"It's always something."

After the amazing time I had in Arizona, it was time to fly to Los Angeles and assist our chapter out there at California State University-Los Angeles. The chapter visit was good, though my best memories came from spending time with some of the women and really embracing the different culture.  

View of Los Angeles as I flew into LAX

I arrived in the evening, but the very next day I began meeting the women. Their campus’s Greek Council was hosting a pageant event for participants from all the fraternal organizations. Though our chapter’s representative didn’t win, she was very entertaining and a great spirit! Though my daytimes were spent with meetings with collegians, the former chapter president and the current chapter president (who are sisters) brought me to their home to meet their family and show me around a little more.  The family, all of whom speak fluent Spanish, welcomed me with open arms.  Though their mom doesn’t speak a drop of English, she was still pleasant and warm.  The women were giving me lessons in Spanish by picking out objects in their kitchen and having me repeat them; it’s too bad I forget everything.  We went to a local ice cream place and got paletas, which are Mexican popsicles.  I’m unsure as to what flavor I got, but I definitely got a milk-based flavor. From what I recall, it was delicious and I’m very lucky to have had that experience!

 One other thing the women took me to do was see the stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.  I saw many different stars and hand prints from many different show business big shots, but my favorite was definitely the one and only Betty White!

Looking down Hollywood Boulevard

Betty White's star!

"It's always something. If it's not one thing, it's another." -- Gilda Radner, Saturday Night Live

 

This is where all the hand prints are -- in front of the Chinese Theatre

Yes, I'm on the ground. No, not entirely -- just my hand. But these are Meryl Streep's hand prints, so it was worth it.

I love Matt Damon!

This one is for Olivia! She loves Dame Julie Andrews.

It was such an incredible feeling just being there and thinking about how many icons and game-changers stood where we were standing.  For instance, Meryl Streep – the greatest actress of all time – was in that same location countless times.  Ah! I guess it’s just a magical feeling because ever since I was a child, I always enjoyed television, movies, learning more about show business, watching the Academy Awards and other award shows, and more.  If I were to do it all again (you know, life), I might have gone into show business somehow. Maybe running the twitter handle for witty NBC shows… but I digress. 

El Capitan Theatre -- a hot spot for many Disney movie premieres!

Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Some really fun fountains!

Some stores along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Kodak Theatre -- the home of the Academy Awards (at least until 2021).

Los Angeles definitely is not a place I would ever, ever, ever want to live, but it’s a nice place to visit, especially for someone who has never been to LA or someone who loves Hollywood history.  On my bucket list for the west coast, Monterey because it inspired so many of John Steinbeck's books and has a bomb dot com aquarium, San Fransisco because it would be amazing, or San Diego because it supposedly is home to the greatest zoo ever. I'm looking forward to the next time I get to see the west coast!