Welcome to my neighborhood

Wilshire Blvd.

When I come this point, I get excited because I'm almost home.

There's Stevo walking to Subway.

I have seen people waiting at this corner waiting for a friend with a car to randomly come by and pick them up. The informal taxi stop.

This entry will be devoted to my neighborhood, the 'hood south of Wilshire.

When people ask UCLA students where they live, there are 3 typical responses.

1) Dorms

2) North of Wilshire

3) South of Wilshire

Each living area is distinct and carries pros and cons. Since this entry is dedicated to my area, I will explicate the area south of Wilshire.

Many stereotypes my neighborhood faces:

Cheaper rent.

Isolation from UCLA.

The unknown to many UCLA students.

Cheaper rent. Living south of Wilshire Blvd. entails many benefits and one of these benefits is more value rent. Rent is not really less than apartments to the north. Instead, apartments typically have more square footage, parking spaces, and are quiet due to the many families that live in the area. Let me be clear: my description of south of Wilshire is anywhere within walking distance of the Wilshire Shuttle. Anyways, yeah living down south gives you more value for your money (it ain't cheap).

Isolation from UCLA. There is a free shuttle provided by UCLA that operates from 7:30AM-5:30PM Monday-Friday that drops students off at campus. Just like at the dorms when you see the same people every day walking to classes when you go to classes, I see the same people when going to class by way of the shuttle. It gets crowded sometimes, but it's manageable. It is necessary to be kind to the drivers, as they will return the favor one day when you are running late and they stop just for you to get on the shuttle. You should be nice anyway, but it's an added bonus. Living south definitely puts you apart from campus as you must take a vehicle to campus (actually you can walk...it's only a mile...but nobody really does that). I definitely spend less time on campus as I know I can retreat to my cozy neighborhood to the south.

The unknown. I still don't know my neighborhood that well. There are so many restaurants and boutique chops that I end up resorting to those I know: La Choza, Mr. Noodle, Subway, Thai Fresh, and a couple others that I can't seem to remember. When I run around my neighborhood I am constantly amazed at the variety of housing and the serene neighborhood across Westwood Blvd. that houses an elementary school and unique houses. Basically, you can always be surprised down south.

While a bit detached from campus (that is probably my personal fault), I am very happy to be living at the apartments south of Wilshire Blvd. It definitely helps that I always run into friends who live in apartments close by. Actually, I know why I like living down here. It's because of the people around me.

It's not where you live, it's who you live with :)