LA-nniversary: My Experience In LA & Stereotypes

As many of you know I moved to LA with my husband a year ago and it has been an incredible journey. We felt that moving to a big metropolitan area would give us more opportunities and experience a change in culture, so we definitely got that in LA! Below are some of the things that I have learned while living in LA, some you may know already or you may learn something new today.

1. A car is very important, but not 100% essential.

 LA is not a very commuter friendly city, but depending on your location you can definitely make it work. I was lucky enough to find a job that was located across the street from a Metro stop, so I walk a couple blocks to get to my nearest Metro stop to commute. The same train line goes to DTLA where my internship is located. Other routes may consist of multiple buses and train transfers, so I definitely try to plan out my travels. Parking is a nightmare! Make sure to read ALL signs and that your tags on your car are up to date. The parking authority may just skip the fine and go straight to towing your car.

2. Cultural & Foodie City

I'm not exaggerating when I say there are hundreds of different neighborhoods within Los Angeles. Within many of those neighborhoods are different ethnic group, so food and architecture go hand in hand in those areas. I live in Koreatown, so Korean BBQ is really popular. It taste great and can be very inexpensive depending on the establishment. Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Thai Town, and almost any Mexician place I have tried are great as well. Also, food trucks. Follow them on social media to check their next location.

3. Fitness is everything

Group classes, state of the art gyms, hikes, bike paths, and personal trainers are all the rage. I've taken my fair share of Zumba, Groov3, and hip hop classes to know that people religiously attend these classes.

There other side to physical appearance is the superficial and unhealthy one belonging to those who are in the public eye. I know one specifically who only drinks protein shakes all day long, then they will have two bits of a salad at dinner. I also grabbed dinner with someone who was "starving", they proceeded to have a buffalo wing and a liquid diet. Yes, they look amazing but it definitely lives up to the stereo type. Especially in Hollywood. "The camera adds ten pounds", so it's important for them to stay lean and fit because a gig can come up at any second.

5. Do not freak out over a celeb sighting.

It is tacky to run to someone and ask for a photo. Also, don't take photos of them from a distance. Celebrities are people too, so respect their privacy. If they are working an event or are making an appearance, then go for it. 

6. Cost of living

 Are there apartments for rent in LA? Yes! Are they modern and luxurious?! Of course, starting at $2,000! Oh, and that's for a one bedroom. You must dig, dig, dig to find the best deals when it comes to apartment hunting. My husband and I ended up with a studio apartment in a social area for $900, with all utilities included. The apartments might not be in your ideal neighborhood, but if you are willing to make a small commute to the areas you like, then it's no question. Parking is a nightmare, so be sure to factor that in when searching for apartments. There are many restaurants and apartment buildings in our area, so finding parking is like coming across a unicorn. We would spend HOURS driving after work as a team trying to find a parking spot daily. We ended paying for monthly parking space at a garage two blocks away. It is $120 a month, but we can come home with ease everyday.

These are the top things that I've learned in LA. I know that there is so much more to this place and I'm excited to learn more about it everyday.

XX, Rosany