I was born and raised in Tennessee. Now that I go to college in Wisconsin, I've had to reckon with the fact that Midwest winters are a whole different beast from whatever "winter" we get in the South. The 2016-17 winter is surely the first real winter I've experienced, and here's a list of all the crazy things that happen when you have your first Midwestern winter.
1. Having to buy your first winter coat that costs way too much.
2. Dealing with both friends and strangers who keep telling you "Welcome to the Midwest."
3. Realizing lake effect is a thing.
4. Getting salt stains ON EVERYTHING.
5. The lake effect wind making you tear up and the tears freeze on your face.
6. Every part of your body going numb within five minutes of being outside.
7. Learning how to walk on a solid sheet of ice.
8. Falling down despite your best efforts.
9. Constantly forgetting or losing your gloves, or having to take them off to use your phone.
10. How difficult it can be to put your backpack on over your coat.
11. Wanting to give up on it and just not go to class all day.
12. Asking all your native Midwestern friends for advice.
13. And that one friend that just laughs at your struggles to adapt.
14. But despite all the bad things, you're still glad you're here.
