Even though the United States is a unified country, there is a drastic difference from between the four corners of our great nation. It seems like you are in a whole new world even if you are just traveling along the East coast. On my recent trip from McDonough, Georgia to Boston Massachusetts I realized just how different the Northeast is from the Southeast. Because of how different the two regions are some of what is customary down South seems peculiar up North. Here’s what actually happens when a Georgia raised girl goes to the heart of the North.

1. People ALWAYS make comments about your accent.

Literally whenever you go anywhere, whether it be your local Walgreens or a tourist attraction people do not go without noticing your southern accent. They say things like “you sound so innocent when you talk” or “you use quite a few sayings.” They aren’t used to “sweet like molasses” or “y’all.” You find yourself often having to explain what you’re saying or having to ask them what they are saying because they have thick accents as well. The Bostonian accent is like no other it’s a mix of Jersey and Italian and I don’t even know what else. All I know is that every interaction I have with a Bostonian we are both in awe other each other’s accents.

2. You turn heads or get weird looks when you smile at strangers walking by.

It seems like no one smiles at each other here. People tend to think you’re up to something when you smile at them or are overly polite. They get really freaked out but some people smile back and then you that you are just the sweetest thing, so I stayed smiling at people walking by, you never know whose day you may make.

3. You’re confused by how close everything is but how long it takes to get there.

When I put my destination in the GPS it says said destination is just 3 miles away but the arrival time says it is like 30 minutes away. There is so much traffic everywhere and the roads are close together that it takes so much longer to get to where you are doing.

4. You break your budget trying to buy things and see attractions.

Everything is so much more expensive here whether it be property value, clothes, or a trip to a close by museum everything cost so much more. I feel like I’m going to have to work every waking hour to pay off all this debt I have accumulated.

5. DRIVERS ARE CRAZY.

If you are a southerner driving in the North you have another thing coming. People don’t use their turn signals. They run red lights and stop signs. And don’t get me started on how many people have cut me off since I got here.

6. You cannot order sweet tea.

Sweet tea up here is not sweet tea. It is iced tea. Do not order it here. You’ll have to go your whole visit without thinking the nectar of the of the gods: sweet tea.

7. You run out of time.

There is so much to do up here. If you go to one New England state you’ll want to go to all of them because they are driving distance away from each other. There is just so much to do in every state that there just isn’t enough time to finish to all of what you want to do.