Author: Jeremy Candelas
When I visited my hometown for the Winter, I was blasting the AC in my car the whole time. We had 70 degree temperatures in January — do temperatures ever get that high in Ithaca? I wish. It wasn’t until after coming back to Cornell that I realized just how much I took all that Texas has to offer for granted.
1. The Dallas Cowboys
Dez caught the ball. ‘Nuff said. I don’t think any other football team has fans as loyal, or as numerous, as the Cowboys do. That being said, you don’t want to mess with a Cowboys fan; as the old saying goes, “Don’t mess with Texas.”
2. Whataburger? Blue Bell? Dr. Pepper?
To be completely honest, I didn’t even know Blue Bell ice cream was only a Southern thing. I still don’t understand how you survive without it up here. Or without Whataburger? How can we be expected to function? And while you can get Dr. Pepper here, I don’t understand why it isn’t as popular as it is in Texas. The daughter of my high school English teacher was actually the Collections Manager of the Dr. Pepper Museum. Yes, the museum. It’s that big of a deal for us.
3. Actual Mexican food
This deserves a section all of its own. Sorry, but the Mexican food in Ithaca just doesn’t cut it. If you’re from Texas, or the Southwest in general, you know this already. Nothing here is authentic at all. For example, I went to a Taqueria in the Commons about a week ago. “Can I get you a drink while you look over the menu?” the waitress asked me. Looking at the drinks on the back, I asked her, “Do you have horchata?” A puzzled look swept over her face, and she said “No, but we have this limeade kind of drink that is really good!” I nearly walked out right that second. I think Taco Bell would be more authentic. They didn’t even have complementary chips and salsa – enough said.
4. Warm weather (almost) year-round
While I was back home for Winter Break, it was amazing with none of the disgustingly bitter cold temperatures we had here in Ithaca this winter. Before I came to Cornell, I had seen snow only three (maybe four) times that I can remember. Cold weather is foreign to us Texans. We actually had a full day of school canceled because of a chance of snow my senior year. (It didn’t end up snowing.)
5. Friends and family
Sure, everyone is going to miss their friends and family while they’re away at school – but coming to Cornell from Texas is a bit different. Your friends will wonder why you didn’t just stay back in Texas with them or go to the same school as they did. At the same time, they’ll support you every step of the way, and they’ll be planning a welcome back BBQ for when you return.
