The Long-Standing Debate: East Coast or West Coast?

Your choice might reveal more about you than you may think…

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Whenever someone back home asks me where I attend college and I say “California”, I’ve found that 9 times out of 10 the person will cock their head and respond with “Woah! California!” 

The annoying part is that I can never tell if they are repeating the word “California” as if they are responding with a question - like maybe they don’t believe I actually attend school on the opposite side of the country - or if they are just genuinely surprised by my choice. 

Sometimes I’ll just get a simple one-word reply, “Why?” 

I don’t love either of these responses. Mostly because I find myself saying things like, “Well, I went to boarding school, so I’m used to living away from home”, or “my dad comes to San Francisco for work all the time!” as if I’m trying to justify swapping my small town in Massachusetts for four years in California. 

Either way, I don’t have much luck, because sometimes it just boils down to the old-fashioned coast-to-coast rivalry. 

East Coasters prefer Dunkin, the Celtics, cold weather, and are commonly referred to as rude and always in a rush. West Coasters drink Starbucks, root for any team (that isn’t from Boston), prefer sunny Los Angeles over New York, and are easy-going and laid-back people. 

When I first got to SCU, the stereotypes seemed to be true. I couldn’t believe how kind everyone at Santa Clara was. It felt like I was in a dream; walking to class in flip-flops, surrounded by palm trees. It was almost impossible to have a bad day. Every day felt like summer, so how could anyone not be happy?

But as time went on, I started to realize the whole East Coast vs. West Coast thing wasn’t so clear-cut. Sure, I still crave my usual Dunkin iced coffee and feel a twinge of guilt every time I give in to the mediocre, overpriced coffee at Benson. And I’ll always long for just one day of a traditional East Coast fall, but I think I would feel that way regardless of where I am. Over time, I’ve found myself leaning more into the California lifestyle. I cherish the fact that I get to spend more time outdoors, at all times of the year, and remind myself to be more present. 

Back home, people might joke that I’ve turned into a “Cali girl”, but it’s funny because the more time I spend here, the less I feel like I have to justify my decision. I love both worlds I live in because they are different, and I am grateful that I get to experience the best of both coasts. So, who says you have to pick a side?