There are many unique places that students are flocking home to for the summer. However, there is one place that is weird, unique and still somehow amazing. That place is Jacksonville, Florida. And to be more specific…. Duval County.
You know you're from Jacksonville when…
1. You see statues of manatees and jaguars all throughout town on your drive home. They are everywhere. Literally, everywhere.
2. You find that you have a ridiculous amount of Jacksonville Jaguars paraphernalia even though the team isn't that good, but you've got Jags pride, many jerseys and at least one foam finger. #DTWD (Duval 'Til We Die)
3. You understand the phrase “Dirty Duval" and all that it entails.
4. You think of The St. John's Town Center as Jax's “rodeo drive" and when a big new store is built, it might as well be front-page news. (Nordstrom was the highlight of 2014)
5. People can't drive. You think I'm kidding, but I swear the only criteria to get a license at the DMV is to recite the alphabet or something because people CANNOT DRIVE HERE. Remember when your mom taught you defensive driving, and told you to “drive like everyone else is crazy"…that applies here.
6. Your fun fact is that you're from the largest city in the US land-wise. (Or at least it used to be….THANKS A LOT ALASKA.)
7. You know everything about everyone. Despite the fact that our city is huge, it feels like a small town. Everyone has at least heard of “such and such family" or what happened to ______.
8. The weather is completely and reliably unpredictable. It will be 80 degrees and sunny outside at 11 am and cloudy and rainy at 3 pm. Floridians always have an umbrella and sunglasses with them because you never know.
9. You can get anywhere in 20 minutes…. Jax Beach, Ponte Vedra, Ortega, Riverside, Southside, Downtown and anywhere else you can imagine.
10. You totally fan-girled when this song came out. Don't lie, you know you did. #DUVALDIDDY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR76QJPSJQ0
The city of Jacksonville, FL (Duval County in particular) is just a weird, but wonderful place to live and grow up, and despite all of the craziness I'm glad to call it home.