summer in Los Angeles

I originally started this blog to chronicle my summer in New York City and then my semester abroad in London, but seeing as I have no new travel plans set I decided I should talk about my life in LA. After all, I have never spent a summer here. I am interning at Los Angeles magazine for the style editor and also working at USC Annenberg, which is my job during the school year. Even though I am loving my internship so far, I don't want to make this about my life as an intern. I would rather focus on the stuff I do in LA this summer that I might not get the chance to do while school is in session. But if you're interested you can check out my blog posts for LA magazine here.

Sarah, a fellow Gamma Phi, and I are aiming to hit the beach every weekend. We started (well, actually Katy and I went to Manhattan beach a few days earlier) with a random beach in Malibu that our friend Rob led us to.  It was later afternoon by the time we got there because we were coming from a Father's Day party, so it was a bit chilly. We call Rob grandpa because of his old man tendencies, and Grandpa Rob came fully prepared for the beach. He was sitting on his chair, legs wrapped in a blanket, the collar of his jacket (probably his third layer) popped reading his book. Completely bundled. While Sarah and I were bikini clad. The contrast was quite funny and the beach was beautiful.

Last weekend Sarah and I went to Hermosa, which is just south of Manhattan beach. It was a great day: clear, blue sky and no June Gloom in sight. Sarah even went in the water, a task I will reserve for much warmer weather.

Later that day we met up with some friends (Grandpa Rob included) to watch the movie Chinatown at Hollywood Forever cemetery. They open the gates at 7:30 so you can claim a spot on the grass (not on the graves, don't worry) and picnic before the show starts once the sun goes down. It is a great movie all about LA with a young Jack Nicholson. It was a perfect summer night and I definitely want to do it again.

              

the end.

It is a little inappropriate that I’m writing my final study abroad post in San Francisco instead of London, but the 10+ hours on the plane here gave me the chance to think some things over…

I’ve decided I don’t like when people designate every activity near the end of an experience as “the last time we will [insert something culturally specific]” and get so sad about leaving a place. My philosophy is not to harp on leaving, but be happy that I got to study abroad in London and do so many amazing things. We should appreciate experiences for what they are instead of wanting them to last forever. Also, the future holds so much to look forward to that reminiscing and being sad seems odd.

I learned so much studying abroad (not so much in the classroom), and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Even though I lived in London for five months, there is still so much of the city left to explore so I will definitely be back. Until then, cheers!