1. You love the four seasons.
Although we all know that Wisconsin is basically divided into two seasons, road construction and winter, the traditional four real seasons are something Wisconsinites get to experience. The school year begins with the most beautiful time of year as we watch the leaves change and we get to wear our cute sweaters again. Then, when the trees are bare, we wake up happy to see a layer of fresh snow. This happiness only lasts about two weeks until the weather drops to -30 degrees Fahrenheit and we barely will leave our houses. Spring then eventually comes along (lasting what feels like only a week) and we ruin half our shoes with all the mud. Spring really makes us hope for summer. Lastly, summer comes around, the boats go in the lake and the swim suits come out from the back of our closets. Nothing is better than experiencing all that comes with the four seasons in Wisconsin.
2. You LOVE lake living.
I can guarantee no lake living is quite like Lake Country, WI or the North Woods- and any true Wisconsinite will know that. As soon as the weather gets to a decent temperature, the boats come out of the garage and FINALLY go into the water after hibernating for so many months. The lakes are crowded with tie ups, water skiers, and tubers having the time of their lives. Each year, summer calls for lake season and every Wisconsinite will surely be be excited.3. You can pronounce the unique city names.
You’ve seen those online videos and laughed when out-of-staters mispronounced those city names you’ve grown up saying normally. Us Wisconsinites have a true skill when it comes to pronouncing those unique Native American city names. Say it with me guys… Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, and Kewaskum… NO PROBLEM!
4. You bleed green and gold.
If you’re a true Wisconsinite, Packer season is basically considered a state-wide holiday. These packer fans do not mess around; no wonder they are considered the best fans in the nation. There’s nothing stopping a Packer fan and their passion for the green and gold. On top of trekking all the way up to Green Bay and selling out Lambeau field every Sunday, us Packer fans brave the frozen tundra. Yep, we get our snow pants, parkas, long underwear, and cheese heads out even in 2 feet of snow and dangerous cold weather. Whether you went to more games than you can count, or watched it on TV at home… a true Wisconsinite always backs the Pack!
5. ...you also bleed red and white.
Whether you are cheering on the Men’s Basketball Team in the National Championship, or watching the Football Team every Saturday… its pretty clear that The University of Wisconsin Athletics are a HUGE deal for Wisconsinites. Nothing is better than Madison on a Saturday afternoon and there is absolutely nothing like a game at Camp Randall- not to mention the best college game day tradition, JUMP AROUND!!
6. You love the Brew Crew.
You’re at a baseball game, but not just any ordinary game; you see an abundance of beer, brats, peanuts, AND the famous racing sausages. Yep that's when you know that you’re cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers! Obviously by now, you know that Wisconsinites sure are passionate about their sports. True Wisconsinites have experienced those traditional Brew Crew tailgates… and everything that comes along with it.7. You get jealous of the people who actually got snow days.
WISCONSIN schools getting called off? rare! and I have learned to accept it. Wisconsinites will remember being a young, optimistic child. In hopes for a snow day, you remember flushing an ice cube down the toilet and sleeping uncomfortably with a spoon under your pillow. Whenever we saw a snow storm on the radar, we couldn't help but to think SNOW DAY!! In my K-12 years I maybe had four snow days… yet those schools in the south are cancelled with roughly a centimeter of snow and 30 degree weather. Try -30 degrees and 3 feet of snow, North Carolina!! Would school be cancelled all winter then? Any true Wisconsinite definitely had this jealousy as a child… and maybe still now!
8. You’ve had to explain to out-of-staters that Wisconsin is more than it’s stereotype.
We have all heard the stereotype that consists of corn fields, farms, cows, cheese…etc. Going to college has especially opened my eyes up to this. Any born-and-raised Wisconsinite has probably had to explain to their friends by now that we are totally beyond our stereotype! Although our farming and cheese is the bomb, we are definitely more than that. Our large cities like Madison and Milwaukee are very populated and urban… and I know it’s shocking but yes, “not everybody lives on a farm here”. All aspects of Wisconsin are great, however, people need to see past our stereotype
9. To you and your friends, SummerFest is considered a state-wide holiday.
Ahh...sweet “Stumblefest.” Since the day the line-up is released, people anticipate the arrival of SummerFest. You buy your power pass, round up all your closest friends, and head off to the park’n’ride for the shuttle. Everyone is packed three to a seat in those 80 degree school busses, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a fancy seat on a coach bus. You play the “bridge game” and scream out songs with a bunch of random people you meet. You get to see some of your favorite artists and maybe even some you don't know more than one song from; either way its always a good time. Regardless of the good and bad SummerFest shenanigans, they are memories that will stick with you forever.
10. You realize that no matter how ordinary Wisconsin is… that little home town of yours will forever be the hardest goodbye.
Leaving for college, you were so excited to leave your ordinary home town and venture off into the big world, but now that you’re gone you suddenly realize all it really had to offer. All those amazing memories on the lakes in the summer, those fun days sledding in the winter, and the Friday night lights in the fall, will forever be irreplaceable memories all because of your hometown. So even though you’re ready to begin your journey elsewhere, don't ever forget where you came from.
