New to California

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2005

I don't know what part of the country you are coming from, but I think you will like it here in L.A. The coldest it gets in the winter is maybe 45 degrees and that is at night. I came from Ohio and originally moved to the desert down in Palm Springs. It was so warm I didn't own a winter coat for years when I lived down there. 30 years ago smog was a terrible problem and you couldn't see the mountains surrounding the LA area. But, that has changed. I live in Arcadia which is next to Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the Rose Parade, and practically nestled up against the mountains of the Angeles forest. It is so cool to see the mountains. There is just about every kind of fast food place you can think of here, so you will have fun checking those out. You will, of course, want to check out the usual tourist places: Disneyland, Universal Studios tour, Sea World, etc. If you like horse racing the Santa Anita racetrack is here in Arcadia along with the Los Angeles Arboretum.

Have you found a place to live yet? Rent in Santa Monica is pretty high, but there are other communities where things are a bit more reasonable. Make sure you have a car that runs well because you will be using it. You will have fun (?) learning the freeways out here. You haven't lived until you've experienced rush hour traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10). Its like nothing you've ever driven before.

UCLA is a great place to work and learn new things. What unit will you be working on?

cassieopea2193 · Jun 12, 2005

:rolleyes:

I don't know what part of the country you are coming from, but I think you will like it here in L.A. The coldest it gets in the winter is maybe 45 degrees and that is at night. I came from Ohio and originally moved to the desert down in Palm Springs. It was so warm I didn't own a winter coat for years when I lived down there. 30 years ago smog was a terrible problem and you couldn't see the mountains surrounding the LA area. But, that has changed. I live in Arcadia which is next to Pasadena, home of the Rose Bowl and the Rose Parade, and practically nestled up against the mountains of the Angeles forest. It is so cool to see the mountains. There is just about every kind of fast food place you can think of here, so you will have fun checking those out. You will, of course, want to check out the usual tourist places: Disneyland, Universal Studios tour, Sea World, etc. If you like horse racing the Santa Anita racetrack is here in Arcadia along with the Los Angeles Arboretum.
Have you found a place to live yet? Rent in Santa Monica is pretty high, but there are other communities where things are a bit more reasonable. Make sure you have a car that runs well because you will be using it. You will have fun (?) learning the freeways out here. You haven't lived until you've experienced rush hour traffic on the Santa Monica Freeway (I-10). Its like nothing you've ever driven before.
UCLA is a great place to work and learn new things. What unit will you be working on?

Its funny you mentioned the freeways. I was out there a few weeks ago trying to find a decent aprtment..I had a never lost system in my car( thank God)...but every freeeway took me to another freeway...I thought that was crazy..I am sure there are back roads however in time I will learn those... Yes the traffic was HORRIBLE. :angryfire ..I visited LA right in the heart of the memorial day weekend. I had to whip out my aggressive driver road book from NY... :chuckle

In any event, the apartments were either not in good neighborhoods, not worth living in or quite a distance from Santa Monica... I finally found a place in Burbank...they had a really good special on the apartments so I grabbed it

Its about 45-50 mins from the hospital...hopefully with the hours I have to be at work, traffic wont be too bad :rolleyes:

I am coming from Fla...but I need a change...I spent a lot of time in a big city and loved the city life..want to go back to it...where there is more diversity... more things to do...Tampa is great but ..just not for me....

I will be working on the Ortho /Neuro floor

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2005

Oh, my God! Don't get rude with the drivers out here. And, I hope you didn't blow the horn on your car. We just don't do that (its in the California drivers manual). Actually, most of the drivers out here are pretty polite and civil. You have to be when you are bumper to bumper at 60 mph. There are some people who just have to speed around others on the freeway just to get one car ahead of you that you have to watch out for.

Burbank is nice. It's about 20 miles west from Arcadia. Pasadena is about 15 miles from you. You'll probably be able to get into some TV game shows. Ha! Ha! Will we be seeing you on The Price Is Right any time soon? There is plenty to do out here. A 30 or 40 minute drive gets you to another climate in these parts. Having been raised in Ohio I always have to smile during the winter when they are talking about the terrible snow storm going on up in Big Bear Mountain (about 90 miles from LA) while we're hardly cold at all.

Yes, there are back roads. I would recommend that you get a copy of the Thomas Guide map book when you get out here. It has all the maps for LA and Orange county. They are on sale just about everywhere. My friends gave me one as a gift when I moved here a couple of years ago. It came in very handy and I still have it in the car. The TV, and the radio stations especially, give reports on the freeway situation. I don't know if you had a chance to hear any of these. The radio especially is good to keep on while driving so you know where there are problems on the roads because they generally report on the road conditions every 10 or 15 minutes all day long.

Traffic is always heavy going into LA proper. The freeways get better at 9pm at night and on the weekends unless there is some big event going on in the direction you are driving.

Well, you picked a big, exciting city to move to. You'll be able to write home about how the TV stations put car chases by the police on the TV for hours at a time! And, all of the local stations do this. Makes me mad when it cuts into my soap operas. You'll find the weather here less humid. If you have sinus problems they should dry up right away. I swear that the bugs have left town. I hardly have any flies or other bugs getting into the house when I have the doors open. I just don't see the flying bugs here that we had in Ohio. We have a lot of hummingbirds. They might as well be big bugs.

