As a native to Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana, arguably three of the most defining Midwestern states, I found after leaving that I had grown surprisingly attached to the flatlands and the simple lifestyle that these flyover states are composed of. If you’re a Midwesterner that has ventured to another region, here are some things that you may find that you relate to.
1. Any accent comes as a shock to you, however slight.
Midwesterners are known as having one of the least distinct American accents, so whether you go to the South or the Northeast, you can notice even the slightest changes of pronunciation. That means even a “y’all” is enough to make us cringe.
2. Driving on any kind of hilly or curvy surface feels weird and can even be a little frightening at first.
We’re used to flat roads.
3. When the weather’s clear, minutes and miles are pretty interchangeable, so we just end up telling you how many minutes it takes to get from one place to another.
It’s only later that you realize that eight miles can actually end up taking more than eight minutes.
4. But for a solid eight out of 12 months, the weather’s not clear.
It surprises you that other states don’t spend Halloween and spring break in snow.
5. To you, freaking out over a couple of inches of snow makes absolutely no sense.
Even if there are feet of snow on the ground, you shovel your driveway, add some salt, and go to school!
6. Driving from one town to the next means passing through lots and lots of cornfields.
Literally, the Midwest is 90 percent corn fields.
7. Summer consists of lots and lots of lake days.
Not all of us have the luxury of an ocean beach, but the lake beach does just fine. (And the Great Lakes are far better than fine!)
8. Puppy chow is the greatest and most addictive snack of all time.
No, it’s not dog food.
9. You put ranch on everything.
Wait, other people don’t?
10. Your childhood involved chasing fireflies.
Seeing them is still magical.
11. Even though fall rarely lasts more than a week, it is absolutely beautiful.
No other season can compete with the assortment of fall colors.
12. You probably had more friends that did 4H than Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.
Head, heart, hands and health!
13. The trips to Chicago have ruined all other pizza for you.
Nothing beats deep-dish pizza.
14. Your closet is almost too diverse for any other region.
You mean I probably don’t need a sweatshirt in the month of May in other places?
15. No matter how run-down they may seem, local and state fairs are a must.
Inclusive of the countless amounts of fried food everywhere.
It’s only after you leave that you realize that no matter how plain it may be, the Midwest will always be home.
