CITY & ITS PEOPLE

NorCal vs. SoCal

One California, two lives. Part 1 runs 18 pages, plus a bonus piece on what Taiwanese folks get wrong about NorCal vs. SoCal.

Translated from Jasmine’s original Chinese. The illustrated slides are on the interactive reader.

Full text

1. Same California, two lives

   NorCal and SoCal are both California, but the weather, the slang and the lifestyle are different. Part 1 runs 18 pages.

2. To "the" or not to "the"

   SoCal says "the 405" and "the 10"; NorCal just says "101" and "280." One sentence and everyone knows where you're from.

3. The weather

   SoCal is sunshine; NorCal, especially San Francisco, is often fog in summer. Pack a jacket.

4. Work

   In NorCal the conversation is often tech; in SoCal it's often entertainment and wellness.

5. Outfits

   NorCal is the fleece vest; SoCal is athleisure and sunglasses.

6. Taiwanese misconceptions about NorCal and SoCal

   The most common one: thinking LA and San Francisco are close. It's roughly 380 miles, five to six hours by car, farther than Taipei to Kaohsiung.

7. What they agree on

   Both love In-N-Out, and both think their California is the real California.

In this series

• LA × Seoul: the same Korean flavors, K-town vs. Seoul
• Same little thing, two lives | Taipei vs. LA, up close
• Taipei vs. LA
• A day in Taipei × a day in LA
• Taipei Girl vs. LA Girl
• Moving from Taiwan
• LA vs. OC
• LA vs. NYC

Read it with the slides →

An original JSLALALAND field guide by Jasmine Chang (@jslalaland).