East LA: There's No Place Like Home

          All over Los Angeles County there are small areas that are filled with culture from places from all over the world. Places such as Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little India, and Olvera Street were created because of the large populations of immigrants living around them. They are not only to celebrate the different cultures in Los Angeles, but also so that the people living here can have a little bit of home nearby.

            For this entry, I decided to explore the place that I call home: East L.A. East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area in Los Angeles County, and a number of its residents have been fighting for cityhood for the last couple of years. East Los Angeles can be reached primarily reached from the Metro Gold line and a number of other bus lines such as the 720, 260, 18, and 762. It is home to a large number of Latinos, primarily Hispanics.

            The fact that a large population of East L.A. residents is Hispanic does not mean that Mexican culture is the only one evident. There are many restaurants that serve and specialize in cuisine from various places in Latin America. Whittier Boulevard is one of the most iconic streets in East Los Angeles and home to a number of restaurants and stores. A large number of stores specialize in special event wear and supplies. If you are getting married or having a quinceañera, all it takes is one trip down Whittier Boulevard to obtain all you need from a dress or tux to invitations or limousine.

            Apart from stores, there are various street vendors selling a variety of food. You never fail to find someone selling bacon wrapped hot dogs, fresh fruit and corn on the cob with cheese and chili. If you are walking down Whittier Boulevard in the morning, which most people do in order to commute by bus to work or school, you will never fail to find someone selling warm tamales and champurrado.

            East Los Angeles is a place full of tradition and culture. From the annual Mexican Independence Day and Christmas Parades to the East Los Angeles Classic, a rivalry football game between East L.A.’s high schools, there are always events to bring the community together. The East Los Angeles Classic brings together over 20,000 people, from students, alumni, staff, and members of the community all of which either sit on the Garfield or Roosevelt side. The game has been held, for most of its existence, at East Los Angeles College.

            Garfield High School, my alma mater, is also recognized from the film "Stand and Deliver". A film about math teacher Jaime Escalante who taught and guided a class of students, who were prone to dropping out of school, to pass the AP calculus exam. This film isn’t the only one to immortalize East Los Angeles and its community. In recent years movies such as "Under the Same Moon" and "A Better Life" have given moviegoers an insight into the life of the residents of East Los Angeles.

            Places like East Los Angeles, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Little India and Olvera Street are all great places to enjoy different cultures without having to spend thousands of dollars in airfare and hotel. Everyone can learn about the cultures that are being celebrated by exploring these places. However, it must be known that regardless of how cultural these places may seem, there is always an Americanized twist.