When you are raised in the north, you are unaware of manners and mechanisms that you are subconsciously taught. Maybe it was just me, but I thought that most people around the country had the same ways of life. The city life that Chicago or any nearby large city to others, encompasses only being a quick train ride away. That a large body of water was seemingly nearby for their boating and jet skiing convenience. But as I quickly learned, life in the south is way more different than I would have thought. There was a lot more adjusting than this bright-eyed northerner would have thought. Here are a few major things that I learned.
1. Y'all is a real word
Y'all is an actual word, said at least, two times every five minutes. The word is as contagious as the common cold. When all of your friends are from the south, there is no way to avoid the southern twang that is entailed with the word. Even if you don't say the famous "y'all," the phrase "you all" is just as infectious.
2. Sweet tea is a prized possession
My friends have told me multiple times that "adding sugar packets to your tea does not make it sweet tea." And quite frankly, after tasting the legendary tea, an endless amount of sugar packets do not compare to the sweet tea itself. Sweet tea is basically 1/4 tea 3/4 sugar. But only the companies themselves can brew up the perfect combination. Do not insult sweet tea when around southerners. You're basically insulting their life if you do.
3. Fried chicken
For some reason, the south puts fried chicken on a golden pedestal. They have entire restaurants that only serve fried chicken. Zaxby's, Chick-fil-A, Raisin Cane's, Bojangles and KFC are only the most popular. And if you're like me, you're lucky if you have a KFC within a 20-mile radius back home (up north). And most of these places serve toast or a slice of bread with their fried chicken and french fries combo. I still don't completely understand why, but southerners say "It's just good. Don't question it."
4. Coke = every soda in the machine
Usually when someone says, "Hey, when you're up can you get me some more Coke?" they don't really mean the famous Coca-Cola. "Coke" can mean array of things. That took me so long to catch on to. And in all honesty, Coca-Cola isn't a popular soda brand down south, so when someone asked for a coke it threw me off for a while. So, be prepared, it's probably not actually "coke" they're asking for.
5. "Norts?"
Norts? What are those you ask? Well, apparently that's the name for Nike shorts. Strange, I know. But maybe combining two words to create a new unique word is how they do things down south! Y'all.. Norts... What's next?
6. Game days
Game days (for mostly football) are the best days of the year. The girls wear nice dresses (in school colors) and a pair of boots. While the guys wear a nice button up (in school colors) and khakis. These days consist of tailgating all day long. If you're lucky, you go to the game. If not, you just keep tailgating with your updates of the game being the crowds cheering or booing. But nothing beats the sight of a whole parking lot (or field) full of people wearing your school colors, hoping to also clench a win!
7. XXL shirts
Northerners, ditch those super tight shirts that you loved in high school and grab ahold of a shirt 2 sizes to big for you! Wear these XXL shirts with "norts." Honestly, it will look like you are not wearing pants... and you will probably feel uncomfortable wearing it in public for a while due to that. But really, it is the comfiest outfit! Everywhere should adopt this style of comfort!
8. You are a Yankee
If you are from anywhere north of Indianapolis, you are considered a "Yankee." Your "accent" gives it away. You are a northerner and you can't hide it. But after being called a yankee about 20 times, you finally realize that you are a Yankee. You say "pen" instead of "pin," or "trash ben" instead of "trash bin." Embrace it. Yankees rock.
9. Waffle House is at every exit
Driving hours upon hours down south over spring break, I realized that there is a Waffle House on every exit. It is almost as popular as the fried chicken! Eggs, waffles, hash browns and bacon, all for under $10. That's a steal (especially for broke college students)! Although they might not be the best quality.. does that really matter..? I mean, it's Waffle House?
10. It's not always warm
I had the misconception that the south (even northern Kentucky) would always be warm. I was sadly mistaken. Just because it is considered the south, doesn't mean that it follows the stereotype of the southern weather patterns (which is a big bummer). As a northerner you hope to escape the 12 inches of snow, swift winds and downpour rain. Instead, you get it all just in more sporadic and modest amounts.
11. Monograms
Some might ask, what are monograms? (Honestly, I did six months ago...) Well, monograms line the wall of almost every girl on campus. *First name initial, last name initial, middle name initial* in fancy calligraphy. They also line rain jackets, boots, necklaces, backpacks, water bottles and...anything else that has room to plaster it all over.
12. "Bless your heart"
When you first hear that phrase, you would probably think that it is intended to be a sweet compliment when someone does an innocent act. Frankly, it means quite the opposite. When a southerner says "bless your heart," know that they don't mean that in a nice way...
13. Southern hospitality exists
Before moving down south, I thought that southern hospitality was just a joke. People could not be that nice to complete strangers all the time? Truthfully, people are really that nice to all new-comers. They greet you with a smile, gleaming eyes, polite manners and kind words. Nothing beats it.
The south is such a welcoming place that feels like home instantaneously. After a few short months, you start to become accustom to the ways of the south. Yes, you have to go through a couple hoops to feel genuinely comfortable. But after you realize that you have slowly become one of them (minus your yankee accent), you wouldn't want to have it any other way.
