College football, country music, adventure and an endless amount of beauty make me so proud to be from the great state of West Virginia. It’s safe to say that blue and gold is in my blood and it always will be. Even with the ridiculous stereotypes about West Virginians, I am proud of where I come from. Being from West Virginia is:
1. Absolutely loving college football
Whether you’re a Marshall or WVU fan, college football is everything to a West Virginian. Saturday’s are spent around a T.V or at a tailgate with family and friends, supporting your favorite team with a beer in your hand. College football means good food and good times, even when your team takes a loss.
2. Knowing every word to "Country Roads"
Yes, it’s true; West Virginians are proud of one of the few songs written about our state. We take pride in where we come from and this song explains why. I learned the words to country roads at the age of seven when I had to sing it for an elementary school choir concert and I still sing it today. I can promise that almost all West Virginians know this song and would be happy to teach it to you at any time of the day.
3. Wondering how people from other states have never had a pepperoni roll
Tell a West Virginian that you’ve never had a pepperoni roll and they’ll probably feel bad for you. The pepperoni roll should be considered West Virginia’s state food; they are eaten nonstop and us West Virginians find you crazy if you don’t like them. I recommend trying out some from JR'S Donut Castle in my hometown, Parkersburg.
4. Owning at least one piece of camouflage clothing
It doesn’t matter if you’re a hunter or not, camouflage is worn all throughout the state of West Virginia. Camo T-shirts, hats and even overalls make up a common outfit for a large number of West Virginians. Even me, being as girly as I am own a camo hat and I am not afraid to wear it.
5. Getting mad when someone confuses you with being from Virginia
Know your history people; we became a state in 1863. We are not still a part of Virginia and no I do not live close to Richmond. I mean, isn't the border clear enough? These are some of the common things people think about our state and we can’t say we enjoy explaining West Virginia’s history about how we became our own state over a century ago.
6. Family is everything
It might sound cliché, but it’s 100 percent true. In West Virginia, we are raised to believe that family always comes first. Weekly gatherings for Sunday dinner or family game nights are pretty common here. I was raised in a huge family. My great grandparents started it all and raised all of us to always make time for family. We meet every Sunday to have lunch, spend every holiday together and are always there to listen to one another. I can't imagine it being any other way; my family is the greatest and I don't know what I would do without them. We take pride in having such a strong and united family and we would do anything for each other.
7. Knowing where almost every city in the state is located
Asking where another West Virginian is from can start a great conversation, simply because there’s a good chance we’ve been there or know exactly what part of the state it’s in. This is one of the good things about being from a small state.
8. Loving adventure
White-water rafting, hiking, skiing and jumping off of the New River Gorge Bridge are just a few examples of what us West Virginians can get into. We love taking risks and taking advantage of the opportunities our state gives us to do so.
9. Enjoying nature
West Virginia is beautiful during every season, making it easy for West Virginians to love spending time outside. Taking walks, fishing, hunting and sitting by a river are common activities in WV. We love spending time outside and enjoying the beauty of wild and wonderful, West Virginia.
10. Truly believing West Virginia is "Almost Heaven"
To some, this statement may just come off as a way to make our state look good; but to West Virginians, it is 100 percent true. We adore the beauty of our state, the sense of community, generosity and love for West Virginia no matter where you go.
Being from West Virginia is something special. No matter where your life may take you, West Virginia will always be home. There’s just something about the mountain views, the blue and gold and the country roads that will always take you home.
