Life in California?

[yerazhishda]

For all of those who live in California, what is life like out on the West Coast? I am applying to a couple of schools (as a transfer) out there and as someone who has literally never traveled out of the New England/New York area I was wondering what it is like.

How is Los Angeles? Fresno? etc.

How are the people? We've all heard of the typical "LA" person.

Do you like it in general?

Anything you can say would be appreciated.

[One-Way]

Re: Life in California?

That's difficult especially if you've been living in New York. If you've been using public transporation, it's time to say goodbye.

The negative aspects of Los Angeles consist of lots of traffic, bad drivers, druggies roaming the streets, and pour housing. It really depends where in Los Angeles but that's how it is in Hollywood, Downtown, etc.

The positive side of Los Angeles is the entertainment. There is so much to do and see. You're pretty much close to everything; within a few miles you are at the beach, you can go down to Mexico if you'd like, Las Vegas if a few hours away, etc.

Fresno is much nicer but I haven't really been there. Anywhere from LA should be much calmer because this city is hectic. What school are you planning on transfering to?

Overall, I have lived in and around Los Angeles my whole life. I can never imagine leaving here although there a lot of negative things I can point out. I like the idea of having taxis and walking everywhere just how it is in New York. In LA, you cannot do that, you're pretty much forced to drive a car. As I said, the traffic is horrible and you may contemplate suicide. So if you're planning on going somewhere that's 5 miles away, think 30-45 minutes. Seriously.

With that said, Los Angeles is pretty much great.

[yerazhishda]

Re: Life in California?

That's difficult especially if you've been living in New York. If you've been using public transporation, it's time to say goodbye.

The negative aspects of Los Angeles consist of lots of traffic, bad drivers, druggies roaming the streets, and pour housing. It really depends where in Los Angeles but that's how it is in Hollywood, Downtown, etc.

The positive side of Los Angeles is the entertainment. There is so much to do and see. You're pretty much close to everything; within a few miles you are at the beach, you can go down to Mexico if you'd like, Las Vegas if a few hours away, etc.

Fresno is much nicer but I haven't really been there. Anywhere from LA should be much calmer because this city is hectic. What school are you planning on transfering to?

Overall, I have lived in and around Los Angeles my whole life. I can never imagine leaving here although there a lot of negative things I can point out. I like the idea of having taxis and walking everywhere just how it is in New York. In LA, you cannot do that, you're pretty much forced to drive a car. As I said, the traffic is horrible and you may contemplate suicide. So if you're planning on going somewhere that's 5 miles away, think 30-45 minutes. Seriously.

With that said, Los Angeles is pretty much great.

Well I live in Rhode Island and I do rely on public transportation to get me where I need to go (school, work, and if I can't get there by bus I usually don't go) so I guess that sucks. There's no public transportation whatsoever then? That seems ridiculous!

I'm going to apply to UCLA and CSU Fresno so far (maybe more). I've been looking for schools with decent music programs as well as Armenian and Russian programs. Do you know the area surrounding UCLA?

[One-Way]

Re: Life in California?

There is public transportation, of course there is, but it is far less common than the East Coast. For schools like USC/UCLA, there definitely are bus routes and such for school. You'll probably be working nearby as well, so you should be fine.

As far as going out, nobody uses public transportation. I have never been in a taxi in LA my entire life. I have sat on a bus once and that was because my friends and I were messing around. Here, if you're going out, you're most probably going to need a car. Don't worry, you'll probably end up living close to school anyway.

[Lena]

Re: Life in California?

For all of those who live in California, what is life like out on the West Coast? I am applying to a couple of schools (as a transfer) out there and as someone who has literally never traveled out of the New England/New York area I was wondering what it is like.

How is Los Angeles? Fresno? etc.

How are the people? We've all heard of the typical "LA" person.

Do you like it in general?

Anything you can say would be appreciated.

Los Angeles:
If you plan on going to school AND working, you'll soon come to realize that you don't have much time on your hands. But the plus side is that if you do have free time, there is a lot to do and see just like One-Way said.

The traffic actually isn't as bad as if used to be. Exactly a year ago, it would take me 45min-1hr to get to work (without traffic max 20min) but lately I'm home or at work in 30min and I think it has a lot to do with the gas prices. Public transportation is actually booming right now. I'm seeing more and more taxis each month and the buses/bus stops are looking more packed than ever (again because of gas prices).

In general I like living here...if I could pick any where in the world to live, it would be somewhere in Europe but that's not going to happen so im happy with LA. Like One-Way said, it all depends where in LA lol. There is a good and bad to everything.

Fresno:
I've been to Fresno many time. My moms cousins live there and my dad has a couple of friends there too. It's a very nice place to retire and raise kids, but I would NEVER live there. After living in LA going to Fresno is like suicide. It can get really boring there. When we go to visit, we usually go jet sking the first day (they have two or three lakes there I think) but after that it gets really boring and relaxing at the same time. It all depends what kind of life you want. I've asked the kids there if they would rather live in LA and the ones that were raised in fresno said no. But my cousins who moved there from LA are dying to come back...

I hope I was some help and good luck.

I can't really help you out with the school, because I don't know which schools offer good music programs.

[One-Way]

Re: Life in California?

Yeah, public transporation is booming but the fact is it's going to take a lot more than gas prices and a lot more time for Los Angeles to follow in New York's footsteps.

I don't live in Los Angeles by choice but I like it here.

[Anonymouse]

Re: Life in California?

There are two camps:

Those who love the east coast and those who love the west coast.

There's really no two ways about it.

[ddd]

Re: Life in California?

As far as going out, nobody uses public transportation. I have never been in a taxi in LA my entire life. I have sat on a bus once and that was because my friends and I were messing around. Here, if you're going out, you're most probably going to need a car. Don't worry, you'll probably end up living close to school anyway.

I use taxis all the time when I'm there. And I have a car in LA as well, but would rather not drunk drive when we have no designated drivers..

[Sip]

Re: Life in California?

Southern California has by far some of the best places to live in the world. HOWEVER, it also has some of the worst places to live. I always say if you can't find it in Southern California, it probably doesn't exist (the good and the bad).

As far as Fresno, it's kind of known as the arm-pit of California. Well, maybe a bit north of the arm-pit. I can't understand how anyone can live anywhere Between north of LA and south of the Gay area (except along the coast of course). It just plain sucks except for agriculture and cows.

If you've never been out of New England, definitely get out and check out the west coast. You may love it or you may hate it but either way, you'll see something new which is always good.

[HayotzAmrotz]

Re: Life in California?

I lived in both New York and LA. There is good and bad in both places but overall NYC is a much better place to live. Most of the time LA feels like a village, a really big, boring village filled with peasants. NYC on the other hand is never boring and has far less peasants. However they both (NYC and LA) are shyt when compared to the best place to live in USA, namely the State of Montana. Truly a wondeful place. Don't judge it until you explore it, then on the other hand the less people know about Montana the better.