Moving to New England for school was definitely a culture shock for me because I've been grounded in my southern home since birth. If you want to take a journey up north, come ready. Be prepared that sweet tea is not a thing, anywhere, and if you do it’s probably Nestea, which you might as well call water with some sugar. But, if you have the chance to go to some of the best schools in the country here are some things to expect.
Snow Happens
It is inevitable and you will have to learn to live (and party) through. Hopefully (unlike me) you know what good snow boots are AND you make this purchase preferably before the first blizzard hits, because trust me, those Bean Boots will be your best friend. Despite this unbearable ice box you, go outside and play in the snow, especially if it’s your first time seeing it. Make the best of the situation. If you are lucky enough to have a snow day, GO OUT. These will be some of the most fun nights on campus. It's the only night leggings and a top will do, and no one judges you.
Not Everyone Is Nice
Growing up in the south, you learn manners and etiquette pretty quickly. However, these lessons apparently are skipped in New England. No one HAS to be nice to you. They don’t hold the door open for you, they won’t just say hi on the street, and they definitely won’t let you merge into their lane. Everyone has their agenda which leads to being all consumed into their own lives and not caring about anyone around them. It is a highly competitive area and no one is laid back or just taking it day by day.
Public Transportation Is Normal
You will learn to use and LOVE the subway, taxis, and buses in your city. Using the T in Boston the first time was definitely intimidating, but it’s really not as hard as it seems. Being able to quickly and cheaply get around a big city is necessary in the northeast. Public transportation is not frowned upon as widely as it is in the south. It’s a necessity to survive in the whirlwind that is a big city. Because let’s face it no one is prepared to drive in the situation that is: horrible roads, crazy drivers, snow, or sharing the road with the cable cars.
Football Is NOT A Way of Life
This is the most disappointing fact of going to school in the northeast. Of course, there are games to go to and sometimes there are even sad attempts at tailgating, but nothing compares to an SEC game. Growing up in Tennessee, Volunteer football was a way of life since the day I was born. Tailgates, sorority girls in boots, and frat guys yelling way too much are all an expectation on Saturday. Why would you want to be anywhere else? The game is more of a social outing than actually watching football, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. So I guess my advice is, try to learn to like hockey?
Greek Life Is Not The Same
Southern sorority girls are what we all come to expect when thinking about Greek life. Big t-shirts, norts, and chacos are not widely accepted up north. Formals don’t happen in fun cities like NOLA or on a cruise ship. It’s not expected for a girl to paint her date a cooler for his formal. There are not the grand houses (mansions) for every frat and sorority. In fact, you’re lucky if your greek life has housing at all. I had a much different idea of what sorority life would be like because of the southern ideals, but you learn to adapt and that not everything is about being top tier.
The Food Is WAY Different
This was my biggest struggle of my first year. The dining hall or even restaurant food will greatly disappoint compared to your families passed down recipes. Biscuits are not a staple, and biscuits and gravy is a rarity. Grits cannot be found. You’re expected to try new types of food like Moroccan or that Irish pub in the city. Nothing is quite as satisfying as fried chicken, and you’re lucky to find that outside of the occasional KFC. And the end all be all, there are no Chick-Fil-A’s. How could anyone live in a world with no waffle fries or Polynesian sauce? But somehow they survive, which I’ll never understand.
If you think you can handle the way of living in the northeast you can get some of the best educations known to man. But if you grew up southern, be prepared for a different way of living.
