Amé goes places: L.A. pas ce que vous croyez...
For my non-French speakers out there, see end of post for translation of the title. Hint: it’s a pun*. ;)
Many moons ago, I ended up in Anaheim for a convention that half happened, half didn’t but in the end turned into a massive party filled with fantastic people that I am now lucky to call friends. (Maybe one day I’ll tell you that story...)
Me, being the lucky airline worker, managed to go visit them around the world a few times. But not all of them. And as much as I thank the internet for existing and giving us all a chance to stay in touch, there’s still something special about sitting down with friends around food and drinks and talking about anything and everything. Yes, as “techie” as this girl is, she still believes in the importance of socializing. So when the chance to meet up with 3 of said friends (including one I hadn’t seen since said convention) I of course jumped at the chance! Even if that meant going to a city that I, for all instance and purpose, disliked.
So I had to face the fact that heat-hating, anti-consumerism me was going to Los Angeles for 2 days. I know, I know, “don’t hate on something until you give it a chance Amé”! True. But let’s take the evidence into consideration here shall we?
Los Angeles, California, USA: population of 3,8M, 18% poverty rate, homeless population of almost 45 000, one of the highest places for inequality in revenue and 15$ billions (!?!?!?) in tourism revenue. To put this in perspective of how incredibly ‘big’ this city is, there is more people living in L.A. then in Manitoba and Saskatchewan combined!
Yet, if I ask you to describe L.A. and it’s people what would you tell me? Sunny, beautiful, rich... Mainly, a big ol’ resounding HOLLYWOOD! But if you’ve read my blog a bit, or know me, you know this is not what I see.
The glamour and shiny, very rarely blind my sight of the dirt and sadness it tries to hide. So you can see that going to the capital of ‘bling’ for me was not high on my priority list. (Also the fact that the average temperature there is like 30C does not help to convince this winter loving gal.)
But nonetheless, a way too early wake up call and stressing over flight loads later, I made it to LAX. After a sweaty, meh quality breakfast where I never got my glass of water, but where I did get to enjoy catching up with my friends, my very quick trip around L.A. began. This is when, a glimmer of hope for me not completely hating this city appeared.
It appeared while driving through the city, looking at gorgeous art deco building hiding between massive constructions of steal and concrete with no shape. While talking with old friends and making new ones, while walking around Old Pasadena and seeing buildings and people that made me smile. While discovering a shop called Lula Mea and meeting it’s wonderful owner and their adorable four-legged residents. All that, after very stubborn me, did not want to like this city...
Lula Mea Gift Shop : 100 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Old Pasadena Seriously if you have a chance go there!
I sadly did not take enough pictures while there I must admit, but if I could have you would have seen many examples of duality. Of building, of businesses, of people. This is where hope started to grow in me, that this mecca of all things I abhor may not be lost after all.
For every landscape-destroying, useless building, I saw beautiful century old ones. For every mass-consuming mall and shops I saw, I discovered independently owned shops and cafés. For every self-involved, society-destroying person I heard, I met wonderful and thoughtful people that I would love to see again. But if you asked me what actually warmed my heart while there, I would have to say this.
For the first time in my life it feels like, the people I met, were genuinely interested in learning French! More then one person found the language beautiful and interesting. For the first time in a very long time, me being French, yet surrounded by anglophones, did not mean I had to ‘hide it’ or ‘defend’ myself in anyways to anyone. About anything. And if felt so good. Yes, it may have been the company I was keeping, but still. It made me so happy, and I don’t think they realize it. So I will finish saying this: merci.
Merci ladies to have made my time in this city a bit more (ok a lot more) endurable then I thought it would be. You did convince me that regardless of it all, I will have to come back. Even if it’s only for the people, it will still be worth it.
Yeah you read right, I will endure many more sweaty suppers, if it means hanging out you lovely people. Because no, I don’t actually hate L.A.
There, I said it. ;)
*the sentence would read ‘Elle est’ at the beginning, which would then translate to ‘she is not what you think’. :p
Also, anyone wants a full review of Lula Mea? Let me know!










