How I Learned to Love Florida (and All its Weirdness)
Image Courtesy: Ellie Nas
I, like many others, grew up watching society make fun of Florida. The Sunshine State is the running gag of America. The internet made memes about the Florida Man, the everyday oddities, and the homeless with pet gators, to then have those same people post their vacations at Disney World and Daytona Beach. That is how Florida was perceived by out-of-staters. The truth is, underneath all the tourist traps and theme parks, Florida has a lot of hidden beauty that we Floridians enjoy to the fullest.
I can’t ignore that Florida is widely known for being ‘weird’; I work at “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” and the first thing in the attraction is a sign that says “Weird Florida!” Our Sunshine Laws give the media free reign over all the chaos Floridians cause, giving society a wild take on us. Yet, underneath all that weirdness, it is still one of America’s top vacation spots during spring and summer break.
Image Courtesy: Film School Rejects
I think there’s much more to Florida than meets the eye.
A big eye-opener to the less glamorous life of a Floridian is A24’s film ‘The Florida Project’. A young mother and her 6-year-old daughter, Moonee, live in a bright, fun-colored motel called ‘The Magic Castle’. They live near helicopter tours, giant gift shops, a Twistee Treat, and the real magic itself, Disney World. Living minutes from the stuff tourists pay thousands to see, Moonee and her mother struggle to raise the money to get their next meal and pay their rent. Regardless of all their struggles, Moonee relishes in the wonders of Florida with her friends. They get change from tourists to buy ice cream, play in the summer rain, and create mischief at the motel they live at. While they are told to hide their poverty to shield the tourists who stay at the motel, they don’t let this bother them. With all the vibrant colors and low camera angles, you see the movie from the perspective of a child, and these children enjoy the little wonders of Florida they have access to.
Image Courtesy: Film School Rejects
Yes, this is a sad film where a lot of the characters struggle but, there is also so much beauty in it. You see the Florida summer rain that results in rainbows. You see the breakfast of Waffle House that everyone enjoys. You see Moonee, her mother, and her friend enjoying the fireworks outside of Disney property and just being glad they can see them. You see realness; an average person in a not-so-average state. This film helps humanize us locals. We are here, next to your theme parks and gift shops, and we are living our lives.
This film helped ease some of my doubts about Florida. While it still upsets me a lot of people live at the bottom while a lot of visitors come here and are at the top, I learned to appreciate what I could experience. There’s a lot to appreciate about our state (like the endless list of exotic animals, the rocket launches, and Bob Ross’s grave). And hey, what’s so bad about being known for being weird?
Sure, there are things I will never like about our state, like the reptiles, the humidity, the lack of fireflies, and the terrible drivers. But, I will proudly admit: I love watching rocket launches on the beach, I love working at a crazy museum, I love the weird trinkets and Hawaiian shirts at tacky gift shops, and I love Florida.
Strike Out,
Writer: Ellie Nas
Copy Editor: Madeline Gonzalez
Content Editor: Melissa Donovan
Orlando
Ellie Nas is a content writer for Strike Magazine Orlando. She loves pineapple-banana pepper pizza, reading books, and wearing funky hats. You can reach her at ellien32300@gmail.com and @jelliebug on Instagram.