I moved to Los Angeles from Chicago about a year ago. And I have to say I was very-excited. I wanted to be-more involved in the fashion industry and I know that either L.A or New York were the places I needed to be. Since New York is just as cold-as Chicago I decided that I needed a drastic change and I would move 2000 miles away from all family and friends to this weird land called L.A. I do however have a loving boyfriend that moved here with me to pursue screenwriting as well.

Now don't get us confused, we both have good paying ones at that. I work for a reputable denim company and my boyfriend works for a law firm in Santa Monica. We did not come here at 18 years of age with ten dollars in our pockets. We had plans made up before we even left Chicago.

But once you are here and everything is so much higher priced and the people are weird as weird can be, you start second guessing yourself, you say man is this the right thing for me? Should I have been happy working at Sears Corp in Chicago until I die or the company goes under, have my 2.3 kids and move to Florida at 80? (Yes I said age 80 retiring at 65 is a dream lost). It's hard to tell you if I actually really like it here yet. I know that I have lived in L.A for a year but the people are so different and the all around culture is taking me more time than expected.

I work with two younger girls that are in their mid twenties. I am in my late twenties and I have lived in some of the roughest, toughest hoods in Chicago. When these girls speak about going to London for the summer when they were in high school. I can not compute!!!! And I try to talk to these people but I am having a hard time fitting in. Don't get me wrong I have plenty of friends that did not grow up like I did, but they understand where I came from and in turn I respect them.

I am a curvy black woman that works in a rock & roll inspired company. I do not listen to much rock and roll, if any!!! I am actually pretty much hip hop and R & B. And I did not think that would be a problem because my music tastes should not hinder me from doing a great job!!! But me having the big mouth I have sometimes mentioned this at work and my boss said well you are going to have to change that. I think she was joking but to say that made me realize that I am in a company that I may not ever fit in with the culture.

Also the food culture is so different. I knew that I would not find Chicago style food here that was actually good. But I am having a hard time finding food that I really like. Well it's kind of a good thing because I can now cook at home and learn fancy new recipes.

I just need to hurry up and make something happen for myself so I can live in California in the winter and move back to Chicago in the summer. My advice for anyone that wants to move out here is have your crap together before you get here. And what I mean by that is have your money right, be emotionally secure and I hope you actually have at least one friend to talk to out here that is on your same level.