Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

In places maybe...the same as all big cities.

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Most of it is pretty crap with little enclaves where you would actually want to live.

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Hey Mark....First of all - a big, warm, advance WELCOME + a virtual hug from LA LA Land - your NEW HOME (well not quite - as it seems you'll be living/working just south of LA )
As for your sense of trepidation...well frankly, I'd be nervous for you if YOU were NOT nervous. So you should be! Embrace it: It's entirely normal - after all, what you're about to embark on is equivalent to an actor going onstage for the 1st time on opening night, an athlete competing in his 1st Olympic event etc. etc.
When the stakes are high - the challenge of the new and the unknown...is always scary - but so exciting!
And then coupled with the fact that your new first home on your own will be in a distant, foreign land, oceans and time zones away from what, 'til now, has been your cocoon for 24 years..WOW!
But what a great adventure.
If it were me - I'd try to keep a journal. It takes a bit of discipline - but as you won't have your usual chums or your family around you - talking to yourself in this manner could be quite supportive. And think of what fun it would be to read years later. Remember, first impressions are just that - 1st - and then UN - repeatable, so therefore, really precious.
I'd recommend buying a pocket sized notebook - or maybe you have an IPad - pull it out on the plane - and just start!
Describe what you're seeing - particularly the funny, the bizarre or the absurd. Focus on any detail that captures your interest, no matter it's "importance", etc. :thumbsup:

Also, speaking of time zones...be prepared - jet lag (8 hour time difference) could last as long as a week. Don't succumb - force yourself to try to orient yourself to LA time (rather than crashing at 4 in the afternoon).
Maybe join a gym...I always find that swimming really zaps jet-lag.
And if it does interfere with your sleep patterns during the first couple of days - you could also pull out that journal you'll already have begun (?) and "talk" to it......

... And when walking (which one does entirely too infrequently here in the land of the gas guzzler/SUV) look to your LEFT before stepping off the curb!
"The world is your oyster" - even when there' not an "R" in the month :amen:

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

We got iPhones and contracts sorted On day of arrival thanks to staff at RadioShack who told Sprint we were on student visas so they asked a few inane questions then let us get contracts despite no credit history. It's not unusual as there are a lot of international students about.

You'll get to know supermarkets etc but initially make your life easy and head straight to Ralph's (I barely shop there anymore but it's the closest thing to a UK supermarket in terms of produce and layout as you'll find, aside from fresh and easy).....

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

And while driving here and there and everywhere, sorting yourself out - tune your car radio in to KCRW - one of the best radio stations in the US, if not the planet!
Here in LA it's at 89.9 (unsure if it's the same where you'll be - but it definitely tune-in-able).
You can preview it now:
http://www.kcrw.com/

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

bet they can spell though !!!

Agree...SSN is a priority. BAnk account SSN not needed. Cell phone..you could use a prepaid for a month or so...credit card, use your UK one for time being, again you can get prepaid ones through your bank.

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

As you are on an L visa, I believe Geoff's situation was different to yours. You will just go to the immigration counter as a visitor and hand over your passport. The immigration officer might ask you a couple of questions, like who you will be working for and what job you will be doing. We were then asked to do the fingerprint and eye image things, just like a normal visitor. Make sure the officer writes the date your visa expires on your I94 and doesn't give you a six month one or something silly. They sometimes give you 2-3 after as a grace period.

One thing to keep in mind is driving in LA can be crazy, especially if you don't know the area. I remember after our flight we drove to our rental apartment and joined one freeway on the left and had 1 mile to get across 6 lanes of traffic for our exit on the right. It was crazy at the time, but I wouldn't bat an eyelid about it now. If you have a portable Sat Nav, put US maps on (or order a US one to be delivered to the UK now) bring it with you in your hand luggage and pre program the address you will be staying in. Switch it on while you wait to pick your car up as it will take a while to reconfigure. The last thing you want to be doing after an 11 hour flight is trying to find your way around LA using a map.

For the most part, we didn't enjoy living in LA, however we had a young child and I think if it had just been us two, we would have enjoyed it much more. We would have lived somewhere with more going on, and taken more advantage of the nightlife...

Life's what you make it for the most part, embrace your new life and hopefully you will have a ball, and if you don't, you're only 24 you'll have lost nothing and gained a great expereince. Good luck

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

I'm not so keen on Ralph's supermarket but Albertsons is a bit better.
My favourite though is Bristol Farms.

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Still scares the crap out of me...

That's a pretty good idea actually. I was picked up from the airport but bought a basic Satnav the next day (they called them GPSs here). I wish I'd spent a little extra on one that had lane guidance on it. Sometimes - no, frequently - the roads split into two and then immediately split into two again. My SatNav gives the first instruction and then not the second until you're past the first junction - leaving very little time to work out what it wants you to do next! Maybe one that has two instructions queued on screen so you can at least glance at the screen.

I note you'll have a rental car: you might be able to get a satnav for hire with one of those companies. The one and only time I hired one (in Florida, mind), the thing was so messed up it get directing me to places that clearly could never have existed, like a gas station in the middle of a lake. Whether it was a sick joke by the previous renter or just a crapnav, I don't know, but it caused us headaches! Always our own from then on.

I thought Ralph's was a little pricey but then I've only been once or twice as the nearest is a bit far. There used to be an Alberstons down the road from here but it closed down, probably due to sheer incompetence by the staff and complete lack of interest in the few customers that dared to enter the store.

Stater Bros is okay but reminds me of an 80s Sainsbury's in the middle of town. Remember those? (Maybe not the OP!)

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Ralpsh owns over 30 Albertsons and they both pull from the same distribution center, its the stores themselves that are no so nice in design!

Bristol Farms and Gelsons are a different catogary they are A list stores and far far more pricey but super nice :)

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Comton Cheap Area
:rofl:

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Compton Cheap & Watts n Willowbrook !

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

Are we supposed to be able to understand what you are talking about?

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

When we were buying our house I checked the price/sq. ft for different areas, Compton wasn't actually that cheap.

Re: Moving to LA in 3 weeks
 

You understood???...you can be our designated Geordie/English translator. :thumbup: :D