How SoCal's bright colors made KPCC listener Ranjana feel at home

Purple blossoms appear as southern California's Jacaranda trees go into full bloom on May 19, 2004 in South Pasadena, California. The subtropical Jacarandas are common throughout much of southern California, growing as tall as 30- to 90-feet.

Ranjana Kishore comes from a part of southern India that's vibrant with colors. When she visited Pasadena for the first time, she was taken aback by how stunning it could be, too.

NO PLACE LIKE L.A. IS OUR SERIES THAT ASKS L.A. TRANSPLANTS AND IMMIGRANTS: "WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU FELT THAT LOS ANGELES WAS TRULY HOME?"

THIS IS THE STORY OF Ranjana Kishore IN Arcadia WHO'S ORIGINALLY FROM Southern India.

I moved here in 2002 for my first job. Where I come from, the colors, the sights and the sounds are very bright.

The gulmohars, also known as the flame trees, they have these bright red canopies.

So when I first interviewed here for my job I had some extra time, so I was walking on Lake Avenue in Pasadena.

I suddenly looked up and I saw the purple of the jacaranda trees in Pasadena. They sort of reminded me of those trees back home. They had these bright, light purple canopies.

Also, the bright orange-yellow of the bird-of-paradise flowers and the red roof tiles, the citrus scent in the air – just these bright colors reminded me of home.

It just came to me that this was home.

TELL US YOUR STORY, TOO. IF YOU'RE A TRANSPLANT OR IMMIGRANT, WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU THOUGHT TO YOURSELF, "L.A. FEELS LIKE HOME, NOW?"