Ask Joehoru is a weekly column where Joanna (JE ’25) answers her Instagram followers’ questions. DM her @joehoru or watch out for a weekly question sticker on her story to get her thought-provoking answers.
Hi. I’m from Florida. I’m proudly Floridian. I’m a huge fan of Florida. I’m a Florida Woman. I’m crazy and I’m free (but you’re not allowed to call me that). It’s a Florida thing—you wouldn’t get it. This week, I am answering questions about my home.
Q: Fact that most people don’t know about you?
A: I was born and raised in Hollywood, Florida, which is a city of ~150,000 in Broward County. It’s right on the east coast of Florida, sandwiched between the cities of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. We don’t make movies, but we do make stars (I am one of them).
Q: Difference between Broward and Miami-Dade?
A: Okay. For those who don’t know, these are two counties in South Florida. The third county is Palm Beach, but Palm Beach has a lot of rich people and it’s kind of boring and irrelevant so it can’t compete because it doesn’t compare.
South Floridians usually identify with their county, if not the city. As a Broward girl, I will never claim to be from Miami (but I WILL ride HEAVY for Miami sports). That being said:
- Broward is lazier/chiller/realer than Dade. Dade is like if Instagram were real life.
- Broward is more tight-knit and homey (mostly because it’s smaller but who gives a fuck).
- Spanish is spoken less in Broward, because Broward is more diverse. Exhibit A: the Juicy Jhits speak Haitian Creole, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew.
- Broward is infinitely superior to Dade, but I’m only allowed to say that because I’m from South Florida. It’s Florida vs. EVERYBODY. Watch your mouth!
Q: Do you think Dame going to the Bucks will be enough to take down the Heat?
A: As a Heat Nation For Lifer, I believe in our boys and the power of friendship. Miami Heat on top. We run the East. Trust.
Q: Who are the Juicy Jhits?
A: My friend group back home.
Q: What do you think about most?
A: I think about going home. And my friends and family back home. And how awesome it is to be from Florida. And how everyone at Yale would be so much more tolerable if they spent a year in a Broward public school. See: the Yale Herald article I wrote about how roasting builds character.
Q: What is a “jhit”?
A: Florida slang for authority figures (cops, professors, etc.). Try it out!
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Florida.
