The nearest shorline to Pepperdine is south. It is confusing. If you look on the map you can see where the coast of CA curves. If you stand, looking out to sea, on the Malibu beach you are actually looking south.
Same when you visit Santa Barbara. You look out over the Pacific and you’re looking straight south. It’s very disorienting.
That is strange, but I know what you mean. When I was departing from LAX and looking out the window it was disorienting to be seeing the Pacific Ocean and it wasn’t due west as you normally see it on a map, but it was looking north as you could see the lights along the coastline heading up towards Oxnard-Santa Barbara.
What most people do not realize is that Reno NV is WEST of LA.