As summer turns to fall, college students return to school for yet another year of learning. For some of us, that means leaving our home state. As much as I love my school, it is always really hard to leave Washington. Ohio is just really far away and so different from home in so many ways. I am also just super attached to where I live which makes leaving even harder.
As it is my last day at home until November, I have decided to write this article in order to pay tribute to the wonderful evergreen state that I love. So, here are some common truths that only a true Washingtonian would understand:
1. You never forget to tell people you live in Washington STATE.
If I had a dollar for every time someone said "Oh D.C.?" after I told them I live in Washington state I wouldn't need student loans. When I went to a lacrosse tournament in Florida, all the girls we played against automatically assumed that we were from Washington D.C. One of the girls even asked where Washington State was- I kid you not! We were decked out in jerseys that rocked the outline of Washington State, raindrops, and Seattle's signature green and blue colors. However, people still thought we were from D.C. From that tournament on, I never leave out the "state" part.
2. You don't think socks with sandals is weird.
...especially if those sandals are Birkenstocks. If you come to a high school in Washington, you will most likely see a ton of people wearing Birkenstocks. We don't know what it is exactly that makes us love them so much but we don't care. The only thing is Washington is not the warmest place in the world and who wants to wear your cute sandals only for four months of the year? The solution? Pair your Birks with your favorite pair of cute socks.
3. Starbucks has become a sign of civilization.
If you are further then five miles away from a Starbucks you are considered to be in the middle of nowhere. Even if we don't want to admit it, many of us are hidden Starbucks addicts. Sometimes people stand for over an hour to get coffee from the original Starbucks in Pike Place. Within a 2 mile radius of my high school, there were four Starbucks stores. When in Washington, it's not hard to get in your daily coffee fix.
4. You tell people you “live in Seattle” when in reality you live an hour away.
"Oh I live in Washington!" "Where at?" "Lake Tapps!" "Where?" "Seattle". Let's face it, when it comes to Washington, one of the only cities people know is Seattle. For the longest time I thought Seattle was Washington's capital until fourth grade when we took a trip to Olympia (the actual capital) and I have lived here since first grade! Sometimes people in Washington don't even know where I live. So when people ask me where I'm from? Seattle.
5. You know the unspoken rule that you must be a Seahawks fan.
Now I'm not saying that everyone here is a Seahawks fan. But, as many probably know, Seahawks fans can be a little intense and crazy. We are known for having the most annoying fans in the NFL actually. If you are a true Seahawks fan, you FLAUNT it. If not? It may be best to keep quiet unless you want to be vocally abused by those around you.
6. You don't own an umbrella.
This picture is honestly one of the most accurate depictions of Seattle living and everyone knows it. When you are walking around, you do not need an umbrella. When I walk around at school in the rain, people look at me weird for not carrying umbrella. But I just shrug my shoulders cause that's the PNW (Pacific Northwest) for you.
7. You actually do enjoy the rain.
Why do you not need an umbrella if you are a true Washingtonian? Well it's because, even if you may complain that it rains too much, deep down you really do enjoy the rain. The sound of it as it hits the rooftop. The smell of rain on hot pavement. Trees dripping with rain as it pours. There is something magically about it. Yes us Washingtonians are true Pluviophiles.
8. Hiking is your go-to summer activity.
There are so many mountains, waterfalls, and paths that are yet to be discovered by your eyes. I could go on a hike every day for a month and still have 100's of more hikes to do. Washington has so many beautiful sights to offer us. So, when the weather does finally get nice, we all grab our Camelbaks and running shoes and head out the door.
9. You own multiple flannels in a variety of colors.
Wearing a dress? Pair it with a flannel. Jeans? Flannel. Shorts? Flannel. Feeling cold? Wear a flannel over your sweatshirt. Running shorts? Flannel is still the answer. I myself have over 6 different flannels hiding away in my closet. Let me tell you, they go with everything.
10. You feel like you are dying if it reaches over 60 degrees.
So yeah even though we love the rain, we do complain about it every once in awhile. However once it starts getting hot, we complain about that too. As nice is it is to have sunny days for hiking and swimming, when there is a week or more of straight sun we start to pray for some rain. The best way I can describe my relationship with heat? "I am a little Washington flower. I flourish in the rain and wilt in the sun".
11. You understand that Washington is actually the best place ever.
I lived in another state, a different country, and traveled all over both the U.S. and the world and there is no place I love more than Washington. Anyone who lives here will understand. There is something enchanting about this place and it's not Bigfoot or vampires. I know that no matter where I roam, I will always come back. Between the sea and the evergreens, the cherry blossoms and the apple trees, the mountains and the lakes, there is no better place to be.
Washington for now, Washington for life.
