by - I have lived in cities around the world, but moving from the UK to LA has been a major adjustment.
- Because transport in LA can be difficult, I have difficulty retaining substantial friendships.
- However, I also encountered some pleasant surprises, such as the experimental theater scene from LA.
When I grew up in the UK, I never thought I would call Los Angeles at home one day. In 2023, however, I exchanged the sheep in Wales and the tube in London for the palm trees of South California.
When I first visited La in 2020, I fell in love with a local who eventually became my partner. A few years later our marriage brought me over the pond and I was ready to start my new life in the city of Angels.
Although I had traveled and lived abroad in places like South Korea and China, adapting to life in the US is the greatest cultural shock I have experienced.
Here are a few things that have surprised me the most since I moved from the UK to LA.
I have observed a different attitude towards friendship in LA
In my experience it is not that easy to form a substantial friendship with someone in LA and in the UK. I have discovered that one of the first things that people ask me in LA is in which part of the city where I live – and my answer often determines whether we will become friends.
Depending on the traffic, driving the west side to the east side of LA can often take more than an hour, so meeting a friend or a new knowledge on a different side of the city requires effort and planning.
Back in London, for example, it always felt easy and often quickly, to jump on a train to another part of the city – or even another city.
With good public transport, life far from friends in the UK rarely prevented my friendships formed or blooming.
La’s Scrappier Theater Scene has changed my perspective on performance art
I have discovered that magical shows are popular in Los Angeles. Jess Esa
Coming from the rich theater culture of the UK, I was curious how the scene in LA would compare, especially since the city is usually known for its film studios.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover a lively and diverse theatrical landscape, although it has a few big differences with what I had known in the UK.
West End in London, for example, is known for its polished productions of classic plays and big-budget musicals, but LA offers an eclectic mix of intimate locations and experimental spaces, in which new works and avant-garde productions are emphasized.
Clown Comedy (a kind of implementation art dressed with actors like clowns) and magical shows are huge in LA, and people make constant performances with almost no budget.
In contrast to the often well -funded theater eco system of London, LA’s scene on Scrappy Creativity and an experimental spirit thrives, so that my view of some versions can achieve.
I was stunned by La’s Mexican food scene
There is many Mexican inspired dishes in LA. The photo pot/shutterstock
People in LA always seem to talk about clean food and green juices. However, what I quickly noticed was how common Mexican flavors and food are in this city.
In my experience, Mexican inspired food in the UK was usually limited to moist nachos in the pub or too expensive but very average tacos.
In LA, however, Mexican food is super easy to find. And it might not be surprising, given that a PEW research analysis from 2024 LA County has shown that La County had the highest concentration of Mexican restaurants in the entire US.
I have noticed that I tried endless new dishes, such as Tamales, Mol and Chilaquiles, of which I am not sure if I could go without. Before I moved here, I hadn’t even tried a burrito.
People in LA are constantly printing or self-promoting properties that were often looked down on in the UK
Perhaps the most striking cultural difference that I have noticed between LA and almost everywhere I have been to the UK is the relentless ambition.
Based on what I have seen, the profession where you say you are working towards, holding more weight than what you are currently doing full -time.
I have met people who confidently say that they are writers, directors and actors, but that often means that this is what they do in their spare time. People constantly seem to hurry, network or work on their next major project.
Although I find it inspiring, as someone from the UK, the constant drive to reach and succeed can also feel tiring.
Back in the UK, constant networks and self -promotion were often seen as too hard trying. I had to learn to find a balance between the two extremes.