I grew up in a small town and went to college in a big city.
I've met countless different kinds of people from different walks of life, but one thing I have noticed overall is that you can usually tell who came from a so-called country area versus a big city. Aside from the typical sense of style in regards to clothing, there are other telltale ways of determining who has experiences where.
I've talked to other friends about the differences, and we've come up with a variety of things that we have noticed to be commonplace in one group that differ in the other. Of course, these things don't always stand to be true and there are always exceptions, so please don't find offense in these determinations.
The first point that we agreed on was that country kids tend to have a better understanding of how much work can go into such a small thing. City kids definitely know how the process works, but they don't savor all the hard work put into something as little as a pea or soybean.
Often, this is because country kids live the constant process of tending and harvesting. They set their sights on each little detail to make sure that it's executed correctly, while city kids don't really care much about the intricacies of small things. They tend to look at the bigger picture, while country kids admire the smaller details.
Because of this, country kids tend to be more thankful for what they have, regardless of what it is. They know how much work and thought goes into obtaining what they want, so they appreciate it more because it was well earned. City kids can sometimes lean more towards feeling that they're owed something if they put any type of work into a job. Without focusing on the work they're putting in, they're more focused on the end goal, so they can be less appreciative of what they receive in turn.
The second point was city kids are rougher around the edges, mostly because they have to be. They're more cautious with people and less likely to trust people when they haven't been shown they are trustworthy. They're more street smart and have a knowledge of some of the worst sides of others, as well as the best sides. Country kids are warmer and more likely to wear their hearts on their sleeves. They don't see the absolute worst of the world quite yet, so they're more likely to trust strangers.
For the third point, we came to the conclusion that country kids are into activities that are more outdoor-oriented. They're likely to grab some friends, a couple cold ones, and post up for the day hunting or fishing. City kids, on the other hand, lean toward a preference for shopping malls and clubs. More than likely, this has to do with what they had around them growing up.
City kids, of course, would probably show a tendency towards more industrialized activities because they're often surrounded by tons of buildings with little yard. Country kids are often around open land, farms, and plenty of fields, so it would make sense they lean towards the outdoors.
Finally, we decided that the general mannerisms are different. Country kids respect their elders, family, and others above all else, regardless of how they're treated. They won't put up with being stepped on, but they'll let you know when to stop pushing them.
City kids, however, are used to a dog-eat-dog world. Their mentality is that if they aren't respected, then they won't put out respect, no matter who you are. The way that country kids speak is different -- often, there's a southern drawl attached to it and excessive use of the word "Y'all". City kids, however, tend to use more slang terms. In general, the morals between the two can differ widely.
Again, these points are not always true. Not every country kid is this way, and not every city kid fits the mold. There are ups and downs from being raised in either area. Country kids don't trump city kids, and vice versa. There are good qualities in each, so remember that and apply them. Though there may be differences, the two can get along just fine.
