Ah, St. Louis. The Gateway to the West. Mound City. Rome of the West. The city well known for toasted ravioli, growing racial tensions, and its rapidly declining population is more than what is seen on the surface, as native St. Louisians like me know.
1. For starters, St. Louis is totally separate from St. Louis County, which surrounds the city.
I don't actually live in St. Louis; I live in St. Louis County, or Suburbia. St. Louis seceded from the surrounding county way back in 1876, and the two are completely separate. This makes it confusing for some, but it's been this way for a long time now, and we basically have to accept that the two entities will never kiss and make up.
2. What high school you went to is way more important than what college you went to.
As a high school student, this one hits close to home. No matter what part of the country you came from, a native will always ask you what high school you went to, and then nod like they know where that is as you say it. I've been asked many times "Lindbergh? Oakville? Kirkwood? Cor Jesu?" and I ask them the same in response. It's only natural around here!
3. Our local food is the best, hands down.
From toasted ravioli to Ted Drewes, St. Louis food can't be beat! Our local creations have started to slowly spread around the US, but the only place one can enjoy some breaded and then deep fried ravioli, or underbaked cake made with A TON of butter and powdered sugar to finish it off, is St. Louis!
4. Nobody talks about the Rams anymore. Nobody.
Who are the Rams?
All joking aside, when Kroenke (aka one of the many reincarnations of the Anti-Christ) decided to move the Rams, a team that wasn't doing so well in recent years, back to Los Angeles, St. Louisans got pissed. And rightly so! The Edward Jones Dome, which was built for them, is still being paid off!
Instead, St. Louisans prefer to focus on our more successful teams. The Cardinals and the Blues have certainly generated a lot of pride for our natives, especially after that team left us for a shiny new stadium.
Totally not bitter!
5. While St. Louis may have some (pretty big) flaws, you're still proud to call your city home.
Let's face it, you're probably never going to leave, are you? My parents certainly didn't. My dad lives 5 minutes away from his childhood home, and so do most of his childhood friends. The suburbs surrounding St. Louis offer the perfect place to raise a family, which is why my neighborhood especially was named one of Yahoo's best zip codes to live in! Houses are relatively affordable right now (at least, compared to other cities!), so why don't you put down that suitcase you've packed with the intention of getting out at the first possible opportunity and enjoy a toasted rav or two.
