If you're not from the South then I'm sure there are some Southern things that you just don't understand. I was born and raised in New Hampshire, so I'm from way up there. I moved to Tennessee in 2008, right before my freshman year of high school. Even though I've been down here for eight years, I still don't understand a lot of southern things.
1) "Coke" - like is this supposed to be universal? Where I'm from we call it pop. Once we order a pop we have to be specific on what kind we want but down here everything is a Coke. How does that make sense? Like a Coke is literally a Coca Cola, not everything else.
2) "Bless your heart" - is this supposed to be an insult? Every time I hear it someone's saying, aw bless his heart or aw bless her heart. Like are you showing sympathy or secretly being rude without being blunt about it?
3) "Grits" - who in the hell actually eats this stuff? It legitatmely looks like baby vomit. What is it even made of? Why do people put syrup or cheese on it? Like does it taste so awful that you have to mask it with something else that actually has flavor? So gross.
4) "Liqour stores being closed on Sunday" - what in the world? Why is this even a thing? So what if I want to drink a brewski on Sunday. Why can't I? Up North liquor stores are open all day, everyday. Shoot, our Walgreens and CVS's sell liquor. Blasphemy.
5) "Hospitality" - granted this isn't a bad thing but I've never encountered such nice people before. People don't even have to know you and they just smile and wave at you, maybe even ask if you're having a good day. That's weird. I've never had so many doors held open for me or random compliments before.
6) "Marrying young" - this isn't necessarily a bad thing either but most of my southern friends from high school are already married. Some even have kids (again not a bad thing). But up North it's not that common. Not frowned upon but not common.
7) "Southern Baptist Churches" - the predominant faith up North is Catholicism. Which is what my family is. When I moved down south I was able to interact and go to different churches. I remember my first time at a southern baptist church was absolutely terrifying. Not because I had a bad experience but because NEVER in my life have I ever seen people so overcome with love for the Lord that they ran up and down the church aisles. They screamed and yelled at the top of their lungs. They threw themselves on the ground. I sat there in shock because every Catholic Church I've been to there is a plan you follow. No one yells or screams. We pray in silence. Say our verses and everything, take communion and then we're done. Going to a baptist church was different and a cool experience but one we don't have up North.
8) "Weather" - specifically snow. I swear Southern people go crazy when the weatherman hints about some snow. They go to the store and stock up on everything leaving the shelves empty. Not even an inch on the ground and schools are closed. Up North we went to school with two feet of snow on the ground. I promise, IT'S JUST SNOW.
There are still a few things that I don't understand about the south but I'm learning! I'll always be proud of my Northern roots but I'm starting to accept that I have a few southern ones as well.
