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Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 92 15:37:00 EDT
From:         Gina Gestautas <NORTH@DRYCAS>
Subject:      Living in Florida <====
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.travel-l

For the person who has a friend that will be going to FIT soon....

Tips on Living (or Traveling) In Florida...

Areas in General:

Panhandle (NW):         Old Southern Style, FL State and U. of Florida
East Coast:             The Technology Coast, land of endless college
                        Parties (Daytona and formerly Ft. Lauderdale).
                        Also such nice places as St. Augustine, Palm Beach,
                        and further down you head towards Miami.
West Coast:             RETIREMENT CITY.  The west coast and the southern
                        part of the panhandle have beautiful beaches and
                        also attract alot of the retirees that settle in FL.
                        (tho the whole state attracts them in general).
                        Don't overlook this area tho.. Sarasota, Naples,
                        and the Tampa Bay Area are great places to see.
South:                  The Everglades (National Park), Swamps, if you go
                        past Miami, you get to the Florida Keys.. Outstanding!!
Central:                I saved the best for last, Orlando- Land of the
                        Tourist Attractions (but in reality.. the whole state
                        is covered with them).  Walt Disney World, Universal
                        Studios, MGM Studios, Sea World, you name it.  Lots
                        to do.. but generally even more hot and humid than
                        the rest of the state since its landlocked.

HINTS for People who want to Live or visit there:

The one and BIGGEST thing that people find hard to understand is the strength
of the sun (you are of course.. alot closer to the equator than most of the
country).  Especially if you burn easily.. use PLENTY of suntanning lotion
and apply it OFTEN!!  Do NOT go to sleep on a beach or travel for long in
the hot sun.  Hours to avoid.  10-2 PM..  Drink plenty of liquids and watch
for any signs of fatigue or dehydration.  Cool and natural fabric clothes are
the best (bring cotton sweaters for the sometimes cool evenings in the fall
and winter).

Humidity is something else that people find hard to get used to.  Most people
in the summer go from air conditioning in their homes (yes, most homes have
electric central air and heat) to air conditioning in their cars.  DO watch
out for COLD or cooler places since once you are inside.. you may CHILL.

The clothing style generally is CASUAL.. that means shorts often times.
Even if you normally wear jeans.. the extreme humidity and heat often have
most all younger people wearing shorts, but of course.. anything comfortable
will do.  Most restaurants and other establishments also have a pretty casual
approach to dressing unless they are especially pricey.

In most areas.. there is a STRONG love of outdoor and water sports.  There
are usually plenty of places to learn or do water skiing, scuba diving,
swimming, boating, or fishing.  You can even camp, but be VERY careful of
bugs, snakes, and of course the occasional alligator (and YES, there
are even some areas that can have alligators living near residential places!)

For someone from the Isles (Wales was mentioned) I think the weather will
be the biggest factor.  Coming from an area that is often overcast and cooler
will be MUCH different from Florida.  Just bring lots of casual clothes..
(for a college student.. shorts, t-shirts, casual shoes or thongs are very
accepted.  ALso, almost EVERYONE has a backpack to carry school books,etc.)

About a specific email address for FIT (FLorida Institute of Technology)..
I did not find a BITNET node (because they may share a node with the
Florida State System..) but there is an internet node for it.  fit.edu
an id of pannel@winnie.fit.edu was listed as an administrator if you need
more info.

Hope all this stuff helped.. if you have more specific questions.. email
me directly and I will try to help out.
__

Gina Gestautas          "Teach each child as if he is your own...
[Amateur Everything]     He may influence yours when they are grown."

Bitnet:   NORTH@DRYCAS          Internet: north@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU