Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

Just thinking of this...but people who are from say Chicago, Boston, New York, and I *think* Canadian cities as well, they seem to LOVE their hometown cities.

But Los Angeles doesn't seem to have that same kind of feeling to it. People talk about it going downhill, its too car-oriented, a lot of people seem to want to 'get out'.

Others take on this?

[reactionary]

well yeah, the frustrations of a "car city' that continues to grow are obviously pointed at traffic. traffic in LA knows no rush hour or day of the week, it's just a fact. and unlike other cities, public trans isn't a viable option, and i don't think ever will be - everything is too spread out. the downtown is tiny because building earthquake proof tall buildings is expensive.

they used to say about san diego - "it's like LA in the 70s." but the same thing is happening there. more and more people move in. housing prices go up. people born there like me will probably never be able to afford a home in our hometowns.

that said, i think a lot of angelinos (i think that's the right term, i forget actually..that or LAliens) have love for their city, and i personally really dig some of the quirkier areas (though not all would agree they are all "LA"): santa monica, east hollywood, venice, hell even long beach and pedro.

mexican food (and possibly vietnamese) is better in san diego, but LA has a great diversity, and you hven't lived until you've tried Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles at least once.

[Tiger Beer]

I did see a proposal to add mass transit:

http://glam.fminus.com/files/final-1080.gif

From all I know of L.A., it's already at its max for cars/autos. It seems like its inevitable they address this issue. Hoping so anyways. It could be an amazing city if they did address it.

[reactionary]

i'm willing to bet even that proposed metro system, while it might help, would still be insufficient. keep in mind that that subway system looks about similar to seoul's, but spread out over an area much, much larger than seoul.

pomona to venice? yeesh

and it ain't manhattan or SF either. unlike manhattan, an island, you're not forced to build upward, you just build outward. more and more.

plus it's expensive, especially if it's underground (which it has to be). remember: earthquake safety.

i just don't see it happening.

so yeah, not a loved city? i'd say the number one reason is the combination of car-necessity and endless traffic.

[Bibbitybop]

Listen to Arizona Bay by Bill Hicks.

Then listen to Aenima by Tool.

[Gopher]

Could be an amazing city? Some people here will find reason to complain about anything.

I am from Southern California. And I love L.A.

So, too, do many I know. Indeed, we mostly love coastal California, especially from San Diego to San Francisco. Every place has its own unique pros and cons, a bright side and a dark side, and L.A. is no different -- see, for example, a film like Falling Down. Still love it.

Just ask Randy Newman

[bucheon bum]

[reactionary]

re: vietnamese:

it's a bit away from UCSD, but get yourself on Linda Vista blvd. There is a little Vietnamese shopping center with a viet grocery store, vietnamese sandwiches (yum) and about 3 pho restaurants.

sorry i can't give exact directions (been 2 years since ive driven in SD). all i know is convoy st (the big asian area) eventually turns into linda vista blvd if you keep driving south

where have you tried? pho hoa cali in mira mesa? that's probably closest to ucsd. the broth isn't the best there, but i usually overload on sriracha anyway

[reactionary]

[bucheon bum]

[reactionary]

yep. it's quite awhile south on convoy though, so eventually you'd want to learn the freeway (i think its 163, but i dont remember the exit name). anyway, the shopping center will finally be on your left side. the two restaurants i frequented had really savory broth. however, one of them had TERRIBLE pho ga (chicken) - all the liver and nasty cuts of meat. the other place was ok though. both good for beef.

the real culinary treats you need to delve into are mostly mexican though:
http://www.santanas.com/ - the best food out of the "drunk college kid mexican" genre
http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/places/las-cuatro-milpas/
www.sdreader.com/php/rrshow.php?id=CUATRO - the best cheap, authentic stuff you'll find (only open mon-sat until 3 or 4 pm though! it's in a very poor neighborhood near downtown)


feel free to PM if you have any questions about the SD area and congrats on IRPS. back when i was an undergrad at ucsd i was really interested in that program - maybe even took classes with a prof or two of yours. in the end, laziness set in.

[Tiger Beer]

Convoy Street in San Diego. I've been there a number of times. I was in San Diego for 2 months and went to Convoy Street often for my Asian fixes. However, it's much of an area. San Diego has something like 10% Asian population, but Convoy is the only area that represents them, and its basically only in businesses with basically Korean signs out front. Wish it had more of a neighborhood type feel.

Westminister/Garden Grove (in L.A./O.C. or whatever). That is one very impressive Vietnamese area! Not so much of a neighborhood, but when you are on that street, it's definetely pretty much ALL Vietnamese everywhere. I like that kind of stuff about L.A. - seriously huge ethnic areas.


BuncheonBum, is that your school now? I applied to that EXACT same program back in 2004. I didn't get in the program, but was seriously planning as if I were. Looked like a great program though, and La Jolla area is gorgeous!

[SuperFly]

Los Angelenos
All come from somewhere
It's so familiar
Their foreign faces
-Billy Joel

[MANDRL]

[merkurix]

I am from L.A. too. I can honestly say I really like it there. Nowhere else in the world will you be a few hours away from every known biome. From where I live in L.A. you can drive to the:

Desert: 1 hour (Joshua Tree NP, High Desert and if you want dunes, there's Death Valley, 3 hours away)

Snow, Forests: Mostly in the winter time, there is the Angeles/San Bern. NP (30-60 minute drive), Big Bear (1.5 hour drive), Mammoth (6 hours). Mammoth is able to hang on to most of its snow most of the year (Nov.-Jun)

Beach: It's a coastal city. Enough said (30-60 minutes).

Jungle: Cabo San Lucas. (10 hours and your passport).

True, the transportation infrastructure needs a major overhaul and the So-Cal Metrolink is a joke (who wants to pay $13 for a train from San Bernardino to Camarillo one way??? Nice solution, I will save more driving!), but the positives far outweigh the negatives IMHO.