When I left Michigan for college I knew that everyone would make fun of me for saying pop instead of soda. What I didn’t know was the dozens of other parts of my vocabulary that people would turn their heads at.

1. Most people don’t use their hand as a map.

When asked where I live, I instinctively pull the back of my left hand out to point out my hometown — located just left of my freckle. Being that the other forty-nine states are not lucky (or awesome) enough to be shaped like a convenient body part, this is always met with strange looks. Also, no matter how hard my roommate tries, it has proved impossible to represent New York with a hand.

2. When you say U.P. outside of Michigan, people stare.

I forget that not everyone associates U.P. with the Upper Peninsula, and often get met with strange looks when people assume I’m actually talking about them peeing. Don’t even get me started on saying yooper.

3. A lot of people have no idea where Michigan is.

You would think the two-part state that sticks out of the top of the country would be prominent, but I have gotten “isn’t that near Idaho?” more times than I would like to admit.

4. People think you’re from Canada.

I may live closer to Canada than I do to any other state; however, I have never said "aye," donned the lovely denim on denim ensemble that will forever be called the Canadian tuxedo, or spent an entire day watching hockey.

5. Meijer is not a thing, other places.

After a long night I still crave going to Meijer to walk around and inevitably buying something I don’t need (usually a goldfish).

6. Not everyone hates Ohio.

Also, I realized I do not have a rational reason to have so much animosity toward one state.

7. Some people don’t think lakes count as beaches.

I challenge anyone to look at pictures of the Sleeping Bear Dunes at sunset and tell me that it is not a beach. Also, there is no contest that freshwater is better than salt water.

8. To most people, HOMES is just a collection of houses.

Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie, Superior. The five most beautiful bodies of water to grace the earth.

9. Most states don’t have four professional sports teams.

I get confused when people root for sports teams that are not from their states, then I remember most people don’t have the luxury of having a representative from the biggest four national leagues all in their home state.

10. Nor is any state as competitive about college sports.

I may not be a Wolverine or a Spartan, but every time Michigan-Michigan State game day rolls around I am on the edge of my seat waiting to find out which side of my family I will have to call and console.

11. Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City make no sense.

Explaining Mackinac is pronounced Mackinaw is one thing, explaining that Mackinaw City is spelled the way it sounds and pronounced the same is another.