I once experienced culture shock. We had moved from the Chicago area to Tampa, Florida.
Right in the middle of a cold harsh Midwestern winter, we loaded up vehicles and started the trek to sunny Florida.
The Sunshine State
One of my first impressions of Florida was the light. Everything was so bright … sunlight infused the atmosphere everywhere you went. White sandy patches surrounding every parking lot. Blue water with sunbeams dancing on the waves. White seagulls and egrets. Even the buildings in Tampa all seemed to be big blocks of cement stone in varying shades of cream, white and peach. Flowers abounded and the air smelled heavenly.
Our new subdivision was like a monopoly board of little one-storied pastel stucco houses on carefully laid out streets bearing names like Hiawatha and Minnehaha.
Seriously. Our first home in Tampa was on Hiawatha and my uncle and aunt’s home was on Minnehaha. I am not making that up.
What a contrast!
Imagine living near the old Elgin Watch Factory (a huge dark old multi-storied building) and hilly brick streets, walking two blocks to the old brick historic Lincoln school, October through March with snow boots, snow pants, mittens, hat and the inevitable knitted scarf I was always seeming to lose somewhere. Running home on my lunch hour to find Granny had made tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, gobbling them down, and heading back to school. Sometimes it was beginning to look dark when I walked home after the last class.
In Tampa, I rode my bike eleven blocks in January wearing a fluffy pink angora sweater over my school clothes to a new modern school with outside hallways. I stayed there all day, eating lunch in a cafeteria, and eating such unfamiliar things as Cuban sandwiches and red beans over rice.
An important part of my life.
There have been a lot of changes in my life over the years; but it is safe to say none have been as epic as when I went from being a native Illinoisian to a transplanted Floridian. I lived there nine years and wouldn’t trade a minute for all the adventures I had. It truly was a magical experience. Now, of course, I see God had a plan for our family coming to Florida. Each of us would not be who we are without those years in the Sunshine state.
[My 5 minutes are up!]
Have you been the new kid on the block?
I bet I’m not the only one who has had to adapt to new circumstances. Maybe you didn’t move to a new part of the country; but you had to “fit in” to a new group, school or workplace. Enjoy the wonder of the experience! Yes, there were major differences between my two environments; but perhaps unconsciously I looked forward to what was new. I didn’t look back wishing for the old. I do realize that is much easier to do when you are eleven than when you are a thirty or forty something.
If you are a believer, you know the Lord orders the footsteps of His children. You wouldn’t be going through this experience if it wasn’t in the plan for you. He is never taken by surprise. He is going to bring good from it. Trust Him and see!
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This post was written in response to the prompt, “from,” found at Five Minute Friday, a place I join on the regular to stretch my writing muscles. Our hostess, Kate, took the prompt from a poem by George Ella Lyon, “Where I’m From.” Interestingly, in 2014, I had written my own “Where I’m From” poem, and did not feel I could improve upon it; therefore I’m offering a different perspective, still from my own life.
I hope you enjoy both!
I am sharing this post at the following communities:
You might enjoy reading my previous post: Living a life of blessing, coming and going
I can imagine that was indeed quite a change! That’s how I felt when we went from Alabama to visit Boston a few years ago. It was quite a culture shock. I felt like I had left the country. But it was good for us! 🙂 And we had a delightful time.
It’s good to get shook up once in awhile. I imagine Boston was quite a difference from the South.
Thanks for coming, Lisa.
hahah Lisa!!!! It would be a HUGE culture shock (in more ways that one!!) for us Northeasters to visit Alabama!! WE LOVE BOSTON!!! (even though we live in eastern NYS about 2 hours north of NYC)
Wow, Jerralea, that change would have been pretty impacting on many levels. Going from a place where you had friends and were known to a place and new school where no one knew you . . . yet. I imagine you went from one culture to a very different culture in a variety of ways. I so appreciated what you shared here.
By the way, your ocean picture is beautiful!
Jeanne, this has been on mind this week: What great timing God had when He arranged this! My cousins, brother and I all approached this move with the wonder of a child instead of the angst of a teenager – which so easily could have happened had it happened a few years later.
Thanks! Pictures of the ocean are my favorite!
We moved from the prairie/foothills city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to the small Atlantic coast town of Ocean City, NJ. Believe me, people could tell we weren’t “from around here” at all!
Visiting from FMF#16
Kym, I didn’t even think about the differences in accent! And then there’s local expressions or idioms that would set us apart.
We live about 30 minutes from the old Elgin watch factory. My husband & his friends used to ride past it on their bikes.
Wow, small world! I haven’t been back since we left those many years ago but I understand the neighborhood looks all different.
Thanks for visiting, Barb.
oh wow…Jerralea…i’m guessing that was a wonderful change from those midwestern winters those folks are famous for!! I love your ocean pic. Did you save that from when you lived there? I’ve only flown over Florida. I don’t really haev a desire to go although i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to visit Atlanta (other than the the airport) and the Outer Banks and Savannah. on my bucket list!! I’ve driven THROUGH Illinois but never lived there. I did live for 2 weeks in Missouri. LONG story (and so far from where GOd wanted me!!)
Hi, Faith! Those ocean pics are from visits back home. When I lived there, I had a little instamatic camera that I kept forgetting to get the film developed. Thank the Lord for digital cameras!
That was quite a contrast.
I enjoyed reading about your experience.
Yes, I don’t think I ever experienced a change in environment that contained as many differences as that move. Thank the Lord!
Thanks for coming by!
That was a HUGE change! We moved to this little southern town 30 years ago. It wasn’t a huge change, but I’ve seen people come from the North, from California – and it is a HUGE cultural difference for them. The accent, the people waving as you drive by, the Jesus outside the churches – But it’s through change that God grows us! I loved this post Jerralee! It makes me excited for change.
It’s so amazing how different one part of the country can be from another! But I agree that God uses change to grow us. Sometimes we won’t budge unless we get jolted!
Thanks for coming by, Maryleigh!
Jerralea, I remember well moving from NY to MA. and feeling very much the outsider. It took a good five years for me to realize this was my home and where I belonged. I am very grateful now the Lord transplanted me for His plan has been right and good.
I take comfort that God has each of His children placed right where He wants them to be!
God bless, Joanne!
I was born into a Navy family so moved often and all over the country. I was also shy so “fitting in” was always hard for me. I loved moving to new places and still do. In fact, I am currently packing to move from East TX to western Colorado and I am 73 yo. So, maybe, this is my last move before Heaven.
Becoming a Christian was the best move I ever made 28 years ago. WOW! And even that requires leanring new and yet I don’t need to fit in because God created me and I am wanting to be made in His Image. So if I allow myself to be guided by Him, it all works out!
Thanks for a great post! Fun to think upon these things!
In a lot of ways, I still love moving – except for the packing. 🙁
Thanks for stopping by, Linda, and I hope you love western Colorado!
Oooo! You have a new blog! Glad I found it.
I have moved so many times that I’ve quit counting. Yes, it is hard being the new kid all the time.
I love the light in Florida (and it’s the same in Southern CA).
Yes! the light in Florida is one of the major things I miss. I’ve an idea the light will be like Florida in heaven (of course, to a greater degree!)
Glad you found your way here, Willow. Welcome!
I would hope that someone would look at my life as a Jesus- follower and see that I’m not from around here…
Jan! What a good perspective! Yes, we are to be aliens and strangers in the world – but always remembering we represent Christ.
Thanks for joining the discussion.