Having lived in South Florida for a little more than a month, there are quite a few things I now believe to be true.
1) Christian rap is hard to get used to. And yet, I really like it. When my supervisor Tony took me to the airport after my first week in Florida, he asked me if I knew any Christian rap. I obviously said no. The closest I had come to knowing any Christian rap was the Kirk Franklin energizer. Well, on youth nights, this is the praise music we listen to. I find it funny to think about my home church and how the addition of "praise music," aka an acoustic guitar, was a huge step. I wonder how they would react to our Friday night worship services. The first Friday night experience was, intense, to say the least. I found out just how much of a "frozen chosen" white girl I am. Well, I found out that, and the fact that I cannot dance, no matter how amazing I THINK I am, I have to face the facts. Black people can MOVE! And I cannot.
2) Race is in your face down here. Miami obviously has a great mixture of races all attempting to co exist. Sometimes that doesn't go so smoothly. But regardless, it is ok to talk about it. The first week I was at work, I was teased for being white. I have a good sense of humor and knew I was being teased, but my boss was so worried I would be offended because there are very few places in the United States where people can talk so openly about race. I am one of the only white people at my job. And I constantly find reasons to realize this on a daily basis.
3) Bob Schneider's new album Lovely Creatures happens to be the current soundtrack to my life. Not only is it just a decent album, it brings back good memories from this summer. It also reminds me to look into the future. Two issues I am currently struggling with. No matter how much I love Florida, it is hard to be consistently reminded that I need to be looking forward into the future because this is only a temporary fix for me being jobless and homeless.
4) Black people's hair is the coolest! When I was a little girl I used to tell my parents that I when I grew up I wanted to have a black baby. Why did I say this? I was fascinated with the texture of their hair. I am not even really sure where this fascination began, considering Wimberley had approximately 5 black people in it when I was a kid. They were all in one family, and oddly enough, all named Patrick. (Or Patricia.) Had I been in my parent's shoes, I am pretty sure I would not have been able to keep a straight face or take me seriously in the least. But, I think you also would have had to know me as a child to get the full effect of this request. My parents, being the wonderful people that they are, felt the need to acknowledge this desire. Therefore, the next Christmas I received as a gift from Santa, Addy, the black American Girl doll. Now, fifteen years later, I am still fascinated. I have learned so much within a month about "black hair." For instance, weave. The incredible phenomenon of fake hair. Girls get their hair "did" every few weeks. At least that what it seems like. Every Monday at least one of my girls has new weave in. They wear shower caps when it rains to protect their weave, and it comes in a variety of colors; red, pink, and bright yellow being the most popular. What is even more ridiculous is that to get your weave done, especially if you get "micro braids" (very tiny braids), it takes hours upon hours of sitting and having your hair pulled. We're talking three different sessions, each about eight or nine hours long. I need me some weave. I asked if they made weave in my color and my girls told me "yes, but you can't handle the pain." That's the other thing about weave. Apparently it itches and hurts like crazy and you cannot itch it or it'll get messed up. So, instead, these girls just go around smacking themselves in the head because it makes it itch less.
5) South Florida drivers are the absolute worst drivers in all of America. And in most of Europe as well. And that's saying a lot, considering I feel as if I almost died multiple times in Italian vehicles. Everyday on the road I am reminded of the Seinfeld sketch where he discusses Florida being the only state where the "eventual left" is a legal turn. "We ride low and we drive slow!" Maybe Uncle Pauly should move down here. Seriously though, I have never lived in a city with people so full of road rage. If you pause, even just to move your foot from the brake to the gas pedal at a red light, you will be honked at. When a light turns green, however, you should hesitate because the person coming at you will run their red light. At night, everyone uses their brights. There is no courtesy of turning your lights down when you come up behind another car. I don't know, maybe they only make bright lights in Florida. If you are following someone, no matter how close you get behind them, they will not move over. Even if they are going slower than the lowest possible speed posted in the fast lane, you will always have to find a way around them. It's like an odd power struggle where South Floridians see who can be ruder on the highway. Not to mention "flipping someone the bird" seems to be the international sign for "good morning!" in these parts. I never considered myself to be a bad driver, however South Florida would disagree.
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