It’s syllabus week so you know what that means: introductions. Over my years of schooling, I have realized (without much contemplation) that there are three main questions every professor asks you to share for the class. What’s your name, where are you from and what did you do over break.

Being from Minnesota, that simple question turns into 10000000 more.

To name a few…

1. Isn’t it, like, really cold?

I mean yeah, the winters suck when the windshield temperature is way below -30* but have you ever heard of Minnesotan summers? Let me tell ya, there is nothing cold about them.

2. So you’re pretty much from Canada then.

I mean, a little?

3. I heard everyone is nice there?

People wave a lot, does that count?

4. Do you only shop at the Mall of America?

No. MOA is not a scene I enjoy taking part in other than a very, very, very rare occasion. There is a million stores and a million people. Pretty sure if I was to wear my FitBit and walk around the entire mall, I would hit 10,000 steps before I the second floor.

5. Why do you hate the Packers so much?

Because we just do.

SKOL VIKES!

6. There aren’t actually 10,000 lakes.

There are actually 11,842 lakes. With 90,000 miles of lakeshore, Minnesota has more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined. But who’s counting?

7. What do you even do there?

Let’s see.

Well there’s a lot of water so with that you can do quite a lot. In the summer you can boat, water ski, wake board, tube, knee board, jet ski, swim, paddle board, kayak, you name it!

Even in the winter there are still loads of things to do on the lakes. The Polar Plunge if you really want to swim, ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country ski, sled.

Bonfires all year around.

Ski, snowboard, snow-tube, sled.

Hike, rollerblade, bike, run, whatever you please on the beautiful trails all over the state like the Dakota Trail.

Apple orchards, haunted houses, pumpkin patches, the Zombie Pub Crawl.

If you're sick you can visit the best doctors at the best hospital in the USA, the Mayo Clinic.

Of course there’s the MOA that includes a massive movie theater, thousands of restaurants including Bubba Gump, even more shops, UnderWater World, Nickelodeon Universe, the Water Park of America, Lego Land, the American Girl Store, hotels.

But there’s also a lot of other shopping options including crazy cool boutiques and antique shops in Stillwater, downtown Wayzata, Excelsior, Two Harbors.

Downtown Minneapolis is full of shows (adult and family friendly), artwork i.e. the famous Cherry on a Spoon, museums, events like Twin Cities Pride and the Holidazzle, Sex World, food on food on food.

St. Paul where our gorgeous capital building is along with the old feel of MN including the incredible houses on Summit.

Minnesota Zoo or Como Park Zoo or UnderWater World.

Music is a must in Minnesota and there’s a lot of it so concerts and festivals are another option.

Then there is the snow which holds vast amounts of options.

Gambling is always fun and you only have to be 18 to do it! Canterbury, Mystic Lake, outside of random gas stations.

You could check out a game at the Target Field and Center, US Bank Stadium, XCel Energy Center.

HOCKEY!

I could go on forever.

8. Why do eat fried food so much?

Because the Minnesota State Fair.

9. Wait, say Minnesota again.

You betcha: Minnesoooota.

Okay fine, I guess I do have a bit of an accent. But no, not everyone talks like they do in the movie Fargo.

Don't ya know?