Hello from southern California!
From surfing to the Silicon valley, many stereotypes exist about the United States’ 31st state. Many are based on reality, but most are also grossly overexaggerated.
“Californians see celebrities daily.”
While California is famous for Hollywood and its “showbiz,” most people living there have never seen a celebrity just walking around. Only those that live in the same, wealthy neighborhoods as their favorite celebrities do, and those are a very small minority.
“Californians only eat a vegan diet.”
California does have a lot of organic products and farmers markets, and many people do drink green smoothies and eat acai bowls often. However, California is also known for its many fast food chains with burgers and milkshakes, such as In-N-Out Burger. Overall, there are many different options for a wide variety of diets in California, not just gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan ones.
“Everyone in southern California (SoCal) knows how to surf.”
Surfing is a very common activity in SoCal and can be considered California’s state sport. But, hockey, baseball, and lacrosse are also popular sports. Many people have never surfed in their lives and saying otherwise would be a false generalization, just as saying everyone in northern California (NorCal) is a tech genius due to Silicon Valley’s prominence.
“California is nothing but beaches.”
While California does have a lot of great beaches, bordering the Pacific Ocean, there is so much more diversity in terms of geography and environments. In the southeastern part of the state, there are many different deserts to explore. On the opposite side, California also has a mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, where it does snow. In northern California, there are also incredible forests, including the famous redwoods and sequoia trees.
Overall, like all places, many stereotypes surround California. Both people from other countries and people from other states within the USA may believe some of these stereotypes, but oftentimes they are really overexaggerated. Visiting the place oneself is the best way to truly see and experience what it is like!
-Camille Roussel-USA (West Coast)