It’s no secret that living in the south comes with its own set of expectations, and for those of us who were born and raised here, we know those standard well. The question is: what happens if you grew up in the south and you’re not "southern"?
1. People stare at you like you’ve murdered someone when you say you don’t own a pair of Cowgirl boots.
No, I’m not saving up for a pair. I don’t want any. Yes, I am wearing Converse. They go with everything, too.
2. You have to explain to your northern friends that you can’t or won’t cook southern food.
Do I enjoy cooking fried chicken? Do you know how long it takes to make that? I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Why don’t we just go to KFC instead? They’ll give you sides as well!
3. You try not to visibly cringe when someone turns on a country music song in their car.
You know that if you say the words “I don’t like Luke Bryan” out loud you will likely be murdered. So you smile through the pain.
4. You don’t want to just go for a ride on some back road.
I’m sorry that it’s weird that when I get in the car I want to have a destination. I don’t want to get mud all over my car. If I’m trying to kill time, it will be with a nap.
5. You have tried to force yourself to enjoy watching football.
SEC/NFL football is no joke in the South. And if anyone ever discovered that you were pretending to like it, you’re not quite sure what would become of you. So you try your very hardest to enjoy it, even though the only football you even remotely care for is the team who’s college you attend.
6. You very rarely use the word “y’all” in a sentence.
“You guys” just sounds better to you, you can’t help it! It also seems to be taken just a tiny bit more seriously (don’t hate me).
7. You’ve had people from the South ask you where you’re from.
And proceed to stare at you in disbelief as you say “Alabama” to them. You don’t say “tin” instead of “ten”… are you sure you’re from the South?
8. Sweet tea isn’t your favorite drink.
You know that when you order a Coke after someone just told you this restaurant “has great sweet tea” you’ll get some eyebrow raises. You can’t help it that sweet tea isn’t your favorite…I mean, it’s OK.
There comes a point where you’re pretty sure that Southern-ness was just lost on you, you blame your parents for not instilling it into you as a child.
But you know what? Despite maybe not actually being a genuine Southern gal, you still love the south and will definitely rock out to some “Sweet Home Alabama,” if the moment is right.
