For about three months now, I have gone to college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and I am from New York, so as you would expect there are many differences that have stood out within the past three months. Whether it be my accent, the weather or the culture, there are many differences that I didn't think existed. I never thought to myself how different my accent was to others and how different the cultures are. It has taught me a lot and I feel as though I am emerging myself into a different culture, even though I'm still in the United States!
1. My accent
How do you say coffee? Caufee!!!
"Say sauce again!" I get this a lot, people asking for me to say words in my New York accent, words like sauce or coffee. I didn't think I had a New York accent until I came here and people asked me to repeat words like 20 times. I've been told my accent isn't strong, there are just a few words I say that are said in a stereotypical New "Yawk" accent (see you just did it). It's interesting to hear how people here say words differently, like instead of "bag" they say "beg," and they say "fer-sher" (for sure) a lot (I can already tell I'm starting to pick that one up quick).
2. The winters
In New York, we have some pretty brutal winters and I have defiantly experienced cold weather, but Wisconsin is on another level. It's only November and it already feels like it's six degrees outside, which is as cold as it gets in New York. I've only experienced negative degree weather once or twice and it was an interesting experience. We get a lot of snow in New York so I'd like to think I'm ready for the snow here, but I have a feeling that I have no idea what is coming.
3. The culture
I would say it's a misconception that people from New York are mean, impatient or even snotty but, it's kinda true. Although I don't live in New York City, I still have that New York attitude in me. That doesn't mean that I'm rude or anything, it just means I'm a little impatient and can get rude, unintentionally. We don't leisurely stroll in the city, I definitely know how to "city walk" and I'm very good at it. If you stop in the middle of the sidewalk you're definitely getting a little sass from me. We also known for not being very nice. A few weeks ago, my roomie and I were standing in line somewhere and she turned to me and said, "Let's just ask these guys to hold our spot so we can go get something!" I turned to her and my jaw dropped a little, I said "heh? They won't hold it for us!! pshhh." Well it turns out, people in Wisconsin will gladly hold your spot in line, news to me.
4. The beaches
Oh how I miss the beach. I miss being able to drive five minutes in my car and then be sitting on the beach. I miss taking a ferry to Fire Island to go the the beach. There are no beaches here (at least none that I know of), and I've grown up living at the beach in the summer and often in the winter. I do though, have good ole Lake Mendota and she is a beauty. It doesn't top the beaches I know but it will do.
