It’s mid-January last year and I am fighting below-zero weather with lots of layers and complaints. Anyone who grew up with the cold can relate to the snow, the ice, and the harsh winds that come to their hometowns for a few months each year. We are utterly adjusted to frozen toes and stuffy noses, and then opportunity comes around to move somewhere warmer: college. Suddenly, we are thrust into areas where 50 degrees is now considered “cold” and a different, relaxed sort of winter exists. The weak winter weather comes as a part of the culture shock college kids who leave their hometowns experience. So, for all the Midwesterners who left the middle and all the Northerners who headed down South, here are 11 moments you will definitely relate to.
1. Not having to bring all your bulky winter clothes
Packing just got a whole lot easier, lighter, and better.
2. Expecting to be able to go to the beach every weekend, regardless of the season
Bikinis year round. Surfing year round. Actually enjoying the outdoors Y-E-A-R-R-O-U-N-D.
3. Wearing shorts while everyone else is decked out in long pants and jackets
Your roommate thinks your sundress in this weather is psycho, but really she is the crazy one in mittens who needs to recognize the fact that this dress is okay and those hand-warmers are unnecessary.
4. When school gets cancelled for less than an inch of snow
And then there isn't enough snow to effect anything. Shopping day!
5. Not having to defrost your car ever
You just gained 10 minutes each morning, and the feeling in your toes is back to stay all day errr day.
6. When virtually none of your friends can ski or snowboard
It's time to face the fact that that Rocky Mountain ski trip you planned just is not happening.
7. When you are hoping for a white Christmas and nobody can relate
I question your Christmas spirit for this. Do you recognize this movie? Have you even seen snow?
8. Not knowing how to spring break because you aren’t trying to escape the cold
Cabo? The other coast? Ski trip... oh wait. I can't even.
9. Still catching that nasty winter cold even though it’s not real winter weather
The runny nose and cold are virtually inescapable.
10. Listening to locals complain about how "cold" it is
Especially this one because this is literally the worst. We know what cold actually is -- 45 degrees is not freezing.
