1. The occasional "wicked" slips out.
Like any other part of the country, New Englanders have their own unique and distinct words for things. For some reason, wicked is the one word people just don't get it, and the first they say when they hear it is "Oh, is that a Massachusetts thing?". And if you are hanging out with your fellow New Englanders...I feel bad for anyone else in the room.
2. All your southern friends don't understand why you don't live off of Chick-fil-A.
Don't get me wrong when I first discovered Chick-fil-A lemonade I was instantly hooked, but to me, the rest is just chicken and fries. Everyone I have met from the South says that they grew up with one right around the corner. I'm sure if that was the case for me I would be obsessed too.3. You complain that there isn't a Dunks.
Now the one thing I did grow up around the corner from is Dunks (aka Dunkin Donuts). In my hometown — and in New England as a whole — there's one everywhere you go, and I mean EVERYWHERE. High Point, Starbucks is great too but can a girl just get a cheap Dunkin iced coffee.
4. You walk in front of cars and just expect them to stop.
For some unknown reason, New Englanders (me being one of them) never have the patience to look both ways and make sure it is completely safe. We shift our heads quickly left and right and expect that if a car is within 10 feet of us it will just stop. And to make it even worse when the car does yield we put our hand up to say thank you as if the driver stopped out of the kindness of their heart, not because we just stepped in front of your car and you had to.
5. You see nothing wrong with walking on the grass.
When I first came to High Point for orientation before I started my freshman year I was walking with my parents and we cut through the grass. The number of dirty looks we got made me never wanna do it again. I guess it does go along with the whole proper Southern attitude, but it still blows my mind. I have never seen anyone walk on the grass ever here. Even when the sidewalk does take longer.
6. You don't understand what bless her heart means.
The first time I heard my roommate say bless her heart I got really confused, I had never heard it before in my entire life. It has multiple meanings apparently like I feel bad for her or that was so nice of her to do that. It will take me a while to get them all straight so for meantime I'll just smile and nod. And eventually, I will adopt into my vocabulary just like y'all.
7. What's Cook Out?
My family and I would drive from Massachusetts to Florida a lot when I was growing up so I thought I knew my Southern fast food, at least until I heard about Cook-Out. Now where I'm from if someone asks "Hey Gab do you wanna go to a cookout?" we would be a backyard barbecue. Here it is someone asking you if you wanna get a crazy amount of food and milkshake for under $10. And yes I have been I would highly recommend the mocha shake.
8. You weren't built for this kind of heat.
Yes, New England has very hot summers but not as humid as it is here. You can tell how is from around here and who isn't by what everyone is wearing. The people for around here jeans and don't complain at all. The New England kids are in shorts, drenched in sweat and complaining about the heat 24/7.
9. You bought a new Southern Wardrobe.
Speaking of what everyone is wearing the minute you committed to school you instantly started shopping and blowing all your money, I know I did! I bought everything from Jack Rodgers, things from the Lilly sale (never buy from the store any other time of the year) and so many other things. I already loved shopping and only used going down south to buy more cute summer clothes that I didn't need.
10. Cape Cod over every other beach.
Growing up in New England going to the Cape is part of everybody's summer. So when you hear people talk about how beautiful the Carolina beaches are part of you gets mad and a bit defensive. I grew up going to the Cape every weekend, so it holds a special place in my heart, it is my beach. I bet Carolina beaches are beautiful, but it just isn't the same.
Up North, people are known for being cold and rude. To some extent that is true, but the judgment is because everyone down south is so kind. It comes with the southern charm. It's like night and day here the woman at the Starbucks I go to before class remembers my name and always asks how I'm doing that's never happened before and it always makes my day. Sometimes though because I'm not used to everyone being so friendly I think it's sarcasm. Everyone smiles and says hi and compliments each other it blows my mind.
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As much as things about the South surprise me I wouldn't change a thing. I love my newfound home in North Carolina and I guess I'll just have to wait and see how long it takes me to become southernized
