I have lived in the Delta for basically my entire life and for those of who don't know where the Delta is, here are a few simple facts for you. The Delta is located in the South, more specifically in the northwest part of Mississippi that lies between both the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers. It's also a very fertile land that mainly consists of rural towns and farms/plantations. Yes, we grow cotton, but we also grow food like corn, wheat, etc. Yes, there're tractors everywhere and hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities are a big thing.

But that's not what I want to list here. No, these are facts that I'm sure not everyone thinks about. I'm talking mainly to those who aren't originally from the Mississippi Delta and have only just scratched the surface of what makes the Delta, well, the Delta.

1. It's impossible to escape the heat and humidity.

You cannot escape it. There is no way to get away from it unless you have an amazing AC unit and you never have to leave the house. When summer comes and the afternoon hits, you better have some extra deodorant and an ice bucket nearby if you want to survive. Especially if you work on the farm or outside. Oh, and make sure to bring sunscreen—you're gonna need a lot of it. Trust me.

2. When it rains, get ready to swim.

In case you've might've forgotten, or you hadn't paid attention to in your geography class (because let's face it, looking at a map and studying climates and the like is really boring), the Mississippi Delta is comprised of mainly flat, fertile soil. So, imagine that the Heavens decide to open the flood gates and bring a downpour so strong that it's a miracle we don't all drown. Kinda morbid, right? Sorry about that, but anyway, the point is that whenever there is a strong thunderstorm, tornado, or hurricane—hell, if there is a heavy rain shower, it's going to flood. And, boy, does it flood.

There have been many times where I thought I was going to have to swim to class. I kid you not, I carry my umbrella with everywhere even when it's bright and sunny. You can never trust the weather here in the Delta or what the meteorologist predicts. It can change in the incident and the next thing you know, you're soaking wet making a mad dash to your car, next class, or the dorm.

3. Thunderstorms can easily change to tornadoes.

Now, you know you're from the South and have lived there your entire life when you can sit through a terrible storm with little concern. When I was a child, I was also scared that a tornado would eventually knock over our home and we'd lose everything. My main concern was the fact that I could lose my TV, PS2, and other valuable toys, but now that I'm older, I don't worry too much about it.

To y'all who aren't from here or aren't used to the thunderstorms/tornadoes, I've grown up with them as a looming presence at my back. Yes, I know I sound crazy, but I'm just used to it. My mom, bless her, she gets in such a nervous wreck whenever a bad thunderstorm hits and there's a possibility the three huge trees in our backyard might fall on us. I have to be the sane one, and normally, that includes me curling up in the hallway (at home or at college) with a blanket, pillow, charger, laptop, etc. until the worse is over. Really laid back, right? You can call me crazy, but I have no shame.

4. Yes, we have a winter season.

Despite what people think, we do actually have a winter. A winter that mainly consists of cold rain showers, brisk winds, and lots and lots of ice. On the chance that it's cold enough and weather permitting, we might get a few inches of snow but that's rare. That doesn't change the fact that it can get pretty cold here, and for me who is naturally cold all the time, it's a nightmare. I'm afraid I'll end up a Popsicle and I usually weigh myself down with my heaviest sweatshirt and sweat pants, I have a long sleeve shirt on underneath, thick socks, and maybe some leggings if it's really, really cold.

I don't do cold, y'all. That's like trying to force me to take ice baths for twenty minutes (mind you, I did that for softball back in high school and it was not fun), but after barely an hour, I have to go right back in. It's awful. I hate being cold and if I had my way, I'd crank the heater up until it was close to summer temperatures again.

5. If you've lived in a small town, everyone knows everybody.

Not all towns in the Delta are small, but there are a lot and basically everyone knows everybody. Grandparents who've lived there since they were kids most likely (definitely) know your parents and their parents. The kids you've graduated high school with have been with you since either kindergarten or elementary. The first boyfriend/girlfriend you had, your parents probably know when they were born, who their parents are, who they are as a person, and what extracurricular activities they do (if any) already.

If something happens in town, like a fire, if you don't know what happened there is always someone who knows. It's like a hive of bees or an intricate network of wires. That also means if you're up to no good, your parents have ways to find out.