Whether you moved down South for a parents new job, college, or just a change of scenery there are few things that will always perplex you no matter what. From the accent to new and foreign drinks, the South will never fail to puzzle Northerners day in and day out.
1. You Basically Need a Translator Just to Go to Walmart.
From the greeters' "Hey Y’all" to asking everyone and their mother why there are chicken biscuits in the breakfast section, it can be a bit of a culture shock to even go shopping. Not to mention this new and foreign accent that makes you feel like you’ve traveled halfway across the globe and people aren’t even speaking English. But no matter how confusing the dialect may be, you always catch yourself trying out “‘Bless Her Heart’ to yourself in the mirror.
2. Why Can’t Anyone Sweeten Their Own Tea?
Usually when you ask for a tea the waitress brings out the tall glass of deliciousness with some little packets so you can sweeten to your liking, but in the South it’s a whole different story. No matter where you go or who you're with you can always expect the tea to be way to sweet for your own good. So when the after school McDonald’s large sweet tea breaks happen, you can keep the dream alive of unsweetened tea and order that large Coke instead.
3. What Even Is This "SunDrop"?
Much to my 7-year-old self's dismay, SunDrop is not a candy or sunscreen, but a soda that I still have no idea what it tastes like. From BOGO Free 2-Litres at the local Food Lion to the gas station slushies, SunDrop is everywhere you go; and even though people profess their love for it day in and day out, you’ll just never get the hype being the neon yellow beverage.
4. You Cringe Everytime Someone Calls a Cart a "Buggy."
There you are, your first time in the neighborhood Bi-Lo and you go to grab what you think is an innocent cart, when out of nowhere the bag boy says “Need a buggy?” You stand there confused and puzzled as to what this "buggy" he’s talking about is. Is there a bug near by? Is buggy a new term for coupons? You continue to stare like a deer in headlights, until he pushes what you rightfully know as a cart your way. No matter how many times you go shopping, the fact that people call carts buggys will always catch you off guard and make you do a little eye roll.
5. Sorry, But Dunkin Donuts Is Way Better Than Krispy Kreme.
It’s the elephant in the room of a Northerner surrounded by Southerners. It’s the argument more fought over than Coke or Pepsi. It’s Dunkin Donuts vs. Krispy Kreme. And yes we get it’s “tradition” for the South being that Krispy Kreme was founded in North Carolina, but that is no excuse for a lousy donut. From the fluffy insides of a perfect raised to the lack of gross hardened glaze, there is no argument here that Dunkin is one thousand times better than Krispy. Sorry (not sorry).
While these things will always be a mystery to Northerners, they are all apart of our new and loving home in the South.
