It’s been pretty weird adjusting to southern life this past year. I’ve learned to say things like y’all and fixin’ to. Coke is the word used to express the want of all soft drinks. Sweet tea isn’t a drink down here, it’s a way of life. And if you’re looking for a good ol’ walking taco? Forget about it! The culture shock I’ve experienced moving from Iowa to Texas has been comparable to the culture shock my international friends have experienced moving to the United States. Here are five things I’ve realized are extremely different in the Midwest compared to the South:

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Snow. In Iowa, I remember it snowing a foot overnight and then still having to go to school at 8 a.m. the next morning. In Texas, they shut down entire cities because of a couple inches of snow. People don’t know how to drive in it here. The world is ending! There’s an inch of snow on the ground! Calm down, people. It’s just precipitation.

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The State Fair. The Iowa State Fair is known for many things, but the one thing that stands out to me is all the food served on a stick. Have you ever eaten fried butter on a stick? I have. What about a fried Twinkie on a stick? Or an entire salad (don’t forget the Ranch) on a stick? Yes, the Texas State Fair has the biggest rides. But their rides are no competition for our wide variety of food sold on a stick. The butter cow deserves a mention, too. It sets the mooooo-d for the whole fair!

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Corn. Every Midwestern native knows that the only way to buy the best sweet corn is out of the back of some guy’s pick-up truck on the side of the road or in a parking lot. In Texas, that isn’t how it works. Yes, you can find corn at farmer’s markets or grocery stores here, but it is nothing compared to the fresh, homegrown sweet corn Midwestern farmers sell out of the backs of their trucks.

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Walking Tacos. Walking tacos are a Midwestern staple. You can find them at graduation parties, birthday parties, family gatherings, and even at your local, seasonal Dairy Queen (shout out to the little one back home in Waverly, Iowa). Walking tacos aren’t just a snack or easy meal up in the north. It’s a go-to favorite for literally every occasion. It’s even something they have at a handful of weddings. Believe it or not, sometimes the best way to eat a taco is out of a Dorito or Frito bag with a plastic fork.

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Pop. Let me clarify, when I say pop, I’m referring to a sweet, carbonated drink usually found in aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and at dining establishments. Call it what you want; back home, it’s a pop. When Texans order a soft drink, they say Coke more often than not. I get funny looks here when I order a pop. You’ll hear an occasional soda or even soda-pop. But pop is something from home I’ll be keeping for a while.

These are just five of the many differences I’ve noticed between life in the Midwest and life in the South. Do I enjoy the weather here? Absolutely. Do I think I could live in Texas for the rest of my life? No doubt. But make no mistake, I will always be a Midwestern girl. So when I order a pop or say hello to strangers in the grocery store, don’t be surprised. It’s a Midwestern thing.