Relocating can be an exciting and stressful time, especially if moving out of state. However, knowing the area into which you’ll be relocating will help to calm your fears and ease your stress. If your new move takes you to the beautiful and lush state of Georgia, here are some things you should know before tackling cross country moving.

1. Bring Your Summer Clothes

Georgia is located in the southeastern portion of the United States. It’s comfortably situated near tropical areas such as Florida and the Bahamas. Given its southern location, it is considered a humid subtropical territory. This means that the yearly climate in Georgia is comparable to the weather found in Florida and the Bahamas.

When making a move to Georgia, expect comfortable fall and spring temperatures, mild winters, but hot, humid, and balmy summers that last for a good portion of the year. Bring plenty of summer clothes, sunglasses, and sandals. Hauling your winter clothes and snow gear all the way to Georgia will not be necessary.

2. Georgia Rental Laws

Many people will move to a new state or a new city without giving a good look at the new set of rental laws into which they’ll be relocating. While it may not seem like such a crucial task to perform, it has the potential to make a gargantuan impact should you encounter a legal disagreement with your landlord. It is always important to know your rights as a tenant before signing any housing contract or lease. You could be, essentially, signing away any rights you have as a tenant. Before making the big move across the country to Georgia, be sure to read over the rental laws for the state and for the city in which you’ll be living.

3. Expect A Cuisine Culture Shock

Depending on which state you’re moving from, the cuisine found in Georgia might just provide you with a pleasant, and delicious, culture shock. While stereotypes aren’t polite to propagate in everyday conversations, they have their beginnings from a small nugget of truth. The stereotype that everyone in the South drinks sweet tea and eats fried chicken is presumptuous but mostly accurate.

The cuisine in the state of Georgia consists of traditional Southern foods, which means fried foods (especially chicken), seafood caught off the coast, corn on the cob, sweet tea, peaches, grits, and anything barbequed. When you’ve decided to relocate to the beautiful state of Georgia, you’re also moving into a predominantly Southern-style food culture that will fill your belly and leave your taste buds in awe.

4. Georgia Locals Are Loyal Football Fans

Although the state of Georgia has a national football team, called the Atlanta Falcons, the state is heavily divided between the love of the national team and the love of the college team, which is the University of Georgia Bulldogs. During the fall, when the football leagues begin their new season, virtually every home in Georgia will have a football game playing on the family television. Once you’ve settled into your new Georgia home, you may want to consider trying to blend in with the locals by purchasing some sports gear to wear out in public.

Regardless of which team you choose to support or the food you eat, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better community of people. The people in Georgia are always kind and can help you become acclimated to your new surroundings until you’re fully integrated into the community.