Californicationnnn (or whatever).

Wow. I should really post more often on this blog, but life's been getting in the way. Right now, for example, I am in sunny California, visiting relatives. Before that, I was wrapping up my studies in the United States, which was both liberating and bizarre. It's a strange feeling, knowing that I'm not going back to it all next year. Strange in a good way.

Anyway, I can barely write for some reason (it's probably the anticipation of going to the beach), but for a post that's completely unrelated to my travel plans for the coming year, I'm going to talk about my California experience. Things I've noticed so far (this is Southern California, mind you):

1. What is with the coffee here?! I'm so used to getting amazing lattes that it's been really tough adjusting to the L.A. idea of a latte, which tastes like burnt cigarettes and costs $3.50. Why does it have to be this way? You'd think that in a town harboring the glam, fashionable, wealthy people of the West Coast, there would at least be decent joe. Noooo. Sorry. Not happening. Damn it.

2. The Mexican food/drink here is amazing. Why go to Mexico when you could go to L.A.?

3. For some reason, there is a fro-yo chain and a sushi place on every corner. And there are actually restaurants that serve ramen. Much as I love my own city, everyone there seems to think that Japanese food=teriyaki chicken, tempura and California rolls.

4. When not in the extremely Latin parts of L.A., the whole place reminds me of Japan. Shops in Melrose are exactly like shops in Tokyo. Many of them are even owned by Japanese people.

5. LAKERSZOMGLAKERSEVERYWHEREEVERYONELOVESTHEMMMMMMMM.

6. Trader Joe's is really big here. It's everywhere! It's groovy! Wheeeee.

7. Sales tax is insane. Everything is ridiculously overpriced (see $3.50 latte comment above).

8. There is a crazy, body-builder celeb playing the role of Governor.

9. People drive ridiculously fast. 75, 80 mph on the freeway? Yeah, no problem! Everyone's trying to get out of L.A. really, really quickly.

10. SUN. It's beautiful. There are beaches. Nice beaches. There are palm trees. I could get used to this. Mhmmm.

Really, I love California. Despite the lack of coffee and the prevalence of chain everything. I'll actually try to post about more German-related things in the future, but I'm not there yet, so there's really not much to say. Later.