2400 Fifth Avenue. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
I have lived off campus for three semesters now, a choice I made after deciding to study abroad as a junior in Milan, Italy. I knew it would be tricky to find a room on campus when I came back halfway through the year, so instead, I packed up and headed to Banker's Hill.
Banker's Hill lies between Balboa Park, the Gaslamp District, Little Italy and Hillcrest. It borders four of the best spots in San Diego, but it is not as bustling, so it is free from bad traffic and there is enough parking. Although the occasional parade can cause closures, the events are entirely worth the constricted parking.
I will admit I sometimes miss the convenience of living on campus, but being able to experience San Diego from another angle has been amazing. Ironically, I have actually ended up spending more time on main campus than I did when I lived within walking distance.
The drive to and from USD only takes about 10 minutes, which encourages me to stay on campus from the time I arrive in the morning until my last class in the evening.
Without the option to run back to my room in between breaks, I find ways to fill the lapses in my schedule. Whether that means grabbing a bite at Bert's, relaxing behind Science and Technology or catching up on homework in the library.
When I am not busy at school, I am able to enjoy all the perks of living in such a great community. Balboa Park is one block away from my apartment and it provides constant free entertainment and hosts events throughout the year. In fact, there are plenty of great festivals that I most likely would have never heard of if I did not live close enough to wander over whenever boredom struck.
In a single year, I've experienced just about every type of festival a neighborhood could offer: from the really popular "Christmas on the Prado" to the not-so-well-known annual Tartan Day celebration-hey, when else are you going to see kilts, bagpipes and haggis in San Diego?; from the St. Patrick's Day beer gardens to the ultra-mellow music performances geared toward members of the older community. Once I was even asked to take part in the making of an indie flick being filmed a block away from my apartment.
Banker's Hill is a prime San Diego spot. Like I said, Balboa Park is mere steps away, and it is just minutes from the Gaslamp District and Hillcrest. There's always something to do downtown and Hillcrest is great for visiting used record shops and book stores. And, of course, both boast exceptional clubs and bars.
Arguably the best perk of all, the tastiest-and cheapest-taco shop that I've found in San Diego is just a few blocks away from me. It is far less commercialized than Santana's or Roberto's, too. Taco Rey is by far the best taco shack that I have been to.
There are also fantastic coffee shops, such as Café Bassam, which is a very cool place that serves great coffee. Along Fifth Avenue there are boutiques, shops and restaurants lining the street and scattered throughout the area.
Simply put, living off campus has presented me with an array of adventures and discoveries. Additionally, I'm just a short drive away from friends living all over the city and mere minutes from campus.
