I recently went on my first trip to the East Coast and I was blown away. Being born and raised in the Bay Area has made me a very proud California boy and along with my pride has come some dumb misconceptions of what New York would be like. Before my trip, I imagined Manhattan to be a big, dirty city with so many hustling people and enough commotion to keep me from feeling really comfortable. Don't get me wrong, I was very excited to go on the trip but my expectations of the friendliness, scenery, and spirit of that city were very skewed. Four fun days in the "Big Apple" not only surpassed my expectations but it mildly altered the way I perceive the world. It clearly showed me that an experience will trump an opinion.