Moving to California for college has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It’s a completely different culture and quite frankly, a whole new lifestyle. However, identifying as a Texan in San Diego has prompted a plethora of questions regarding my native state. Some have resulted in much needed laughter and others have induced an uncontrollable rolling of the eyes. Here are some of my all time favorites.
1. “Do you guys, like, ride horses everywhere?”
Contrary to popular belief, we do not. While horses are beautiful creatures, we no longer rely on 18th century means of transportation.
2. “Did you want to grab Chipotle?”
Let’s be clear: Chipotle is not real Mexican food. It’s undeniably an upgrade from Taco Bell, but it’s still fast Mexican food. Texan’s take immense pride in their Mexican cuisine, and we even added our own twist (AKA our beloved Tex-Mex). If you have yet to experience such bliss, we will happily introduce you!3. “Are cowboy boots a thing?
Cowboy boots are definitely a thing. They can be worn with almost any outfit — jeans, skirts, shorts, etc. Many women even opt to wear them under their wedding dress, rather than standard heels!
4. “Is Texas considered the South?”
*Forehead smack with palm* Please refer to your 3rd grade geography knowledge before asking this absurd question. Yes, Texas is absolutely the South.
5. “Is everything actually bigger in Texas?”
The bigger the better and the more the merrier! We embrace our bigger trucks, bigger hair, bigger laughs, and bigger hearts — and my personal favorite since residing in California, bigger parking spots!
6. “You say a pledge to your state flag?”
Texans have an abundance of state pride. Saying the pledge to our
flag is something we do starting in kindergarten. Visiting historical
sites such as the Alamo or the Texas State Capitol is something we’ve
all done, and we can tell you all of our state symbols. We love taking
pictures in masses of bluebonnets on the side of the road each spring,
and if you’ve never had Texas pecans (*note it’s pronounced
pi-ˈkän...
not pee-can), we feel sorry for you.
7. “What does bless your heart mean exactly?”
This is a bit of a trick question. Depending on the context in which this is said, it can either be a term of endearment or a less direct way of being condescending. Good luck figuring out which one it is.
8. “What do people mean by southern hospitality?”
By southern hospitality, we mean acknowledging the little things. We wave at the people in our neighborhood when we drive by, regardless of whether or not we know them. You always hold the door open for the person behind you, and you know you will never leave someone’s house hungry or thirsty — in fact, you are likely to leave with a bag full of leftovers in case you find yourself hungry on your way home. Also note that if you ever date someone from the South, you better refer to his or her grandparents as “ma’am” or “sir,” respect is a huge deal.
9. “Haha! You actually say ya’ll!”
Bless your heart…
