Alice Dehghanzadeh
Contributing Writer
California is the epitome of a dream. Even a simple sunset at the beach is notoriously renowned for good vibes. As a British expat who moved here six years ago, the allure of the quintessential Californian life quickly appeared as unmet expectations.
Through an interview with two British individuals on campus, Rebecca Le Jeune and William Ridd, along with my own experience, I aim to explore the complexities that come with the picturesque Golden State, specifically the contrast between the supposed carefree lifestyle and endless sun with surprising environmental and cultural differences and the search for genuine connection in this new place.
In her interview, Le Jeune emphasized how she anticipated a politically green California, specifically an influx of vegetarianism, less plastic usage, and stronger environmental efforts. Instead, she was met with a substandard reality that this state still has a long way to go toward a brighter and more sustainable future. Despite some progress in major cities and coastal towns, like the state’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, larger corporations still have a large influence on the environment. This makes it difficult for politicians to enact change, leaving us in a stagnant position within the country. Car culture is a major contributing factor, and I was initially shocked by the state’s lack of public transportation. Ride, however, commented that Santa Barbara is excelling in this area, and he’s never seen “a more well-run service in [his] entire life.” Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as this is only one city out of hundreds.
When it comes to a comparison between California and Britain, of course, there would be discourse about the weather. Le Jeune mentioned that she believed that the Golden State would be “sunny year-round, but it’s been colder and grayer than [she] expected.” This seems to be especially true in coastal cities like Santa Barbara, where the marine layer makes for an irritable fog. The sun is not consistently shining every day, and I often find myself straying towards my hoodies and sweaters rather than my dresses and shorts. Ride agrees, confirming that “it’s often gray yet still humid, which is interesting for someone who can barely cope when the temperature is in the mid-twenties (in Celsius, of course) in August!” The cloudy weather often surprises new visitors who have been promised an endless summer day, suggesting that even in a supposed paradise, not every day is picture-perfect.
While writing this, I can’t help but ask, “well, isn’t the grass always greener?” It may be true that California’s expectations do not meet reality, but doesn’t that apply to almost any place on Earth? Is there such a thing as a perfect place? It’s only human to desire or yearn for something better so that we diminish the value of even the prettiest of postcard locations, something we all need to work on to live a life of gratitude.
In terms of the curse of Californian kindness, in which people are overly enthusiastic with their interactions, Ridd and Le Jeune both seem to agree that your average Joe here is much friendlier than those in Britain. Californians take “being a good neighbor” seriously, and small talk is common amongst strangers, whether you’re waiting in line for the restroom, sharing the elevator with someone, or petting an owner’s feline friend. This level of familiarity can be jarring for Brits because we commonly ignore others or hold more reserved conversations. I appreciate the amicable nature of Californians, but I must admit it does sometimes feel superficial. Differentiating politeness from true connection is hard, and this has tainted my relationships with acquaintances, peers, and friends.
Drinking culture is fascinatingly different as well. In the United Kingdom, Le Jeune points out, “people are having pints at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m., whereas here, aside from the age restrictions, people mainly drink on weekends, and often just to become really drunk.” This contrast may be explained by the differing drinking ages or perhaps the “work hard, play hard” motto that Californians seem to live by. Ride highlights how, back in London, “it was common for [him] and [his] group to pop into a pub on or near campus after lectures ended for the day,” where they’d “lament [their] status on the mortal coil and drown [their] various sorrows.” Since this practice is mostly frowned upon here in California, William has found that he has more time to dedicate to his studies.
Speaking of studies, Le Jeune stresses that studying differs in Britain, where she would have “three essays to do and then be done for a while.” In England, students typically have a few huge projects throughout the year. Here, she often has more daily work, which some call mindless because of the mundane timeliness to them. More importance is placed on individual points rather than larger pieces of work in California.
I asked Ridd how different forms of media have influenced his preconception of California, and he claimed that “there was always a tie of California being this glamorous paradise that we should all strive towards.” After seeing the television show “Arrested Development,” which was set in Orange County, California, however, he said that California was instead portrayed to be a “fun yet dysfunctional cuckoo land,” and that his experience has been “somewhere in-between.” I, too, find that life in California is a combination of idyllic moments and absurd chaos, suggesting that there is a complex blanket of interwoven occurrences that is distinctly Californian.