I had a friend years ago who was a patient on the neuro floor at UCLA. I'm sure it has changed a lot since then. They had 3 bed wards at that time. I think you've picked a wonderful place to work. It is a teaching hospital and it is huge. I hope you like it. I know the money is good.

I've got to get off the computer for awhile, but I'll be back on late tonight. Good talking with you.

cassieopea2193 · Jun 12, 2005

LOL....

No, I did not get rude with any drivers..I just played it cool...I have heard about that road rage madness!! Your'e actually the 2nd person who has mentioned the Thomas Guide to me so I think I may just go ahead and invest in one. I have heard wonderful things about the weather ..Cant wait to get into it.

I am also sure I will have stories to tell about LA...lol..

I am nervous , anxious and excited about it all. Not knowing anyone is the scary part...I guess i will adjust over time.

As long as a Starbucks is close by I will be ok :)

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2005

Oh, we have Starbuckses across the street from each other out here!

Gomer · Jun 12, 2005

Get yourself a "Thomas Guide" for LA (or LA/Orange Co. or LA/Ventura Co.) fast and you will rarely get lost. Also, Burbank to Westwood (UCLA is in Westwood, not Santa Monica) will be a real b*tch depending on which shift you are working. If your going to do 7p-7a shift then you should be going against traffic on the 405, which will take you about 30-40 minutes (depending on the day of the week....Friday/Saturday nights are the worst). But if you will be working days, the 405 can become a parking lot going south. Suggest you keep looking for an apartment after you move here. I'm certain you'll be able to find something closer. By the way, UCLA is a great hospital and WELCOME TO CA!!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2005

I'm sure you will make friends quickly. There are a lot of people who have re-located to California and are or were kind of in the same boat of not knowing anyone here. In general, Californians are pretty friendly. It's probably the sun. . .it's hard to be mean and depressed when it is so sunny all the time!

Starbucks is everywhere out here.

When I first came back here two years ago I put a big paper clip on the page of the Thomas Guide that showed where I lived so I had a reference as to how far something was from my home. It shows where the hospitals, police stations, schools and post offices are which was a big help for me. I discovered that although I live in Arcadia, the Temple City Post Office is really closer to me than the Arcadia one. Our big supermarkets are Albertson's (owned by the same company that owns Long's Drugs and Sav-On Drugs), Ralph's (owned by Kroger's), Von's and Pavilions (both owned by Safeway). However, there are lots of other supermarkets. I like going to the Mexican markets for produce (they're cheaper) and to the Asian markets for fresh fish because the prices are also cheaper. There is also a Stater Brothers chain of supermarkets, but for some reason they are not in the Pasadena area and the closest one from me is about 15 miles away. They all have specials for which you have to have their card for the checkers to scan at checkout to get the bargain prices. I'm not familiar with the shopping malls in the Santa Monica or Burbank area, but I'm sure the Thomas Guide will show them. I found that just about every kind of store I wanted to shop in was in my immediate neighborhood. We also have Costco and Sam's Clubs. Are you in to working out? There are a lot of clubs out here. UCLA Medical Center being as huge as they are may have a gym for it's employees or offer some kind of special if you sign up at a Bally's, 24-Hours Fitness, or LA Fitness. A lot of Curves have been showing up lately, too.

I think you'll have a wonderful time just exploring your new neighborhood!

cassieopea2193 · Jun 13, 2005

Silly question...is there not a UCLA medical center in Santa Monica? Or am I losing my mind? One of the responses on this post corrected me when I said UCLA Santa Monica and told me it is UCLA Westwood. Now I know there is one is Westwood because that is where I had my initial interview..

So tell me please, am I losing my mind?

allnurses Guide · Jun 13, 2005

Hi and welcome - although I grew up in So. Cal (mostly Orange County) I now live in Northern Cal (no, that is not SF - which is really Central Cal). I live north of Redding in the mountains.

My oldest son lives in Azusa and attends APU. We visit frequently. It is hard to get used to freeway driving again after just driving in rural areas. I learned to drive on freeways for goodness sake. But after 20 years up here I don't think I could ever live somewhere where the traffic was that bad.

steph

Gomer · Jun 13, 2005

No, you are correct, Cass, UCLA does have a hospital in SM. I'm the one losing my mind since I drive by it daily, but forgot it was there. Sorry for my mistake. But do buy a "Thomas Guide" and once you get here, do look around for a closer apartment. There are many just south of SM in Marina Del Rey (MDR), Playa Vista, Playa Del Rey, etc.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2005

Silly question...is there not a UCLA medical center in Santa Monica? Or am I losing my mind? One of the responses on this post corrected me when I said UCLA Santa Monica and told me it is UCLA Westwood. Now I know there is one is Westwood because that is where I had my initial interview..
So tell me please, am I losing my mind?

UCLA Medical Center is in Westwood. They might have a satellite clinic in Santa Monica, I don't know.