‘Florida cold’ and the semi-glamorous world of work trips – CT Insider

Reporters note: The below piece is intended as comedy. Obviously, it is a huge and wonderful privilege to be able to travel for work, and to do so at least partly on someone elses dime. I hope the following is not interpreted as a complaint, and that its received in the spirit in which I intended.

As someone who has lived in both Connecticut and Michigan, I am pretty used to cold temperatures. I know how to dress for them (layers always layers) and Im not someone who is overly sensitive to cold. But a few days I was introduced to a concept I had never really been aware of Florida cold.

When I say Florida cold, I am not referring to a climate change effect, in which normally balmy Florida gets hit with a cold spell. I am referring to what happens when buildings in a warm locale, such as Florida, crank their air conditioning up to a punishing level.

This leaves out-of-towners such as myself shuddering in their t-shirts while inside, and praying for any opportunity to run into the comforting sunshine.

Ive been to Florida before, but I wasnt familiar with the concept of Florida cold until I went to a recent work conference in West Palm Beach. I was fortunate enough to be picked for a prestigious fellowship from the National Press Foundation that involved spending four and a half days in Florida listening to experts from across the country discuss heart health.

I was stoked. I would learn so much that could help me to better cover my beat! I would get to meet accomplished journalists from throughout the United States! And, there was, of course, the small fact that I would be escaping Connecticut during the thick of winter and fleeing to warmer climes. Wins all around!

But my husband, a much more seasoned traveler than myself, suggested that, since the conference would largely take place indoors, I should pack some long sleeves and a couple of sweaters in with the t-shirts and dresses. Little did I know what a wise choice this ended up being.

When I arrived in Florida, temps were in the 70s or so. Given that my morning in Connecticut had begun with defrosting my car, then carefully driving on a very slippery Merritt Parkway to the airport, this was welcome.

I enjoyed the weather at first, changing from long sleeves into short sleeves, and enjoying lunch at our hotels poolside tiki bar. But, once the conference began in earnest, reality set in. Since I was giving a presentation, I grabbed a blazer so I looked like a grown-up who should be taken seriously.

When I walked into the conference room, I thanked every deity across the theological spectrum for my decision to wear the blazer. The A/C was cranked up to a alarmingly high level. People were visibly shivering. Arms were being pulled inside sleeves. It was ... not ideal.

After the evenings presentations were done, I retired to my hotel room, which was also freezing. It was so cold, I took a blazing hot shower, then sat in the steamy post-shower bathroom for a good half hour before hitting my bed.

The next day, we were to go to the University of Miami to hear from their heart experts, and to tour a laboratory. I was excited, because Miami is fun, and because I thought it couldnt possibly be as cold at the university as it was at the hotel. So, in a foolish move that I shall regret for the rest of my days, I wore a t-shirt.

Look, in reality the conference room in which we met at the university was probably about 50 degrees. Relatively speaking, that isnt that cold. I mean, I am from New England. Thats basically all of mid-April. But, when youre in a light t-shirt, 50 degrees might as well be 20 degrees.

Because brother, was I cold.

The speakers at the university were very science-oriented, and a theory began circulating that the cold temperatures were a stealthy way of keeping us awake during the somewhat-dry lectures. And yes, the cold kept us awake, but its a little hard to concentrate on a lecture about stem cells when you fear you might die of hypothermia.

Now, the trip was not all science lectures and arctic air conditioning. Not at all! I did get outside on occasion. A group of us ventured out to a taco restaurant in West Palm one night called Roccos Tacos. I had some delicious pork belly tacos, some delightfully spicy guacamole and an excellent margarita.

Yes, I realize I had a frozen drink after whining for multiple paragraphs about how cold the conference rooms were. The margarita was delicious and I deserved one. Your reasonable arguments about why that was hypocritical are wholly unwelcome.

On another night, a group of us went out to the Palm Beach area and walked on the sand before enjoying another delightful meal.

Oh, and I learned a lot about heart health, which I hope to share with you all.

That air conditioning, though.

Excerpt from:
'Florida cold' and the semi-glamorous world of work trips - CT Insider