I used to hate you.  I used to hate you with a passion.  I was forced to live in your miserable, traffic ridden, smog-filled, superficial, loathable city boundaries for college, and I missed home so goddamn much.  This was a surprise to me, because I originally wanted to go to the east coast for college.

I missed my friends, I missed my family, I realized how many good things I missed while I still lived in San Jose.  Still, I’ve met some AMAZING friends from back home while living in San Jose.  I cannot thank Nam enough for introducing me to people like Tina and the dozens of others that she knows between San Jose State and De Anza College.  Some of these people will be friends for LIFE.  Not only because of our love for the same type of music, but also because these people are chill-ass people who I would love kickin it with any time I’m back home or when they’re in SoCal.

BUT, I can say with clear definition that Los Angeles has officially become my home.  It’s been a long, contentious period over the past few years, but I finally do believe I can call Los Angeles my hometown.  I was so damn homesick for everyone I feel that missed out on what a creative place LA is.

LA is, without a doubt, the most creative place on earth.  If you are a creative and don’t live in New York or San Francisco, I have no idea what the hell you’re doing not living in Los Angeles.  In this past semester alone, I feel like I’ve finally figured out life, what my passions are, what type of people I enjoy hanging out with, who I like, etc.  I simply cannot imagine living outside of Los Angeles, especially after my brief time on the east coast over Spring Break.  Not to hate on Montreal or New York City at all, I just feel much more home at Los Angeles.  Our public transport may suck and we might have to drive everywhere, but LA is, without a doubt, the the most creative place on earth.  Nowhere else have I felt inspired to finally produce my own dubstep music, but also meet people in the entertainment industry who constantly make me feel inspired.  Moreover, the people I’ve been meeting over the past year at USC are by far, the most talented people I know.  I cannot imagine life without them.

Los Angeles is a place for creatives, business people, and those who are passionate about one or the other to finally meet.  People talk about how the United States is a melting pot for people; think about Los Angeles for a few minutes.  Okay, at first, it might feel like Mexico’s outpost in Southern California.  However, once you start venturing around, you realize how great a mix it is of art culture, new trends, and people who are PASSIONATE about what they see/hear. I place myself in the latter category.

There’s so much great music to be shared around here, there’s so many great movies/video to be shared around here, and there’s such an establishes business model for everything.  However, the city is completely open to discovering new talent, new people, and new trends.  This is the creative capital of the WORLD.  Screw whatever anyone else says.

My time in college has introduced me to some of the most creative people on earth, and I can see them taking over the world in the next couple decades.

I love this city, I love what happens here, I love the people, I love the creativity, and most of all, I love the PASSION people have down here.

I love Los Angeles, California, and I can see myself living here for the foreseeable future.

A past San Francisco Bay Area native,
Rishabh Kumar 

How many people actually know what an Omega-3 fatty acid is?  How about antioxidants?

Advertisements just say one or the other about a certain food and people flock to it.  I can bet you less than half actually know what they are.  They just say it’s good for you.  Do they actually know?  No.

This extends to a bunch of stuff moms tell us but they have no real idea what they’re talking about.  I think the funniest example of this was when I was in Hong Kong and things from fish bladders to “birds nest” (aka bird SALIVA) were claimed to improve the skin in their society obsessed with maintaining a youthful look (at least among women).

 We’re such sheep.