While I love going to school in North Carolina, I've noticed how much people don't know about the state I live in; Florida. When it came time for everyone to leave for the summer, people were telling me how jealous they were that I was going to be spending three months in the Florida sun. Sure, Florida is super hot the entire summer, but it's not exactly what you may think. Instead of enjoying nice, fun, sunny days during the summer, that's rarely the case. Unless you enjoy harsh thunderstorms and dripping in sweat just by walking to your car, a Florida summer is not what it seems.

Calling Florida 'The Sunshine State' is only partially true. Yes, it is sunny here all the time. However, the slogan 'The Sunshine State' makes it sound like Florida is a paradise. But there are plenty of things that I can't do during the summertime that plenty of people in other states can. For example, I can't go outside for a run unless I want to wake up at about 5:00 a.m. before the sun rises. Don't even think about going outside when the sun is in the sky. Not only is the heat index always in the triple digits, but it will constantly feel like you're breathing in water because of how humid it is. This summer, I'm sticking to my treadmill.

While Florida is supposed to be known for its beautiful beaches, it's almost impossible to get a good beach day. EVERY afternoon, usually around one or two, thunderstorms roll in. They don't last a long time, but they usually come with super heavy downpours, loud thunder, and lots of lightning. Rain can come out of nowhere when you live in Florida. There have been times when it seems to be perfectly sunny and clear outside. But 5 minutes later, you have to take shelter from the downpours. This is also the worst when you're driving. Rain plus Florida drivers usually make for a giant disaster. There have been multiple times when I'm literally driving through a river when I'm on my way home from work! So when I'm back in North Carolina for school and I hear people talk about how 'unpredictable Boone weather is', I usually just bite my lip and let them complain.

You know who else really seems to love 'The Sunshine State'? Reptiles and bugs. Sometimes, if I take my dog outside, I have to be alert and look to make sure there are no snakes in our yard or on the street. While snakes are common for Florida, the reptile that takes over the entire state of Florida during the summer are lizards. They are everywhere and they are impossible to escape from. However, the worst part about a Florida summer is all the bugs that decide to come out. Every year, I swear I discover at least five new bug species in my own backyard. Trust me, dealing with all the animals is not the Florida paradise everybody thinks it is.

While I think Florida would be a fun place to vacation during the summer, living in 'The Sunshine State' is a whole different story. Don't be jealous of my rainy and scorching summer.