“I’m from California” are the only three words I have to say to know that I have someone’s attention in New York. They’re also the same three words I have had to repeat numerous times during those awkward icebreaker games freshmen are forced to partake in. Do I like the attention I get from it? Sure, it’s a great conversation starter. Do I like the ridiculous questions I get from it? Not so much. (To clarify once and for all, I do not meet celebrities everyday simply because I am from LA.)

Contrary to the common belief, adapting to the East coast environment has not been as difficult as I expected. In fact, maybe I was born to live in New York. I definitely prefer Dunkin over Starbucks which already clearly proves my point and I don’t miss eating In-n-Out either. Nonetheless, I have noticed there are definitely some differences between the West coast and the East coast.

First and foremost, people talk funny. I’m sure I sound weird to some people, but you all sound weird to me too. There is not one day that goes by that I do not hear someone speaking in a New Jersey or Boston accent. People here say “wicked” and “mad” to really emphasize something. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with this dialect; I’m just not used to it yet.

Second, people are crazy on the streets. New York drivers are notorious for having a bad temper and ignoring traffic laws, but pedestrians are just as bad. In fact, I was horrified to have my friends cross the street regardless of the traffic signals. Los Angeles traffic is terrible, but New York traffic is dangerous.

Lastly, people are fast-paced. I don’t just mean their walking pace; I mean their life style. And honestly, I do not mind it one bit. People get straight to the point and are rarely late to meetings. I don’t have to worry about being rude when I leave a meeting early because people understand that I have other commitments.

Everyone asks me if I am homesick already and quite frankly, not yet. I obviously love my family to death, but I am definitely having an amazing experience here at Union so far. For all of the prospective students who are hesitating to fly across the country for college, I say go for it. It’s a new experience that has left me questioning whether I prefer the East coast over the West coast.