There is a certain charm to rural, southern America; a gentle, easygoing air blows you along leisurely while pies are cooling on window sills and almost everyone waves at you on the street.
The Bible Belt is an informal region made up of primarily Christian denominations and their followers. I happened to live right in its buckle: Tulsa, Oklahoma. Living in the Bible Belt has its cultural pros and cons, just like any other location does, but there are some unique experiences many people experience when moving out.
If you just moved out of the bible belt and these things haven't happened to you, at least you have a warning.
1. Your friends notice and tease you for saying "gosh darn" in the same breath as a curse word.
C'mon guys, I can't help it! I have no reason to feel this way, but the "other" word is just plain rude.
2. You are completely blown away by the lack of Bible knowledge of the general public, regardless of their religious views.
No matter what you personally believe, you're well versed in Bible-speak. You have to be to grow up in the Bible Belt. This makes moving to areas slightly less enthusiastic a little uncomfortable. I'm sorry, Linda, did you just ask if the book of Timothy was in the Old or New Testament? Embarrassing!
3. You get confused when there are only two churches in a town.
I'm sorry, excuse me, where are all the other churches? You know, the other ones, the ten different denominations you see in most towns?
Oh, right, we're not in the Bible Belt anymore, Toto.
It can be a little trippy to drive into a small town and not see a church on every corner, but it's an experience we all go through.
4. Alcohol on Sundays? Liquor in grocery stores? Buying booze after 9 PM?
All new to us fresh from the Bible Belt. Undoubtedly, if you haven't already, you will have the moment of sheer shock when you see beer that hasn't been watered down in the neighborhood Walmart.
5. Spending Sunday anywhere away from your entire family feels wrong...
One of the hardest parts of moving away from home is missing your friends and family. If your Bible Belt family is anything like mine, every Sunday is spent at Grandma's house with way too much food and a lot of laughter. Being hundreds to thousands of miles away from this can be disheartening, but just remember how many calories you're saving! Just kidding, homesickness is very real and important to pay attention to. Give your family a call or FaceTime, it may brighten everyone's day!
These are things that are naturally a part of moving away from the Bible Belt for the first time, and should all be embraced as a part of a new culture and perspective on life. It's always important, though, to remember all the great things about where you originally called "home."
