Why You Should Choose San Diego Over LA and San Francisco

About me

Hi! My name is Sung Ju, and I was a student at CEL Santa Monica. I am currently doing an internship here at CEL Downtown as a kind of government scholarship program. I’m thoroughly satisfied with my work, as I have the opportunity to make friends from various countries and learn new tasks simultaneously. I believe CEL is the best language school for those who want to experience the charm of California while learning English in the USA. Let me tell you about my travelogue during my period of studying and interning.

Santa Monica - Great place to discover Los Angeles and California

I was a student at CEL Santa Monica for 2 months, and this is my third month of doing an internship at CEL San Diego. I lived in Sawtelle, which is only a 25-minute bus ride away from CEL Santa Monica. Compared to CEL Downtown, it is smaller but more friendly because I could be friends with everyone there. That’s why I was always busy hanging out with many friends there and I still keep in touch with them. My teacher, Ray, was a really good teacher. He even made a birthday cake himself whenever a student had a birthday. I think I could easily adjust there because of the supportive teachers and friends. During this time, I was able to visit many places in California due to the advantageous location of Los Angeles. As you know, Los Angeles is the center of California, which made it easy to explore the area while studying English in the USA. I could enjoy 100% of California, not only through activities that CEL offers to students in LA but also by traveling to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree National Park during weekends with my friends.

My time in San Diego

Now, during my internship in San Diego, I can enjoy the advantages of San Diego's location as well. I could explore not only California but also Tijuana, Mexico. Especially, my trip to San Francisco this time was truly amazing. San Francisco was a place I really wanted to visit before leaving the USA because it's a high-tech city that includes Silicon Valley. I have many fond memories from there because I could feel a new vibe while exploring the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Painted Ladies, Sausalito, and more. San Francisco had a completely different vibe from the iconic atmosphere of LA and the relaxed ambiance of San Diego. During my 4-day stay, I felt like San Francisco was a city positioned somewhere between New York and LA. If you plan to visit San Francisco, I recommend you try “Tartine Bakery,” which is just located in San Francisco. You have to go early in the morning to taste the famous and unique menu there because I had a limitation of choosing from the menu when I arrived there at 1 PM. I recommend the banana cream tart.

San Diego is my favorite city, and I consider it the finest city because I can feel the warm California sun and chill out surrounded by many oceans. It is not only me who is fulfilling their hope to feel the California vibe. You will not regret studying at CEL because you can truly enjoy the western part of the USA and immerse yourself in the culture while learning English in the USA.