When I first moved to Conway last year, I noticed several differences between Illinois and Arkansas. I am in love with the South but also am proud of my northern roots. Nonetheless, some of the cultural differences between the Midwest and South are too big not to mention! Here is a list of ways the North and South vary.

1. FOOD: Okay so this may or may not be my favorite thing about being from one part of the country and moving to another. Food makes my heart happy and I love to try new foods wherever I go. When I moved from Illinois to Arkansas, I traded in my Italian Beefs and Chicago Deep Dish Pizza for genuine Fried Catfish, Fried Okra, Fried Chicken, deer jerky and some of the best chicken and dumplings I’ve ever had in my life. Unless you go to Cracker Barrel, these southern delicacies are almost impossible to find up North.
2. CLOTHES: Chacos and Southern Couture were foreign concepts to me until I moved to Conway, Arkansas. A majority of the girls I met my first few weeks were almost always wearing either their favorite pair (because they almost always had more than one set) of Chacos and/or an over-sized southern couture shirt with leggings and/or running shorts. Oh! And don't forget about the monogrammed hat/purse/wallet/YETI cup/car decal.
3. LANGUAGE: I had always thought that phrases like “Oh, bless your heart!” and “Hey, y’all!” and having servers call you “honey”, “sweetheart/sweetie”, and “babydoll” were just outdated stereotypical southern phrases, but boy was I wrong. Also, the fast-paced southern accent has definitely influenced the way I say certain words. For example, in the North we say license (lie-sense) where it’s said more like (lah-sense) and so one and so forth.
4. PERSONALITY/PACE OF LIFE: This is in no way hating on the north, but the south is like 1,000 time more friendly. Although northerners CAN and HAVE been friendly, it in no way compares to southern hospitality. Southerners aren’t afraid to be nice, ask the next question, or just offer a friendly “Hi there!” to a complete stranger. Plus, it feels like EVERYONE here is a hugger and most people are loud and proud of their hometown high school football team. As far as pace of life goes, even though individual’s lives may be busy the south as a whole has a relaxed/low stress atmosphere.

I am close to finishing my first two months of my Sophomore year here at Central Baptist College and its southern location is one of the big reasons why I am still here today! Going home for the summer was a nice break from the heat for sure and it was nice to see corn stalks taller than four feet, but I am so glad to be back in the comfort of the south. I guess you could say I’m just a Northern girl livin’ in a Southern world.