Learning to live and love the collection of cultures in LA
I was in for a shock moving to the East Coast
Before moving to Amherst, I never seriously considered the ways in which cities and towns can have qualities that are unique to their area. Coming from a huge hometown like Los Angeles, I assumed that many other cities in the US had the same kind of racial diversity – although to be fair, I have not traveled much.
Amherst does have many of it’s own great attractions, and while there is so much to love here, the one thing that makes me miss Los Angeles more than anything is the amount of diversity celebrated within the city. From Thai Town, to Little Armenia, to Olvera Street, there’s something for everyone here.
Have a mini photo shoot in the purikura machines in Little Tokyo
Unless you read Japanese, figuring out how to work and design pictures in these huge photo booths before the timer runs out is a very stressful process. Nevertheless, it’s always very fun.
Take a peaceful walk down the Venice canals
If you stay there long enough, you might even be able to convince yourself you’re actually in Italy.
Get naked and comfortable in Koreatown
The jimjilbangs in Korean spas include communal heated and iced rooms, napping rooms, entertainment lounges, and gender-separate saunas and bathhouses where you can unwind completely naked. Definitely one of the best ways to bond with someone.
Enjoy good food and good views in Little Armenia
You can see the entire city of Los Angeles from this quaint small park located in the heart of this community. (Good for dog spotting too.)
Listen to mariachi music and shop from vendors in Olvera Street
Helping to preserve the culture of early California, this street-long marketplace offers the best Mexican food, clothing, accessories, art, and… candy. The. Sweetest. Candy.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with confetti poppers in Chinatown
With concerts and other events always happening in this area, it’s hard to get bored in the lively district of Chinatown.
Enjoy a night on the town in Thai Town
One of the communities better known as a “late-night” scene, Thai Town’s illuminated block has a variety of fun karaoke bars and late-night restaurants that serve as a great place to socialize with friends.
Did I mention how much good food there is?
Because there’s a lot of good food. It’s actually dangerous.
And the best part is, you can get to any of these districts just by jumping on the subway
Whenever you can prevent yourself from falling victim to the freeways of Los Angeles, you’ll want to. A general rule of thumb for anyone in or visiting LA: avoid LA traffic at all costs. Do yourself a favor and just take the subway.
College life on the east coast has definitely been a great experience thus far, and I really hope I’m still saying this even once I begin adjusting to the cold winters in Massachusetts. But no matter how many new hidden gems I find in or around Amherst, I don’t think I’ll be able to get anything quite as culturally diverse as the streets of LA.