Southern California is a place of infamy. It has its own culture that is very specific to the region, but that extends even further. Within So Cal are little pockets of cultural diversity, and it seems so bizarre that we can experience differences like that by traveling a matter of miles into another county.
Maybe this sounds like #FirstWorldProblems, but the culture shock of moving to Orange County from the coast of LA was very real for me, and even after three years out here, there’s a lot I’m still struggling with. Leaving my laidback little beach suburb felt a little like drowning in a pool of privilege and cultural disparities.
Where are all your Trader Joe’s, for one thing? I can think of at least three Trader Joe’s within a two-mile radius from the house I grew up in in LA County. There’s literally one near me here in OC. I suppose I should be grateful to have one at all, but like, what if I’m heading the opposite direction and need to pick up some cookie butter? I suppose OC residents are used to suffering.
Also, the concept of having to drive to go to the beach is so beyond foreign to me. This is specifically because I grew up in a beach town, so I know it’s not a very relatable point of contention, but seriously. Beach parking is stupid, everyone knows that. And yeah, parts of OC are on the coast, but not the part Chapman is in. And that’s wrong.
Why do you people only have Starbucks? Where are all the Coffee Beans? Have you even heard of an independent coffee house? That’s not to say that Starbucks isn’t predominant in LA, too, because it’s pretty much taking over the world, but at least we have a smattering of independent coffee places, too. Sometimes I want to pay $4 for coffee that doesn’t have a made-up name and hasn’t been on a burner for three hours (I’ll always remember you, Catalina Coffee).
Let’s talk about driving. Driving is a culture of its own in California, and some things are universal. Speed limits are more a guideline than a rule (unless you spot CHP, then you casually slam on the brakes). If you’re going less than 70 MPH on the freeway, you best be in the far right lane. If you’re in the wrong lane, you will be passed. And drivers are aggressive in LA, no one can deny that. But they’re also very good at being aggressive. Seamlessly weaving through traffic is practically an art to these people. In contrast, OC drivers seem to have a death wish. There’s driving aggressively, and there’s driving recklessly. If every time you merge into a lane, someone has to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting you, you need to get off the freeway. The only explanation I can think of is that there’s a shortage of DMVs in Orange County that rivals the lack of Trader Joe’s.
I could go on, but I’ll end with the most baffling thing about Orange County culture: Why are you so impatient? Like, LA has a reputation for always bustling, but we at least stop to hold the door for each other. Tailgating, pushing past people, cutting in line at the store. These should be isolated incidents, not common practices. Get it together, people!
Oh, and your Mexican food sucks. What’s up with that?