibly wealthy people all over the place. I think the one thing that surprises me the most about this city is how two extremes- extreme wealth and extreme poverty- can live side-by-side, so close to each other, but at the same time, worlds apart. It’s impossible to spend a day here and not see this.

• I thought that I would have more free time than I do, but we’re all really working 9 to 5 jobs, 5 days a week. By the time we get home, we’re all too exhausted to work out, to explore, to go shopping, to do anything but make dinner, talk for a bit, and go to bed.

• I didn’t realize just how empty I would be without a cat or a dog as a constant in my life. I grew up with dogs and my roommate last year had a cat, so I’ve always had something there, and I never realized how therapeutic that is for me until I didn’t have that. I need to find an animal shelter ASAP and get to work. I’m struggling.

• And finally, I’m surprised at how not homesick I am. Sure, I’m missing out on things and it sucks to not be able to be there, but I don’t feel that familiar urge to run home (yet). As stressful and tiring as this month has been, it’s also been super exciting, engaging, and fun. I’m happy I’ve finally made it here, and I’m looking forward to what the next few months hold.

~ Em