From Perú to Los Angeles
Hi everyone! My name is Franco, I’m an architect from Lima, Perú, and I recently started my J-1 experience in Los Angeles. After studying architecture, I worked in Peru mainly in architecture and interior design. I gained experiencie working with interior spaces, custom furniture, technical drawings, 3D modeling and renderings. When I started to looking for an international experience, I wanted something that could help me grow professionally. That’s how I ended up joining to the Architect-US program. After several months of preparing my documents, working on my portfolio, interviews and going through the visa process, I finally made it to LA.
Arriving in Los Angeles
I arrived in Los Angeles at the end of August, and honestly, the first few days were a mix of excitement and trying to figure everything out. Coming from Lima, LA feels very different. It’s huge, everything is spread out, and you quickly realize that you need to organize your day around transportation and distances. My first days were mostly about getting settled, finding my way around the city and preparing for my first day at the office. At the same time, it was exciting because this was something I had been planning for a long time. After all the paperwork and waiting, suddenly I was actually here.
Starting at IndiDesign
I’m currently working at IndiDesign, an architecture and interior design studio. One of the things that surprised me the most during my first weeks was the intensity of the work. I knew working in the U.S. would be demanding, but experiencing it directly is different. The pace is fast, there are many things happening at the same time, and there is a strong focus on deadlines and details. I’ve also been surprised by how projects are organized and managed. Seeing how the team coordinates different tasks and project stages has been a very valuable learning experience. Even though the work is demanding, the work environment has been really good. Everyone has been welcoming and willing to help, which makes a big difference when you are starting in a new country and working in another language.
Exploring
During this experience, I want to improve my understanding of architecture and interior design in the U.S. Outside of work, I also want to take some time to explore Los Angeles and get to know the city better. I’m especially interested in visiting some of its historic places and interesting architectural projects. Coming from an architecture background, I think it would be great to see in person some of the buildings and places that I have only seen in photos or online.
For now, I’m happy to finally be here and excited about everything I can learn.
