One of the biggest appeals of coming to Boston College is its proximity to downtown Boston. We all love going into the city and exploring the sights, like Newbury Street, Boston Common, and Faneuil Hall. But guess what? We collegiettes™ come from literally all over the world! We grew up in one home our whole life or moved to dozens of new places. We were raised in small towns and huge cities! Just because we are in Boston doesn’t mean we can’t see the rest of the world. This is a series to introduce us to the many unique and interesting places that we come from, better known as home.
Fly three thousand miles to the other coast and there’s my hometown, Westlake Village, CA!  When people think about Southern California, they think bros, skaters, surfers, and In-n-Out.  I’m not going to lie- there is all of the above.  However, there is so much more.  Hollywood may have all the glitz and glam, from Universal Studios to Staples Center to Sprinkles Cupcakes, but travel 45 minutes up the 101 and you’ll find Westlake Village!
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Mexican Food:
Being only a few hours from south of the border almost guarantees delicious Mexican food.  An all time Westlake favorite is The Sea Casa.  From La Bamba burritos (chicken or steak) to the California burritos (French fries in your burrito), this place is always packed with students during their off campus lunch. No matter what time you go, you will always know someone there.  Did I mention this is the only place where you can find an “I Love Burritos” shirt?
Classic
Yozen Frogurt:
Yup, you saw it right. Yozen Frogurt is only one of the many frozen yogurt places that have been popping up all over town.  If you’re feeling hands-on or extremely picky, do it yourself flavors and toppings at Yogurtland is the way to go.  From red velvet cake batter to pumpkin pie, Yogurtland is the dessert place I make sure I go to when I’m back home.  If you choose not to go to Yogurtland or Yozen, try one of the several other fro-yo places: Menchies, Golden Spoon, and Pinkberry, all within a 5-mile radius.
Football:
Once you’re done grabbing a pregame snack, head on over to the football stadium to see Westlake’s finest at work.  “Here we go Westlake” and “Orange, orange, blue blue blue blue blue” are classic cheers that can be heard at every game.  Currently ranked #5 in California and #29 nationally, our football team has made football games the place to be on a Friday night.  Before when you heard Westlake Village, Oaks Christian football and Jimmy Clausen popped into your mind.  Now, you should be thinking about Westlake football.  Just since I have graduated, we have a new quarterback, new league, and we beat Oaks in our first ever match up!
Conejo Valley Days:
This is the closest thing we have to a county fair and is a hot commodity for all families (and middle schoolers) around Westlake. There are tons of rides, such as Chicago Loop, boardwalk games, and did I mention funnel cake?! It only rolls around once a year so if you want to go, you only have a few days to check out the closest thing to country that Westlake offers.
Surf and Snowboard in One Day:
You really can go from sea to snow in one day. Wake up early and take the 20-minute drive down Kanan Road to Malibu to surf the California coast.  Hang out with some bros in Vans and t-shirts (two layered on top of each other, of course), then hope in your car and drive two hours to Big Bear Mountain to shred.  You can experience the real perks of living in Westlake.  Even if you don’t surf, I still recommend taking a trip down to Zuma Beach to Tower 7 to soak in the California sunshine.
Whether it’s seeing goats in the Westlake High School moat or wearing Burger King crowns as seniors for the Homecoming rally, there is so much more to Westlake than what meets the eye. You never know how great home is until you’ve moved three thousand miles away. Â
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Sources:
http://www.westlakehighschoolfootball.com/?p=1805
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Photo Sources:
http://fastfood.ocregister.com/files/2008/09/yogurtland_closeup1.jpg
http://www.vcstar.com/photos/galleries/2009/dec/11/westlake-wins-northern-division-championship/6415/