Confessions of a Korean-American Man in New York City

I frequently come to California for either business or leisure. This week it's for both. If you've read my blog, then you know I'm writing from an east coast bias. Proceed with this entry.

What I like about California is the weather, but it's freeeeezing this weekend. Apparently, it was 90 degree weather earlier in the week and I brought the cold weather from the east. I'm wearing the same weekend clothes that I normally wear in NYC. LA is always amusing to me. Steve Martin's "LA Story" was my first impression of Los Angeles and I remember a short scene where Steve Martin gets into his car and drives one house over. People in LA are so reliant on driving and having come from NYC, it's further magnified in my head because New Yorkers walk everywhere. Today in Pasadena after lunch, we decided to go to an outdoor mall. We got into the car and exited the garage, and before I could start conversation, we entered the next parking garage which was only 5 blocks down the road. I couldn't believe we had gotten into the car to move 5 blocks.

I had to go get money from an ATM because I had a dollar in my wallet. I saw a bank ATM across the street and right before I was about to run across mid-block, I remembered that Californians obey the laws here. Damn! So I walked to the corner and waited patiently while no cars passed me on the very wide open Colorado Blvd. I felt like Harold in "Harold and Kumar go to White Castle," waiting in the middle of the night to cross the street while no cars were in sight.

What I like about California is that people are much nicer and friendlier. Perhaps it's the weather? There's no real sense of time or punctuality; I guess that's California time. No one seems to ambitious here with their career, but they are very focused on their passions or hobbies. Does it seem like every other person works in entertainment? Many of the people I've met here have never left Southern Cal and they live in a certain Utopia here. It does seem there are many more happy people in Southern Cal. The folks in Southern Cal are very laid back and nothing has changed in the last decade since I first arrived here.