Leaving the South to go to the North has to be one of the harder things you will do in your life. Here are the top 10 things you'll notice yourself missing once you leave the warm weather and nice people...
1. Sweet Tea
This is my number one for so many reasons. Growing up in the South, I drank more sweet tea than I did milk. The North just can’t do tea the same and I always feel really weird asking waiters if I can get a sweet tea with 9 packets of sugar on the side. My friends always give me the weirdest look.
2.”Y’all”
Oh boy, do I get made fun of every time I refer to my friends as “y’all”. It is so much easier to say than “you all” so the real joke is on you guys.
3. The SEC
There’s just something about the South Eastern Conference that can’t be recreated. I don’t know if it’s the close-knit feeling of being on an SEC campus or just the fun energy but I miss the SEC every day. The tailgates, the sporting events, the parties…there’s just nothing comparable in the North college campuses—sorry guys.
4. Country Music
Although I’m really only a fan of it during warm weather, I do love a good country album to blast while driving around with my windows down. People just don’t take country music the same in the north. I also really miss country concerts at outdoor amphitheaters (shout out to Lakewood Amphitheater right here).
5. The Waffle House
Every Sunday morning when I wake up, I think about how I really could go for a chocolate chip waffle with a side of cheese grits (and only pay $6). No diner in the North can ever compare in price, hospitality, or taste.
6. Chick-Fil-A
Although there are some Chick-fil-A’s in the North, they aren’t the same. Growing up 20 minutes from the original Chick-Fil-A, I have a very high standard for Chick-Fil-A and although the food is good, there is always something missing. I do feel a little bit more at home when they say “My Pleasure” though, so way to go guys.
7. “Winter”
Going to school on a mountain, the usual wind every day is around 13-17 MPH. I don’t think the wind has ever been that hard in my town ever. I miss winter being more like fall and I miss thinking it was really annoying to have to put on a jacket instead of a light coat when leaving the house.
8. Southern Hospitality
It’s true that nice folks can be found anywhere. I’ve met some genuinely wonderful Northerners. But there’s still something about Southern hospitality that I truly miss.
In the South, it’s standard practice to walk down the street and greet common people passing by with a smile and a “Hello! How are you?” Talking to complete strangers in public is not weird — in fact, it's just good manners. When I do that in the North, I’m pretty sure people think I’m on something. Also, using the terms "Yes Ma'am" and "Yes Sir" is like speaking a different language up here. Every time I say it, my friends laugh at me.
9. The only soda served is Coca-Cola
I cringe every time I ask for a Diet Coke with lemon and the waiter says “Is Pepsi okay?” The answer is no. I’ll just take water.
10. Summer Nights
Summer nights as a kid were spent catching lightning bugs—fireflies to the non-Southerners—in mason jars. Summer nights aren’t comparable in the North—people are still wearing jeans at night in July up here.
But no matter how far away from the South you go, you'll always be a southerner at heart!
