This fall, I started my first year of college. This means I finally got away from Northeast Ohio and moved down to Columbus, Ohio. Spending so much time away from home has taught me a lot about home and what weird little things we do. It also taught me that there are a lot of Cleveland stereotypes.
1. You say anything that has an 'a' in it and people immediately ask if you're from Cleveland.
I didn't even know the Cleveland accent was a thing until I was exposed to people from different cities and states. Most of the time, I can't even hear the difference between my 'a' and how someone from Columbus says their 'a.'
2. You are shocked when everyone panics about the snow.
There is 1/2 an inch of snow on the ground and you're afraid to drive? A 1/2 inch is less than average for a single day up north. I've had class cancelled before because it snowed three inches, but back home we were still excepted to go to school and work.
3. Bengals fans really exist.
When you live thirty minutes away from Cleveland, everyone is a Browns fan. The Bengals are referred to as "the other Ohio football team." When I came down here and saw all these Bengals jerseys and bumper stickers I was so confused. Shouldn't everyone be rooting for the Browns?
4. People assume you waste your days away at the beach.
While having the beach is very nice, it is nothing like the beaches in Florida. Most of us spend a significant amount of time at the beach, but we all still have lives to live and jobs to work.
5. Kroger and Tim Horton's are a thing.
The only time I had ever been to a Kroger was when I was visiting family in Georgia. I didn't even know it was a grocery store until I was drug into one by a friend. And what on Earth is a Tim Horton's? There is one literally ever 2 miles in Columbus but I have never seen one at home.
6. You realize just how awful the lake really is.
You mean it doesn't snow 12 inches in one day? It hardly ever gets below zero degrees? You don't get blown away by the wind all the time? It actually stops snowing at the end of winter? If you would have told me this before I moved I would have called you a liar.
7. Everyone is confused when you say the Indians play at Jacob's Field.
Oh, right. It's called Progressive Field these days. My bad. But no matter what happens, it's the Jake.
8. People act like you actually live in The Christmas Story house.
Believe it or not, I do not live in that exact house. Better yet, I don't even live close to that house. I'm sorry I can't give you any more information than that, but you're welcome for creating the greatest Christmas movie ever.
9. When you say you're from Cleveland, people actually think you're from Cleveland.
I don't think I've ever met a single person from Cleveland. We all live in tiny suburbs, so if you're really trying to surprise someone, ask them what part of Cleveland they're from. I can promise they will give you a nervous look and awkwardly try to describe where they are really from.
10. You get asked, "You're still a Browns fan?" every Sunday.
We are terrible I understand. No need to keep pointing it out.
11. You start to miss the snow, sort of.
After seeing at least a foot of snow on the ground all of your life, it gets weird when there isn't more then three inches there at a time. How do you people sled on this? How do you make snow angels? Can you even snowboard?
