Between September and December 2024, I lived and worked in Los Angeles. Not just passing through. I properly lived there. Rent, routine, remote job, morning coffee order memorised.
I went for work. I loved the lifestyle. I travelled across the U.S., fell in love with a baseball team, got stuck in traffic more times than I can count, and experienced my first earthquake. But I also lived out something even bigger — the strange, funny, surreal experience of being British in America during a pivotal moment in its cultural and political life.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, LA became something that felt like home.
I landed in LA with no idea what to expect. I had travelled to the city before on our Route 66 Journey, so knew a little of the place. After a couple of weeks in a hotel I settled in Santa Monica, and it didn’t take long for it to start feeling like home.
There’s an ease to life on the Westside. Getting the fresh air off the Pacific Ocean, slightly less chaos, and a different pace. Evenings and weekends were for sunsets, workouts, or sports. The weather was consistently perfect — like it was written into local law. I think that I saw rain for about 20 mins on one day in 4 months.
What struck me early on, though, was how different even the everyday things felt. From portion sizes to petrol prices (sorry, gas), nothing quite works the way it does back home.
It’s hard to explain to Americans why Cadbury Dairy Milk is superior — you have to taste it to understand. But try finding a real Flake or Galaxy bar in LA? Not happening. The shelves are full of Hershey’s, Reese’s, and sugar-loaded cereal bars pretending to be breakfast. It just tastes wrong. Luckily a month in I found an "english" shop which imported the finer things in life. Weetabix, Chocolate, Marmalade. Who knew I would miss it so...
I also never got used to the tip culture — not just how much, but when and why. Suddenly everything from a bottle of water to a haircut came with mental arithmetic.
The accent was a social cheat code. People asked where I was from daily. It was a mixture of being British or Australian. I heard “I love your accent!” more times than I heard my own name. But small differences still caught me off guard. Saying “cheers” at a checkout. Not knowing how to order bacon properly. Being suspicious of biscuits because they’re savoury and come with gravy. Or indeed Chips for that matter.
The culture isn’t wildly different — but the small things add up. You’re always 5% confused, 95% smiling through it.
What I didn’t expect was how much the 2024 election season would shape the mood of the country.
By October, the signs were everywhere. Literally — signs on lawns, flags on trucks, campaign ads on TV. Political conversations were loud and constant, especially as key debates started rolling out.
Even in California — a mostly blue state — you’d feel pockets of intensity. Conversations turned political fast. And as a Brit, you become this weird neutral observer in a room full of strong opinions. People would ask me what I thought. “We’ve got our own problems back home,” I’d say with a half-smile, dodging the landmines. But most of the time I just stayed out of it - it was far safer that way!
But it wasn’t just noise — there was genuine anxiety in the air. The country felt like it was holding its breath.
Somewhere in the middle of all that tension, baseball became my escape.
One Saturday night in my first few weeks, I walked into Dodger Stadium with zero expectations and walked out obsessed.
I had been to one baseball game before. (Again on Route 66) but it felt like a tick box for me to do that. So I went to the Dodgers just with the aim of experiencing everything LA had to offer. Little did I know a year on - that I'm sat up in the UK at 1am in the morning watching the Dodgers in the 9th innings... I can't really explain why I became obsessed initially - but as the season wore on and the run to the world series final (which was finally won) came closer I was hooked. Any reason to get in front of the TV. At a bar, at home I was glued. Of course I bought far to much swag which I had to bring home with me, but the Dodgers gained a fan now for life.
Over four months, I crammed in as much sport as I could:
Lakers at Crypto.com Arena — Pure Hollywood. Celebs courtside, lights down, music up. Didn't do much for me - but it was fun
Kings hockey — Cold, brutal, brilliant. Having never been to a Ice Hockey game before I didn't know what to experience. But by god it was Violent!
LAFC — Drums, flares, and football passion turned up to eleven. Like nothing I've ever experienced before at a football game.
Rams at SoFi Stadium — A spaceship. No other way to describe that place and I'm so glad that I went with my boss who could FINALLY explain the rules of American football!
The variety was wild. You could go from an NBA game to a silent hike in the mountains the next day. LA is built for extremes. And one thing they don't tell you (or indeed do we have) is the patriotism - it's off the scale in the pre match. And for a "non" American. Actually quite moving.
One morning, mid-teams call, I felt a wobble. Then a shake. My chair moved. The water on my desk did the ripple thing you see in disaster films.
It was my first earthquake. It lasted all of six seconds, but it was enough to make me rethink the placement of every piece of furniture in the flat.
I looked around expecting panic — nothing. People shrugged it off. My colleagues described it as "a good one". I didn't really know how to take that!
To make sense of it all, I escaped to Griffith Observatory one day. At the top, the noise dropped away. LA sprawled beneath me, blinking into the night. And somewhere between the mountains and the ocean, things made sense. Griffith isn’t just a view. It’s a reminder: even in a city obsessed with motion, you’re allowed to stop.
Being a car nut as well I couldn't help but visit the Petersen museum which is FULL of cars. When I say that I mean Full. The basement is a must and is full of anything and everything you could want to see. From rare one off's to the favourites you see on the road. It's crazy and well worth the time.
LA was my base, but the U.S. is massive and I had the chance to hit up a number of other USA cities
New York was the opposite of LA in every way. Fast, vertical, caffeinated, and cold. I loved the chaos. There is just something different about NYC.
Nashville was a revelation. I planned it around the IndyCar race, but stayed for the live music and neon lights. (However the Indycar race was great - read my Indy500 post here!)
Vegas was pure adrenaline. I went for NASCAR and left with hearing damage and a lot of respect for the madness of American motorsport.
Each place sharpened my sense of what made LA different — and why I kept looking forward to going back after my travels.
Despite all the movement, I was working full-time. But LA taught me a new kind of rhythm.
There’s something about being surrounded by ambition and sunshine that makes burnout feel like a bad business plan. Getting home from work at 7, and it still being nice enough to go for a run in December. An In and Out Burger had to be had - and it's like nothing else you'll eat elsewhere. The bars, the people it's all different but was an amazing experience to have.
In December, I packed up and flew home. But the impact stuck.
I left part of my heart in LA. I came home with far too many caps from the sporting events I went to. A love for the Dodgers which will never fade, and a whole new perspective on what work, travel, and life can look like.
I really didn't find proper chocolate on the main streets. I still think tipping 20% for a coffee is mad. But I also know that I miss it.
LA taught me how to breathe a bit slower, live a bit louder, and never take mild weather for granted.
Living in LA as a Brit is like stepping into a slightly warped mirror of your own culture. Everything is familiar but just... off. The plugs don’t work. The chocolate is wrong. The road signs shout. And yet, it works. (Oh and you can turn right on red - which is just a brilliant thing!)
It challenges you. Charms you. Teaches you how to adapt.
And somewhere between the traffic, the sunsets, the earthquakes, and the endless supply nice weather, you realise: this place changes you — even if you're just passing through.
Until next time, LA.
And please… someone import some Cadbury’s.
—
📸 Follow the journey on Instagram: @travel_salesman
Oura Ring Review I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of tracking performance. Whether it’s…
Cutting back on alcohol without quitting When you work in sales or client-facing roles, drinking…
Heights Review: The Daily Supplement That Actually Works I’ve tried my fair share of supplements…
Introduction Dubai, the jewel of the United Arab Emirates, is a city of dreams where…
Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown I have to say it - but this hotel is one…