I love my "Non-Southern" friends. I love explaining the way Southerners do things, and I love watching my friend's reactions when they just don't get it. Here are 10 things that people just don't and won't understand about the South.

1. Grandma's peach cobbler with melted vanilla ice cream during an intense game of Uno

One thing you should know about the south; Grandmas are competitive, and they LOVE to cook. You best believe the only way to get your grandmother to calm down during a card game is toasty cobbler and chilly ice cream. Nothing will ever beat late night games on the back porch on the farm. You're missing out!

2. You better say Yes Ma'am/Yes Sir if you expect to get anywhere in life.

It's respectful. Simple. You say "Yes Ma'am" or "Sir" to anyone older than you. Simple.

3. Sweet Tea is not just a drink; it's life.

Many people love sweet tea, and I see my "Non-Southern" friends drinking it occasionally. However, I wish people would understand that Southerners just don't drink sweet tea for the heck of it; man, we crave it after a long days work. We expect it to be at family BBQ's, we get hateful when it's not sweet enough at restaurants, and chug it outside in the middle of summer to be refreshed. It's not a fad, and it's not something we do because we live in the South. It's life!

4. The Swimming Hole

Umm, no. The swimming hole is not a pool, a puddle, or even a river. The swimming hole is the body of water near your house with a rope swing tied to the biggest oak tree. The swimming hole is where your friends gather on weekends after stressful days at work. The swimming hole probably has snakes, but the adrenaline of jumping off the near rock ledge beats the fear of venomous animals. The swimming hole is where you fellowship, fall in love and enjoy your summer. Oh, and did I mention, it's free?

5. We are actually really smart.

As I stood at a state undergraduate research conference where my research for socioeconomic curricula and gifted cognitive abilities was being presented, a man came up to me and said, "Man, where did all these smart people come from in Tennessee?" As I stood flabbergasted, I just realized that people can think whatever. We are smart. Smart and simple.

6. Our Strong Accents

Y'all, I'm telling you; people love southern accents. It's adorable. It's not that we don't want to pronounce our words; we just know people love southern accents so why not talk like a southerner?

7. Church 4 days a week

You best believe that we go to church as long as the doors are open; we attend Monday Prayer meeting, Wednesday Bible Study, Saturday Women's fellowship, and Sunday's church service. We go to potlucks, youth events, women's retreats, men's studies. Our church friends are usually are only friends. Don't judge us when we go to church almost every day of the week!

No offense to anyone who isn't from the south! But really, we love the way we live.