Meet Mukesh Chumber from Bedfordshire who moved to LA 16 years ago to pursue film.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
My father got a job out here and then eventually moved us all to the USA. To be honest, I’ve actually spent most of life living in the USA but still view myself as an English person.
What do you miss most from home?
I miss the English people and their sense of humor. There’s a lot of English people out here but it’s mostly the older ones. I often watch British comedies to fill in the void. Americans aren’t bad but it does feel as if they take everything way too seriously.
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since?
When I moved out here my first impression was that LA was ugly. Everything just looked bland and dull compared to the UK. You never really see people walking the streets and it often just feels soulless. There also seems to be a lack of historical sights. No matter where I go in Britain it feels like something important had occurred where I was standing. I suppose it does make sense since the Kingdom of England was created in 927 while USA only got its start in 1776. My opinion hasn’t really changed much on the subject over the years.
What do you find the biggest difference is living here versus Bedfordshire?
Well in California, you basically need a car to go anywhere which isn’t the case in the UK. It’s definitely a lot sunnier here than in Britain too. Another major difference here is the cuisine. Sure, there are British pubs here where you can buy British food, but it doesn’t taste the same here.
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
All the spots I’d recommend seeing such as Disneyland or Santa Monica are well known. There’s a British store on Thousand Oaks Blvd called Hare and Hounds which is really good. It’s owned by a wonderful woman from Glasgow and she even has my picture on her wall. I’m not sure if it qualifies as unknown since it is advertised in this paper itself. I always do shop there and can definitely say it is worth a visit.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
The USA is a high-risk-high-reward. If you can make it rich you can truly get anything you want here. However if you’re poorer it can be harder, especially with the lack of universal healthcare. One thing I do recommend is that if you want to move across the pond then be sure to get your European traveling out of the way, as traveling from LA to Europe is expensive.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
That thinking England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland can win an international football tournament is like believing Santa Claus is real. At one point you just have to grow out of it. Of course, I’m only joking. The one thing I can recommend is that with the way everything has gone digital in recent decades not to lose touch with family or friends across the pond. You’ll never know when you may need to return home or if someone else wants to become a Brit in LA too.
Lastly, how can we find out more about you? Are you working on anything at the moment?
I am in the Brits in LA Facebook page as “Mukesh Chumber” and I have a website of short films I made for university. Find it at vimeo.com/user10635692.
Attached is a photo of me with the English flag at a pub in Westlake Village.
