If you were unaware, many Northerners call Southerners babies about the cold. I am here to tell you that this is true. I’ve seen cold, like real cold, not fake cold, like real cold. I remember in elementary school it took 15 min just to put on all my snow gear, just to spend my day in a heated building. There was one day I vividly remember; it was like 15 below zero and for some reason my mother let me go to school in shorts. Why? She believed I could bare the arctic blast. If you grew up in the north like I did, you can relate to what I’m saying. You understand what it’s like to not see green grass for 3 or more months at a time. If you didn’t grow up in the north, well I’m sorry, but you’re a baby. That was mean, but I’m sorry it is so true.

All this cold weather has me thinking about my childhood and what it was like to move to the south. So, I’m going to start off by saying, that I moved from Boston a little over 8 years ago. With this passing of time, I have become a baby myself. Yes, go ahead and laugh. I can’t take cold like I used to. I can however, wear shorts on my birthday in January, on the beach. I’ve learned to love that about the south. However, my heart will forever love the snow and all the days I spent sledding. There are many things I miss about the north, one of which is ‘Hamilton House’ (aka the best pizza in the whole world). I miss my little northern, ‘small town USA’ and I miss some of my best friends. There are days where I think about what my life would be like if I had never left. Despite this, there are so many things that I love about the south. I love that you guys gave the world, sweet tea, Cookout, ‘real’ bbq, fried chicken, and country music. I love the fact that southern charm is a real thing & you see it everyday. I love that everyone uses, ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘yes sir.’ I also love the fact that it is warm like 10 months out of the year. The south has begun to capture pieces of my heart. When I first moved down south, I was lost. It’s like a whole new country. I’ve made a list of things I believe all Southerners need to know about northerners and what they think when they move down here.

1. We were not raised to say, ‘yes ma’am’ and yes sir’, do not get mad if we do not use them, we are trying, we swear.

2. We drive aggressively, why? Because everyone up north drives aggressively. We also think southerners (South Carolinians especially) are awful drivers.

3. We have no idea what, “if the creek don’t rise” and “down yonder” mean. Please, explain!!

4. Your kindness might scare us at first, we aren’t used to being treated with respect.

5. We know, we know! You’re the 100th person to tell us, we have an accent. Stop and think about what you sound like to us. You sound crazy, trust me.

6. If we order a chocolate milkshake and call it a frappe, it’s habit, that’s what it’s called up north.

7. Why are you all so obsessed with college football? We don’t understand, why??

8. Why do cars going in a circle, excite you? We don’t get it, and have no desire to learn about your stupid sport.

9. We say, ‘you all’, ‘you’s guys’, and ‘you guys’. You say, ‘y’all’. It’s the same thing, get over it. We are both right.

10. Don’t be freaked out if we shed a tear at our first southern Homecomin’, we just haven’t seen so much beautiful food in one place!!

11. Why, oh why must you fry everything? Like butter? Really, does that need to be fried?

12. Why is lunch called dinner and dinner called supper? It’s lunch and dinner!!

13. Finally, we were born into a culture that moves wicked fast. Please forgive us, as we adapt to the slow-moving culture of the south!