Lawrence.com

Jessica Raab, sales planner, internet marketer, science nerd, history dork

You recently moved here from Los Angeles-is it true that everyone who lives in L.A. is just a big, leathery sack of collagen and blow?

"I've spent most of life in California, since I was a kid. My dad took a job at state university and we moved from Texas. There are a lot of people in Los Angeles, some good and some bad and some so spray tanned that they can be seen from space. It's the good and bad of living in a large metropolitan area. The collagen and blow system of values for Los Angeles is both its blessing and the millstone around its neck. It attracts a lot of interesting people and there's a lovely diversity of creativity there, as represented by the movie and television industry for example. There are a lot of opportunities to experience art and culture that isn't necessarily so available elsewhere.

The downside? There is a collective investment in the appearance 'cool,' so people will live way beyond their means, in terrible areas and work themselves into a stupor in order to keep up with every Ms. and Mr. Jones out there. There's way too much focus and value placed on appearance and image that people do trade a little of something of themselves in order to stay relevant out there. The cost of living is also insane. Even if you're not so outwardly focused, you work to live there and not live to work and at some point, that just becomes exhausting."

What lured you to Lawrence? It was Burrito King wasn't it?

"In Los Angeles, the burrito is done often and done well. No knock on Burrito King, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't them who brought me here. My reasons for moving are two fold. My dad retired from a teaching career from a university in California to Weston, Missouri a few years ago. Since then I've been out here quite a bit and found that each time, I enjoyed being out here a lot more. The pace is slower, the people are nice and no one avoids making eye contact with you. Eye contact in a place like Los Angeles means you're about to get rolled for your wallet or the other person has a deep, personal relationship with a tin foil hat. I wanted a change of pace and a different change of scenery. You have to admit-this big, big sky you guys got out here is pretty boss. I also want to attend KU eventually and finish out my graduate degree in Physical Anthropology. Before I take the plunge in applying, I wanted to check out Lawrence and see if hanging out here for the next few years was a good fit."

What tips do you have for someone who's contemplating such an epic, Grapes-of-Wrath-in-reverse style move?

"Plan well and then take a headlong leap off the cliff. If you want to get the most out of any experience, you have to cut the cord to the old experience and open yourself up to what this new experience has to offer. Books on tape will keep you from losing your mind on the drive between Denver and Lawrence. Also, you can never have enough moving boxes."

What's the biggest adjustment you've had to make moving to Kansas, other than trying not to spontaneously combust in this apocalyptic hellfire weather?

"There's a small range of diversity here in Kansas that requires some getting used to, both in culture and in food. I'm used to hearing multiple languages and interacting with multiple ethnicities on a daily basis. I don't hear or get the opportunity to speak Spanish quite as much as I used to, for example, and you don't appreciate the previous exposure to so much diversity until there's less of it. And the food? Sometimes, a girl cannot live by Cracker Barrel alone. I'm on an active hunt to locate the best sushi place in town."

What have you enjoyed most about Lawrence?

"Lawrence is a very 'come as you are' place. That relaxed, take-it-as-it-comes attitude really has made for a great transition. Now, if I could just make some friends-I'd be pretty set."