If you look at a map of the good ole US of A, you will see that the Mason Dixon line, the true divider of the North and South, puts Maryland in the South. But in reality, growing up in the suburbs of Baltimore made me a bonafide Northerner. I have the loud mouth, the bad driving skills, and enough snow clothes to get me through a blizzard. After moving 784 miles south to Alabama in August, I was a yankee lost in Dixieland. It's a whole different world down here, and I have learned 10 very important things about living in the South.

1. Y'all is a real word. No, you shouldn't laugh when you hear people say it. You'll get used to it, and then just wait -- you'll start saying it, too.

2. You have the accent. All southerners will call you out for the way you speak. And it will never sound as pretty as a southern drawl, so you can just give up, now.

3. Boys down here are true gentleman. Do not be alarmed when they open every single door for you, and everyone else within a mile of that door.

4. No one cares about pro football. You need to learn your college teams, and fast (and immediately choose Auburn as your favorite, duh). If you really want to try and support a pro team from down here, I wouldn't; the Falcons are pretty disappointing.

5. It's really, really, really hot. You will be dripping with sweat from March until October every time you step outside, and pretty much the majority of the time you are inside, too.

6. If you think you like Pepsi better than Coke, you're wrong. The soft drink of choice for any restaurant or person will always be Coca-Cola. Don't even bother asking for Pepsi; it will only provoke stares of horror and confusion.

7. Chacos are acceptable and will grow on you. In my Northern household, we call 'em Jesus sandals, but down here, they are the shoes of choice. At first, I hated them and swore I would never own a pair. I am currently saving up for some.

8. They speak slow and drive slower. People will drive under the speed limit by a lot. This is especially frustrating when you are trying to get anywhere on time. (this does not apply to Atlanta drivers; trust me, they drive like Northerners).

9. The golden rule: kill 'em with kindness. Strangers will smile at you and ask how your day is. The people you pass by on the street will wave at you like you are their old friend. You will always be treated with complete kindness, and it spreads like wildfire.

10. After a few months of living in the south, you realize that you have become one of them (minus the yankee accent) and love it. And y'all will learn, that there is no place you would rather call home, now, because there is simply nothin' like being in the South.