I am from a small suburb city in the southern metro area of the Twin Cities, but for the sake of simplicity: I live in the Midwest. There is corn everywhere, each person seems to own a cabin, and those who live on a farm are the cool kids - side note, the homecoming slogan for my high school years back was "we have tractors." Each state is different though. Minessota, Iowa, The Dakotas, Wisconsin: we all have something different to offer, besides our excellent domestic produce.
Though the borders of each state are a gray zone for culture, while searching for colleges to attend, I tried to stay in Minnesota just to ensure that I was going to be use to our weird traditions and weather, but nonetheless, I found the perfect school the middle of my senior year: University of Wisconsin at River Falls. 15 miles from the border, it can't be too different.
The case was anything but. Despite being only 45 minutes from my home, I have to say that going to Wisconsin is a whole new world, where different phrases are said and going to the Mall of America is a big deal (when you live 20 minutes away from it, it's really common to talk with friends about going to the MOA after school just for ice cream). Everything is so different here, and definitely sets Wisconsin, even those right on the border, apart from the Midwest.
1. Free Cheese Curds
I was at lunch the other day and they were handing out free cheese curds. Apparently they taste best when at room temperature, that way they'll squeak in your mouth. "Squeaky Cheese" is also a totally common name for cheese curds.
2. Rodeo Season
In Minnesota, we have a lot of country time activities, like hunting, horseback riding, and the derby, but not once have I heard of Rodeo Season. One of the first events my university hosted was the Rodeo, and it's rare to go to a place and not see someone wearing a cowboy hat this time of the year.
3. All the towns have unique names
There are a lot of cities in Wisconsin whose names are derived from Native American languages. Wausau (WAH-sah), Oshkosh, Oconomowoc. Apparently there is a city with three prisons?
4. Milwaukee is where it's at
It is also really ghetto and not as nice as the Twin Cities, but hey, you at least have Krispy Kreme.
5. It's Packers Central
There's green, gold, and cheesehats everywhere.
6. They are not Wisconsinsins
People from Wisconsin are called Wisconsinites and proud of their home, but kind enough to correct you if you call them a Wisconsinsin.
7. They cancel class for hunting season
In one of my seminars, we got on the topic of hunting season. Apparently the schools in Wisconsin have scheduled breaks during hunting season, and it can be anywhere from a couple days to a week of freedom!
8. Friday Fish Fry is 100% a thing
Do you know who likes fish? Cheeseland. Do you know who doesn't like fish? Me.
9. Formal Camo Attire is completely relevant
Camo Weddings are not something you joke about.
10. The clothing tax is real
I hail from Minnesota, where we don't have clothing tax. Do you know how hard it is to adjust to getting a shirt for more than what it says on the tag?
11. Wisconsin Dells is their Mall Of America
As I mentioned before, going to the MOA was often a quick spur of the moment trip for the smallest of things, but to those in Wisconsin, it's rare. This is much like us Minnesotans going to the "Dells", where Wisconsinites find it to be just another Tuesday.
12. To show you where they are from, they use their hand
It looks like a hand, and it's really easy for people to make that shape and then point where there town is. Middle of your palm? Wausau.
13. They are some of the best people you'll ever meet.
I've only been here for a week, and I am far from considering myself a Wisconsinite, but everyone here is so nice and welcoming, and I could not have asked for a better community.
Stay Weird, Wisconsin.
