Both of my parents moved to Miami, Florida at the age of five and have not moved since then. Whenever someone finds out that I go to college in Boston, their first question is "How do you go from warm, sunny Florida to the tundra of Massachusetts?". It is certainly a drastic change, but less so when you consider my family roots and the inexplicably beautiful seasons that occur all throughout the North. I have visited places like Colorado, New York City, Boston, and North Carolina on trips, yet not for prolonged periods of time. Spending the fall here is so different and incredible to watch; the leaves begin to change into varying reds, yellows, oranges, and greens before they sadly fall to the ground to usher in winter.
My first visit to campus, during my junior year, occurred on a gloomy, rainy day in April, but it did not change my opinion. For my parents, however, they had their doubts that I would be able to brace this change to such cold weather, but it is still invigorating and in my opinion, can be more pleasant than a typical Miami day in April (after living in the same state for all of my life). After all of the stress of college applications, there is one question that I still get asked: "Are you ready? Do you think you can handle the cold?". I am and I can!
As September rolls in, the leaves slowly shift in color and to me, it is more than just a natural, everyday phenomenon; it is magical. I am living in those commercials of the children frolicking into previously neatly raked piles of leaves, swooshing some leaves and moving others into the air. From fall to spring in Miami, there are small bursts, albeit unpredictable, of perfectly brisk weather; nonetheless, it does not compare to what fall is like in the North and the overall visual experience. Everyone's outfits are stylish, light jackets are used as much as possible before breaking out the puffy coats, and the Instagram-worthy pictures double.
I love getting up in the morning and checking the weather to see what kind of day it will be, knowing that one day it can be a nice 50 degrees and 19 degrees with snow on the ground the next. The days can be unpredictable, but to me it is a surprise every day and keeps me on my toes. So far, I love this change in location and going through four seasons, but who knows where I will be next?
