Minor Differences Part 2: Everything Else

• Water bottles here are recycled but cannot be redeemed for 5 cents. Only "pop" bottles have a cash refund. (Pop = soda, for those of you who don't speak Midwestern).
• People are friendlier here. A couple waved and said hi to me when I was walking home from the bus stop...from the other side of the street. 
• My class is roughly 90 men and 55 women. 
• I am one of three Chinese girls in my class.
• The highway I live along has a middle lane for turns...which is actually quite scary (Have you ever tried turning on a highway? No? That's because it's a RECIPE FOR DEATH).
• Uncle Byron has installed deer whistles on my car for when I drive to their farm. My new Iowan friends are all jealous.
• The water in Iowa City is extremely hard; soapy later seems to never wash off cleanly, dishes are left speckled, and the glass shower doors collect a filmy glaze.
• My lab coat and scrubs are both size XS. I've never worn extra small in my life. 
• A good portion of my class is already married...and graduated in 2013.
• I dress like I'm going to the gym every single day. Gone are the days of cardigans, skinny jeans, and scarves...and trying to look cute. Hello, 100 degree weather with humidity.
• The bus runs every 30 minutes (boo) but has numerous NextBus-like alerts available by text, QR scanner at the stop, or smartphone app! 
• Okay so this one is crazy. CRAZY. There are multiple dating couples here who went to the same college (in Iowa) and are now going to the same medical school. Like, they just applied to med school and knew that they would get in together. WHAT. WHAT. CANNOT FATHOM. (Californians everywhere are shaking their heads in disgust).
 

EDIT: 

Cicadas chirping at night.