I can hardly remember now, it was so long ago, but after Santa Barbara we drove to Los Angeles. Our last stop.
I already knew I would love LA. Big city, beaches, creativity, comedy.
I also knew the traffic was bad. But I didn’t realise it was that bad.
No wonder everyone has a podcast – it’s the thing to do when you have to spend half your day in a car.
I’m not sure if the selfie-loving types are drawn to LA, or if living in LA turns you into a selfie-loving type… despite the superficial stereotype, I’d go back in flash.
It reminded me of an experience in a Wellington shoe shop, which, I suppose, prepared me for the city. A blonde, tall, very skinny, American woman picked up a pair of psychedelic plastic stilettos and said: “I’ll take these.”
They were so extreme, even the shop assistant asked: “Why?”
The woman replied: “It’s hard to stand out in LA. These will help.”
Considering my social strategy in life was to “fit in”, her remarks kind of rattled me.
I loved that about LA, though. It made it fun to just walk down the street.
Being such a square, this time I was the one who stood out. 
Katie Kenny 