Bless Your Little Heart.
At the University of Kentucky, you can meet people from all around the country. But because of Kentucky’s location you are most likely to meet people from one of the four northern states that border our beloved bluegrass state. As a freshman in college, I soon came to realize that even though my new northern friends came from just a state away there was a huge cultural divide. Even though we had many things in common I soon began to realize that there were a few things that my new Yankee friends would never truly understand.
1. Your Accent. At first, your new friends will think your accent is simply adorable. They love it when you say "y'all," call someone "Honey," say "bless your heart," or say any other token Southern phrase for that matter. Throughout the year, they will often try their best to impersonate your accent, with little success of course.
2. Soft Drinks. Many Northerners refer to soft drinks as "pop" or "soda," however this is simply incorrect. Below the Mason-Dixon line, we refer to almost any soft drink as Coke. Please don't even bother asking your waitress if they serve Coke or Pepsi, because the answer will most definitely be... you guessed it, Coke.
3. Southern Phrases- If you really want to confuse your Yankee friends pull out any of the phrases listed below and prepare for the bewilderment that is sure to follow.
"Is the pope Catholic?"
"Madder than a wet hen."
"Driving like a bat out of Hell."
"The pot calling the kettle black."
4. The Hot Brown. Most popular in Kentucky, the Hot Brown is an open-faced sandwich made with turkey or ham and covered in a delicious Mornay sauce. To any Northerner who has never eaten a Hot Brown, just know that you are missing out on a truly delicious experience.
5. Our Obsession With Sweet Tea. No one really knows how or why our love for sweet tea began, but it has surely turned into an obsession that has no end in sight. Southerns love their sweets, and tea is no exception.
6. Our Love For Fried Foods. If you can fry it, we will eat it. From Twinkies to tomatoes, Southerners love their fried foods. Of course, we know there not good for us, but there's just something so tempting about batter and hot grease. I mean, have you really ever lived if you haven't eaten a fried Oreo? I don't think so.
Our Yankee friends might never truly understand some of our Southern habits. Most of them are willing and eager to learn about them. Heck, give them a few years with a true Southerner and any Yankee can be easily converted to the Southern side.
