I was over the moon, thrilled, and finally at peace.
It was evening when we arrived in Las Vegas, so there wasn’t much to see other than the usual landmarks. Of course, who could miss the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, proudly displayed along the hallway as we walked toward the exit? Its glowing neon lights and vintage design welcomed us with a sense of excitement and possibility.
Although I was excited to discover what this place truly had to offer, I reminded myself to slow down. “Effe, you’re here now—you have a lifetime to explore everything Las Vegas has in store for you.”
It still feels surreal that I am back here in the States. I asked myself, “Am I really back in America?” Although Las Vegas is not Los Angeles, some things do look familiar and feel like home—but it really isn’t home, if you know what I mean. The palm trees, mom-and-pop stores, the layout of the residential areas—the weather is somewhat the same, but this is the desert, so it is definitely hotter and drier here.
I was telling my friend in LA that it feels somewhat like LA here, but there is something missing that I cannot quite explain. She told me, “Well, it’s the LA vibe that you’re missing.” What that means is the relaxed, sunny, and creative lifestyle, blending beach culture, Hollywood glamour, and casual street style—an outdoorsy, health-conscious, and artistic atmosphere. The palm trees, sunsets, oversized hoodies, sneakers, and sunglasses. Oh yes, I miss the good old days of going to Venice Beach and Santa Monica.
On the other hand, Las Vegas offers locals diverse, year-round activities beyond the Strip, featuring scenic outdoor escapes like Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston, along with access to world-class dining and discounts on shows and attractions.
Now here comes job hunting. Surprisingly, Las Vegas is not a fan of Craigslist—or even Indeed or LinkedIn. Instead, they are big on job fairs, referrals, networking, and even walk-ins—especially for front desk and administrative jobs.
Big international hotels on the Strip prefer walk-ins. In fact, most Vegas hotels prefer direct applications. You can actually just go to a hotel and casually ask for the HR or employment office. They say in Vegas hospitality, face-to-face still helps, especially for entry-level or administrative roles.
Vegas hiring is very competitive, which is why networking is so important. Many roles are filled internally or through referrals. In one of my meetups, they even suggested talking to hotel staff directly—how cool is that? They are more personality-driven, for obvious reasons, since Las Vegas is built on a hospitality and customer service economy.
So, how am I doing so far? Well, so far, so good. It has been a smooth transition. What a journey it has been. Being here in the States feels like bliss—a state of perfect happiness. I am almost oblivious to everything else.
It took a long time for me to get here, but here I am… satisfied, content. I feel safe, and I have found my peace. I am home.
Effe Barker| Journalist 