Dear LA, you will be missed.

Three months to go. That’s ninety days, and only 12 weekends! I have been living in LA just enough to fall in love with the city of Angels, and it seems like this new promising relationship is about to end. It could nonetheless leave more space for another one, an even fresher and new one, with Hong Kong. Indeed, as I am enrolled in the World Bachelor in Business, I am going to Hong Kong next year, and one of the tradeoffs of this program is that I will be leaving a place where I’ve just gotten settled, friends that I’ve gotten to know for few months, and the habits that I started to have. To me, this means I need to enjoy my precious time in each place as much as possible, but let’s first see how this first year is coming along so far.

I have already had a lot of fun in here. First and foremost, the individuals I have met are a big part of my experience. Back in high school, most of my friends were Moroccans, yet at USC, I am around people that come from all over the world, that bring their different perspectives and tell their unique stories. Perhaps, some of them also have the same centers of interest. Indeed, joining a soccer club at USC is probably one of the best things I have done this year. Soccer has this power to bring people together and creates a sense of family between teammates. Playing with international players is also challenging as I get to compare my level with others that play in new ways, with different strategies and skills.

However, what mostly made me fall in love with LA is the places that I have been to. Midnight adventures at the Griffith Observatory, breathtaking views from the Hollywood sign, nightclubs, sunsets at Venice beach, and using electric scooters all around Beverly Hills with friends. Unique experiences, with great people in new places, is what I love about Los Angeles.  Not only did I enjoy LA, but I also took advantage of weekends to go to Irvine, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. I am looking forward to going to Las Vegas and San Francisco by the end of the year, and my parents are considering meeting me halfway from Morocco in New York for spring break.

I had already been to LA when I was eleven to visit my brother, and it was great, but being a tourist is nothing like being a local. Although it is the first time I have lived somewhere besides Morocco, I got used to the environment quite fast, but adapting quickly means getting attached early too, and here lies the problem. However, for the fourth year, we get to choose where we want to go, so perhaps I can still come back to LA, but here’s the dilemma: Bocconi, in Milan, is less than three hours far from Casablanca by plane, while LA is 13 hours far. That’s over four times further. And I love Moroccan food. And I love my country. It seems like the choice is already made, I guess. Also, career-wise, I am considering pursuing a master’s degree in Europe so it might be more convenient for me to stay in Milan for my fourth year, which would enable me to travel Europe and find the right school for me.

Clearly, life is about tradeoffs, and sometimes it’s hard to get the best of both worlds. That being said, I will still be able to come back to LA for more than just my studies, visit USC to remember all the good times I have had here, and perhaps visit the friends I have made, and catch up with everything.

Trying to perceive the future is, in fact, a hard task to complete, and even with all calculations, what’s left is our desires and our actions. Forrest Gump once said: “My mom always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”. Personally, my worst nightmare would be the coconut ones. So, which one will you choose?