...in my own little climate

One of the first things I learned about my roommates as a freshman was where they were from. To my surprise they were both from warm southern states, Texas and Florida. At first I was very jealous that they could tan out by their pool on Christmas Eve, but as the year went on, I realized that I was happier with Indiana climate. Most people will think I'm crazy for saying that, but I have lived in Valparaiso my entire life and could not imagine not having the four seasons. I feel like each season is even more beautiful than the next! What would Christmas be like without waking up to a fresh dusting of snow covering the lights on the trees outside? What would fall be like without the changing of the leaves, or spring without the fresh new flowers in bloom? I love the four seasons of Indiana.

Lauren and Professor Ambrose mentioned that the sky was so much smaller in Indiana, which is something that really got me thinking about landscapes and prospective. The first time I went skiing in Utah, I was astonished by the height and beauty for the mountains. I had never seen real mountains. Our ski hill in Indiana is just that, a hill.I knew mountains were large, but I could have never fathomed they were that big! When you are away from home and then return to your natural climate, your prospective might change a little bit. For example, when my roommate returned home to Texas for fall break last year, she complained about how incredibly hot and humid it was, when in reality the weather was no different than it always was. She had just adapted to the weather in South Bend and was used to the chilly fall breeze and rainy days.

After spending an entire year with two Southern girls, I came to the conclusion that most people like the climate that they grew up in. I personally could never travel to Florida during hurricane season, and they can't understand why -10 degrees doesn't really bother me! Most people get used to the climate they grow up in and feel the most comfortable there.