Ithaca College Episode III: Escape to Los Angeles
A bit of housekeeping before we get into the actual post:
When I first started writing this blog, I intended to use it as a documentation of my experiences out in LA. To tell you (my audience, if there is an audience out there) what I’ve been up to, what I thought about it, and where I’m headed next on these adventures. On the first day, I actually wrote about the flight in, what I did once I landed, etc. and it seemed “OK” to use my blog like this.
Then LA actually happened, and I realized I can’t do that anymore.
Not only did the upkeep for the blog become impossible due to the amount of things I was doing, I personally feel like the people who read my writing (at least, I think people read my writing) deserve much better than just a recounting of the day’s events. Writing about these events also just didn’t feel as fulfilling to me as I thought it would.
That being said, these blog posts are going to be a little more sporadic as the months pass, and hopefully they’ll be informative in that the reader will get to peek inside my psyche and learn about what makes me tick. I at least think writing about what’s going on in my head as I adapt to my new surroundings is a little more compelling than the surroundings themselves. That sound like a plan? Cool.
Now let’s talk about “home.”
In my last post, I wrote about how one of the main intentions for going out to Los Angeles was to work and work with others, with the intention of having amazing experiences with new people and creating awesome products in the process.
In addition to that, a primary reason I wanted to come out to the West Coast was the fascinating idea of the county being a _Blank Slate_ in my eyes. There was a point in my sophomore year of college where I felt like I had worn out my stay in New Jersey and Ithaca. To a certain extent, things started to feel stale and I needed a change of scenery. For me, LA was a way to find a new place that I’d be able to call “home,” as well as rekindle the deep passion and appreciation I know I have for New Jersey and Ithaca.
After two weeks of living out here, I think I can comfortably say that Burbank, California has become a _home_ to me.
Yesterday I was finally able to take the time to finish cleaning out my suitcase that had carried what clothing I brought with me out West and stick it into my closet, not to be used until I make the return trip to the East in December. What a feeling it was to be able to finally “settle in,” given that the past two weeks were nothing but “settling.” Whether it was excursions to Universal Studios, downtown Burbank and Santa Monica Beach, working the Creative Arts Emmys, or FINALLY finding an awesome editing internship at HDFilms, my first two weeks in Burbank were a nonstop, overwhelming barrage of just things.
In hindsight though, I’m glad I, as well as my new friends in the LA program, were sort of thrust into the thick of it all, as if we already knew what we were doing. It forced us to immediately adapt to the environment around us, and make the journey out here poignant and memorable. I’d like to think that I have made it worthwhile so far out here. While there are some things I will never get used to (the traffic for one, which I think a Los Angeles native won’t ever get used to), I think I can start calling this place home.
I’m glad I feel comfortable saying that too, because my two homes on the East Coast are continuing on without me. This week I’ve gotten updates from my friends about happenings on campus and from my family and what’s been going on in their lives. Not being there for the big moments that my friends and family will be going through in the next couple months is going to be tough for me, but I’m happy about that. It’s only making me realize how important the people and places in my life are to me.
So here’s to my homes, both old and new.