I am a 22-year-old born in Florida, but raised in New York. Elementary school, middle school, high school and even college were all spent on the 118 mile strip known as Long Island.

This island, as well as the short over an hour long train ride into New York City, was my home. However, after I graduated from Stony Brook University I was handed a one-way plane ticket to Boca Raton, Florida and a set of luggage. I was told to cut my wardrobe in half and get ready for a new adventure.

In two short weeks I said goodbye to all my friends, my childhood house and would find myself standing alone in the middle of Long Island MacArthur Airport. I had two bags containing enough clothes for a few months, a tote with all my electronics and tears streaming down my face.

I know what you are thinking, “If you were so sad and loved New York that much, why leave?”

Part of it was to advance my career and the other part was for my family.

I was offered an internship in West Palm that I could not turn down and Florida is a medium sized news market, which means it would be easier to get a job there than New York City.

When it comes to my family, my sister has lived in Florida for the past five years and my parents are moving down next week.

So as a recent grad with no romantic ties to the snow or anyone for that matter, it seemed like the perfect time to say goodbye to the Big Apple and hello to the Sunshine State.

I might have been a little naive to think that it was going to be all sunshine and rainbows when I stepped off that plane, but literally and metaphorically, it rained everyday for my first two weeks here.

However, insert some corny saying about dancing in the rain or showers bringing flowers, eventually things started working out. I even learned a thing or two... maybe even five:

1. Cutting your wardrobe in half is devastating, but sometimes needed. Let’s be real, snow boots are not needed in Florida no matter how cute they were.
2. How to pump gas- apparently Florida doesn’t have full serve down here.
3. The Starbucks app definitely belongs under the “lifestyle” category on your phone now that you don’t have a meal plan
4. It is going to rain in South Florida almost every afternoon around 1:30. It’s like science or something.
5. Starting over is terrifying, but exciting at the same time.

While it’s only been a month, there is still more adjusting to do. Now i’m trying to figure out how to adult, make friends, cook, intern and fit in with the southern, bronze goddess lifestyle of Florida.