What is it like to live in West Covina? To put it simply, it's a "pretty decent city to settle in."

However, it's not all great, nor is it a difficult place to live. There are clear pros and cons, so knowing them in advance can make adapting much easier.

First, let's talk about the positives. It's surprisingly convenient for Koreans to live here.

There are many Koreans living around West Covina, including in Rowland Heights, Walnut, Covina, and Diamond Bar, so accessing Korean markets, restaurants, hospitals, and churches is not difficult. If you need to buy Korean food in a hurry or require assistance in Korean, most issues can be resolved. This environment provides significant psychological comfort for those who are not familiar with English in the early stages of immigration.

The living infrastructure is also well-established. With shopping malls and large stores like Costco, Target, and Walmart nearby, grocery shopping is convenient, and the freeway access makes it easy to travel to LA or Orange County. Additionally, being part of LA County makes it relatively easy to access public support programs like Medi-Cal and CalFresh, as well as various immigrant support services.

That said, there are downsides as well. The biggest drawback is transportation. A car is almost essential in West Covina. Buses do run, but the intervals are long, and it takes a lot of time to reach your destination. Without a driver's license or a car, life can feel quite frustrating.

Housing prices and rent are also not insignificant. They have increased significantly compared to the past, so if your income is not sufficient in the early stages of immigration, it can be a burden.

Another issue is the tendency to stay within the Korean community. While sharing information and helping each other among Koreans is a great advantage, it can also reduce opportunities to use English.

To adapt more quickly to American society and find a good job, studying English and participating in local community activities can be beneficial.

When I think of West Covina, I feel it's a "great city to settle in when you first arrive in the U.S." It's not the overly complicated downtown LA, nor is it a place lacking in Korean infrastructure. Korean markets are close, life is convenient, and safety is relatively stable.

Ultimately, there is no perfect city anywhere. However, if you want to gradually start your life in America with your family, I believe West Covina can be a very good option.