I think I just might be the worse blogger. I started a blog just after I moved here to share the things I don't understand about LA. Although I have many things to update all of you on, I hate to let a good blog go to waste, so I'm going to finish the blog I started months ago.
I thought it would be fun to share the perplexities of this city, the great Los Angeles. Don't get me wrong, life is going well, but there are so many things that perplex me about this city and I thought you might enjoy hearing them.
Just in case you are curious about my life. I am settled in a Vineyard church, I bought a 2005 Honda Civic, my roommate is great, my commute is only 20 minutes, and I'm getting paid more than ever. God has really blessed me and has been answering prayers. Now here's the list you've been waiting for.
1. Where did all the Walmarts go?
For some odd reason, there are very few Walmarts in Los Angeles and I happen to live down the street from a three story one. Google maps lists 6 Walmarts in all of LA, a city covering over 400 square miles. I visited the 3 story Walmart a few weeks ago, and I will never go back. It is so hard to find what you are looking for when you have to go up and down escalators all the time. You have to use the elevator to take your shopping cart between floors. Talk about planning ahead of time.
I'm not sure why LA can't support more of the giant superstores, but it seems that it may be due to the neighborhood structure. LA is made up of many neighborhoods that feel like small towns. Each neighborhood is completely different, but when you are driving around they blend together smoothly.
2. Why is there a parking lane?
Even though parking can be very hard to find in this city, there is definitely not a lack of parking spots. Almost all of the streets have parking "spaces" next to the curb that also act as a driving lane. Typically parking is restricted during rush hour but is free game at all other times. It is so frustrating, because if you don't pay attention you'll end up getting stuck behind a parked car. Even the busiest streets allow parking along the curb, so you don't dare get into the far right lane.
3. Where are all the natives?
Most of the people that I've met in Los Angeles are not natives to the city but moved here for a job or school. Granted, the company I work for is very international. One of the women in the mechanical department went to high school in Leavenworth Kansas and graduated from Kansas State...small world. I've met many people that moved to LA to pursue acting, producing, or publishing. Surprising heh!
4. Does anyone work around here?
It is very common to go out to lunch and find people riding their bikes around the beach cities. They ride along like they don't have a care in the world, and I suppose they may not. People say its probably due to all of the aspiring actors waitressing at night. Hey, I've even caught a little bit of that fever. My company took about 60 (out of 150) of us to work near the beach a few months ago to celebrate a successful job in the Gulf (no, not of Mexico). They told us to take a leisurely lunch, so we took them seriously and hung out at the restaurant from 12pm to 3pm.
