Consumerism in Florida: It's different than at home.

Well it’s been a busy week and my internet has been erratic so I haven’t been able to write! We have another big exam on Thursday the 13th so I’m taking this long weekend to review and prepare. It isn’t as much fun as it sounds!! We are working on viruses in microbiology, which are actually interesting. I don’t partially enjoy the memorization of them; however, I think it is fun to play detective and try to figure out what a patient in a review question has. I’ve been surprised how intuitive the microbiology and immunology has been for me; don’t get me wrong, I still have to study but it makes sense to me.

Some things are very different in Florida, for example Costco has a liquor store. I realize that liquor is not regulated at the federal level; however, it is the weirdest thing to me to walk into the Costco Liquor Store. It is outside the main store, like the tire shop is at the Spokane stores. They also must tax less for their liquor because it is dirt cheap. I really don’t need any liquor sitting around the house, but I considered buying some for a moment because it was so doggone cheap! There is a Nordstrom just one metro stop away from my apartment. It is also strange because they have different stock. I guess it is to be expected that the stock is different than in the Seattle and Spokane stores, but I don’t think it is a step up. Much of the inventory doesn’t look as classy as I expect Nordstrom to be; however, I wouldn’t describe Florida as classy—I’d describe it as flashy!

I think I’ve figured out the real secrete to the South Beach Diet. Honestly, it has NOTHING to do with the actual diet: it is the heat! Since moving here, I don’t want to eat because it is so hot. I usually love to cook, but here I don’t want to cook because I don’t want to heat up the house. Some of my friends have been resorting to eating lots of fast food; but for the most part, nutritionally it is terrible and I think that it tastes horrible. I’ve been losing weight probably because I end up snacking throughout the day and eating one meal because food just doesn’t sound good. Maybe if I wasn’t allergic to seafood, I’d have a different opinion of Miami. I’ve been surprised that the fruit here is so expensive, especially the oranges. Eating fresh fruit is one thing that I’m willing to pay a bit more for.

Anyway, I think it is time to hit the books again! I have a few muscles to memorize for anatomy class!