Hey everyone~ Today, I want to share a personal story.

Recently, I've been asked the question, "Why Victorville?" so many times that it's stuck in my ears. People say, "If you went all the way to California, you should live near LA's Koreatown, enjoy some tteokbokki, and order jjajangmyeon. Why are you stuck in that faraway desert city?" They ask with a mix of concern and confusion.

But you know, as I live my life, I see that everyone has their own circumstances, and I've come to realize why this place is great. Today, I want to open up and share the real 'human' reasons why I've settled in this desert city.

1. A place where my wallet can breathe, realistic costs

Living as an immigrant in the U.S. may seem glamorous on the outside, but once you get here, every day feels like a suffocating battle with money. The first reason is definitely the realistic 'costs.'

Even though this is still California, housing prices are less than half of those in LA. Right now, trying to find a two-bedroom condo in LA makes you sigh, but here, you can buy a home for around $250,000 to $300,000. You can even find single-family homes with yards for about $350,000 to $450,000.

 In LA, you struggle to pay over $2,500 a month just for a one-bedroom, but here, you can manage with $1,300 to $1,600.

For first-generation Korean immigrants starting from scratch, this huge price difference is a crucial factor for survival. Living a life where you have nothing left in your bank account after paying rent is exhausting. The government doesn't solve this for you. It's a reality where I have to make smart, rational choices. Saving money here allows me to dream about the future, and I remind myself every day that my choice was not wrong.

2. My own space that feels liberating and quality of life

The second reason is the healing that comes from having ample 'space.' When I lived in a cramped apartment in LA's Koreatown, I could see the wall of the building across from me as soon as I opened the window, and the noise from the upstairs neighbors often kept me up at night. Parking was a hassle, requiring me to circle the block multiple times.

But in Victorville, living in a house with a yard is no longer a dream from a drama. It's just an ordinary reality.

Waking up in the morning and watering the lettuce and peppers I planted in my little garden is a fun experience. On weekends, I invite friends over for a barbecue party in the yard, and the kids have a space to run around freely without worry. This is the best luxury I enjoy at a much lower cost compared to LA. When I open the door and see the wide sky and open landscape, I feel all the stress from my immigrant life wash away.

3. Calm and warm neighbors, and a safe living environment

The third reason I want to mention is the 'quiet and safe living environment.' Of course, I know that if you search online, the crime statistics here aren't perfectly clean and flawless. There's definitely a rough feel unique to desert cities.

But if you look at downtown LA, what do you see? The increasingly serious homeless problem, the unbearable traffic congestion everywhere, and the constant noise can be exhausting. Compared to that, the living environment in Victorville is much calmer and more relaxed.

Especially for Korean families raising children, this tranquility is highly valued. Moreover, while the Korean community here isn't large, it's even tighter because of that. Every Sunday, we gather around the church to ask, "Did anything happen this week?" and share food, helping each other out. Knowing the value of people deepens our connections. You can't imagine how comforting this strong network is when you're away from home.

4. Does living in the desert mean going hungry? Smart accessibility

Finally, I want to address the misconception about 'accessibility.' Many people think that living in the middle of the desert means you can't find any Korean food.

That's absolutely not true! If you drive down for 40 to 50 minutes, you'll reach the large H Mart or 99 Ranch Market in Rancho Cucamonga. This means you're not cut off from buying Korean groceries.

Making a routine of driving down once or twice a week for groceries while enjoying the breeze is no problem for cooking Korean food. The time spent driving down the endless road with my favorite music blasting has become a small healing time in my life.

In the end, it's all about where you place the weight of your life.

To wrap up this long story, while others may see it as a desolate desert city, for me, Victorville is a grateful place that allows me to build my assets as an early immigrant, educate my children comfortably, and live a quiet life away from the noise of a complicated world.

You can't have it all. If I can gain my family's peace and a secure future by giving up a bit of the glamorous city lights, isn't that a pretty good deal? If you're feeling overwhelmed by the weight of immigrant life, I hope you take a moment to think about what your family truly needs, setting aside others' opinions. Victorville can be a warm and realistic answer for Korean families grappling with such concerns.