A Day and a Half in SoCal!

This past weekend, I drove a total of 20 hours from Utah to Southern California only to stay there for about 48 hours. Worth it? Definitely. This post will discuss the drama I had in order to be able to go, the drive itself, and my time in California. It was an adventure that caused me a lot stress, but in the end, it was easily one of the best weekends I've had so far this year.

I wanted to go on this trip in order to get out of Utah for the long Memorial Day weekend, but also mainly for the purpose of seeing my freshman roommate Carina off on her mission for our church. She is from Aliso Viejo, California and she was going to Argentina for 18 months to teach for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had said goodbye to her when she left college, but two of my friends and I decided to drive down to go to her farewell and spend time in California. We were to leave Thursday morning and come back Monday.

Pre-Trip

T-3 days till California: Monday

The Monday before we were to leave, my friend whose car we were going to drive let us know that she would not be able to make it. Her car was having some issues and things in her personal life came up so she couldn't go anymore. This meant I needed to find a car to drive. Luckily, my sister was the best and let me use her car and the trip was back on!

T-2 days till California: Tuesday

With only two of us going to California now, money for gas became an issue. I had to find another person in order to split the costs up. I asked everyone I knew. People who knew Carina and people who didn't. Unfortunately, the problem with spring term at BYU is the fact that very few people are here. Many people were back home, and because of the short notice, most people had plans or work already. Magically, after asking probably around 30 people, I did find one of my friends who was available to come but she couldn't help drive.

That night, the original girl who was going to come had something come up and could no longer make it. Suddenly, I was going to be the only driver for a 10 hour drive...bad idea.

T-1 day till California: Wednesday

I was scrambling and desperate to find anyone to help me drive. Finally, I found another friend who was going to be able to help drive! Unfortunately, they had to back out as well due to some last minute school things. The trip was officially cancelled. I really gave up at that point and was trying to accept the fact that all three of my plans had fallen apart.

I do not blame any of my friends for not being able to go, I know things happen out of the blue, but I was really upset that I had tried so hard only to still fail. I had good intentions for going to California, and I really wanted to support my roommate so I didn't understand why I kept having so many problems.

T-0 days till California: Thursday

Thursday was really rough for me. I basically sat at home all day. Not productive at all I know, but I was really upset. My mom and I looked at plane tickets I might be able to buy, but because of the holiday weekend, they were way too expensive. I felt so bad. I had kept switching my plans on Carina and my other two friends driving down from Northern California. I legit sat on my couch and just starred at the ceiling for a good 20 minutes.

T- -1 days till California: Friday

I slept in today since I don't have classes on Friday, and I woke up to make breakfast. Then my sister texted me. It said, "so like our whole family is sick. So no party. So we could go to California." I almost choked on my eggs. I would be leaving two days late, getting there Saturday afternoon, and leaving Monday morning, but I HAD TO GO. After everything I had been through, I was gonna make it to see Carina after all! We quickly planned all of the logistics, and I texted Carina that we were indeed coming. She was so excited she was "doing a happy dance".

ROADTRIP

Amanda and I woke up at 5 am to start driving. It was a long drive, but Amanda has done it before with her friend who lives in the same ward as Carina, so we were confident. The drive itself it pretty easy. You stay on the same highway from Provo all the way to San Bernardino. It was actually really fun to drive with my sister. We had some great chats and ate some caramel M&M's and mini Goldfish. We jammed out in the car and each drove around 5 hours. I'm kind of weird and actually like driving long distance so it was honestly a blast. We made it to California at around 2:30 and decided to go get boba. We needed it.

First "Day" in California!

After we got boba, Carina and my friend Amber were in San Diego, so my sister and I decided to visit her best friend's family. We got smoothie bowls and sat at Laguna Beach until Carina picked me up. The weather wasn't too hot or too cold and it was nice and sunny. Carina and Amber picked me up and we went to the Irvine Spectrum Center. My sister went out with her friend's family so it was just the three of us. It was a gorgeous mall with so many stores. I found a super cute macaroon place I had seen on Instagram a couple years ago called Honey & Butter (@honeyandbutter). It was amazing. We also went on the ferris wheel. Amber freaked out, but it was a gorgeous view. I was just so happy that I was able to come and spend time with my favorite people. It had felt so long since I had hung out with them, and I missed them a lot.

After Irvine, Carina took us to Balboa to try their famous balboa bars. So. Good. Like it was basically just ice cream with a chocolate shell and oreos, but something about it. Yum. Amber got the famous hippo cookie too because she LOVES hippos. We also went into a store along the street to look at their bracelets. In the store, the owner started talking to us. He guessed our majors. He pointed to Carina, Amber, and then me saying, "Sociology, Engineering, and Business". We were kind of shocked. He was actually extremely close. Carina is in Communication Disorders, Amber in math, and he got me completely correct. Do I really look THAT much like a Business person!? Anyways, he was so charismatic and nice that I purchased a cute little bracelet to support him and to remember the trip. We bought some sushi for dinner before heading back to Carina's house. It was Amber's first time trying sushi other than vegetable rolls. We started her out on a California roll. She actually kinda liked it! We crashed pretty quick once we got back to Carina's house. I was exhausted from the drive and going around the city.

Second Day in California:

Today was also jam packed. Carina's church started at 9:45 so we woke up and headed over to her building which was gorgeous. During her talk, I bawled like a baby. She was so genuine and sweet about why she wanted to serve a mission and I lost it. After church, we headed back to prepare for her open house. We may or may not have napped for two hours in between. Her open house was crazy. Of course everyone loves Carina as much as I do.

My sister and I decided to leave 30 minutes early to drive to Irvine to see my brother. He was doing an internship and we really wanted to see him. We had some "sibling bonding time" for about two hours. I really have grown to like talking with my siblings. I will admit that I did not talk to them a ton while I was growing up, but I have gotten a lot better and we are all closer now.

After seeing him, my sister and I decided to get boba again. California has amazing boba. Just saying. I found another place I had seen was famous on Instagram, Snow Monster (@snowmonsteroc), and we headed over. It was so cute! You could order your drink in a lightbulb or a jar, and put cotton candy around it. It was amazing. A very typical Alena place to go to.

We headed back to Carina's place and she was officially a missionary of the church! My friend Lindsey also came back from seeing her other missionary friend, and we talked for a long time together. We all slept on the couch together and prepared for the early morning drive. In that moment, I took a moment to appreciate the people in my life who make me happy.

The next morning, my sister and I said goodbye to Carina and her family and thanked them for letting us come and stay with them. We packed our things in the car, and took off. A day and a half in California was over. It was easily one of the best trips I have ever been on though. I was surrounded by friends and we were making memories together.

Overall, this trip was a roller coaster. From going on Thursday, to not going, to going Friday, to not, to going Saturday, it was just a lot. But, I needed that time. Thursday, I was able to go to a work meeting that although was optional, allowed me to learn a lot more about my job. Friday, I was able to even more time with my friend Danika who was leaving the next morning, and I was STILL able to make it to California. This experience has really helped me realize that things happen as they are supposed to. Everything ended up working out and I am so happy that it did.

I am so excited to see Carina in 18 short months and I know she is going to do great things in Argentina.

Alena