My friend Ashley asked me the other day what I loved about the South and if I would go back home after I graduated. The answer to that is yes, most likely I will go back to Massachusetts when I graduate, but it did get me thinking. Why did I choose come back to the south after my first year? It sure wasn’t because of the financial assistance from my school or the government so really… What is it that draws me to Tennessee? I made a list for you…
1. Sweet Tea
For my northerners, let me tell you something, sweet tea is more than just adding sugar to iced tea. Also, its delicious. I love sweet tea. Sometimes it can be a little too much for me, but when its hot out and your sweet tooth starts pestering you, there is nothing more satisfying.
2. Football Season
Especially GO VOLS! Let me just start by saying, my college, yes my college, has a larger stadium than the New England Patriots by about 40,000. Think about that. There is nothing like football in the south, tailgating in the south, screaming rocky top in the south. You don’t know football season until you go to an SEC football game and that’s just a fact
3. Music on the Streets
This is a strange one. One that I never really thought about until I didn’t have it anymore. I like walking around and hearing music here and there. Jazz, country, a random cello player just hanging on a corner street.
4. Festivals
Knoxville has a literal BISCUIT FESTIVAL. I don’t think I need to elaborate on the too much to be honest. I went to an Italian Festival in Tennessee where there are for sure fewer Italians than where I live and it was amazing. Also the music and arts and food festivals are everywhere and are all so unique and fun in their own ways. I love that, you learn so much and you don’t even mean to.
5. The Weather
Now I love winter. I am a winter baby. I love the snow, the cold, and the snow-days… All of it. However, walking to class in that sounds like a nightmare. Tennessee’s winters are not friendly, BUT they also are not long, and that is something I can get with.
6. Biscuits
Have you ever had a good, quality southern biscuit? It can change your life
7. Pimento Cheese
You cant even buy this stuff back home. I went 18 years without it and this past summer I thought about it daily.
8. Nashville
This city is so fun. It’s cute and small and there are people of all ages hanging out and rocking out. My roommate freshman year lives just outside and I went home with her for Thanksgiving and Easter and got a nice little introduction. It was such a nice introduction that I started counting down the days until I could go back…. I am currently writing this from Nashville.
9. Smoky Mountains
So much to see and all so beautiful. Going to the mountains for a good hike or some sightseeing is an amazing way to spend the weekend. No matter where you go, there are trails and wildlife and a plethora of trees. And, it’s only 40 minutes from campus.
10. Country Music
I used to dislike country music a lot. Now I like most of it. There’s something about listening to country music in Tennessee, where it was born, that makes it sound so much better. Driving around with my friends while we jam to country are some of my favorite memories. It’s one thing to listen to country music in rural Massachusetts where people try so hard to be country and then listening to it in Tennessee, where people are just being themselves.
Of course there are things that I miss about home, but I love my school and I love Tennessee. There’s a lot of love and a lot of heart in this state and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
