I am a mixed breed when it comes to the South vs. North debate. I was born in Georgia -- but in Atlanta, so a city version of Southern -- and only lived there for a few years. Then I became a cheese head and moved to Wisconsin where we had cows, not cowboy boots. Finally, I moved to Florida where we pretend to be Southern, but lack any form of an accent. I am currently attending school in North Carolina, where the debate continues. Despite my geographical confusion, I identify with the South for the following 10 reasons.
1. Geography. I'm not cool enough to be from the West Coast, I don't like the outdoors enough to be from the Midwest and I lose circulation in my hands when it's too cold (i.e. the North).
2. Hospitality. I love the idea of Southern hospitality. I love the expected “Yes ma'am's" and “No sir's" and the general friendliness of (most) people that one encounters in the South. Even when we question others' choices, it still sounds polite. “Aw honey, bless your heart, no…"
3. Clothes. Three-quarters of the people you see look like they stepped out of a J.Crew or Lilly Pulitzer catalogue. You will know the following brands by age 15: Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Southern Tide, Southern Proper and Jack Rogers.
5. Publix.T his isn't even necessarily a Southern thing (being that not all Southern states are blessed enough to have them), but Publix is the best grocery store ever and I almost cried when I saw they are building one near my college. #DreamsDoComeTrue.
6. Events. I love the events of the South where we all come together and flaunt our southern-ness. I recently attended the Carolina Cup (a derby race in Camden, S.C.) where thousands of college students could be found not watching the race, strutting through a massive sea of bowties, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines and of course, my home girl, Lilly Pulitzer.
7. SEC. I mean, I'm sure all the conferences are great, but there is something about the Southeastern conference that is just peachy. Even if it is not your team, you still find yourself rooting for the SEC team to kick Florida State's butt. (I support the Deacs in the ACC).
8. Beach experience. I include “experience" in there because, yes, certain Northern states have beaches. But if it's not warm enough to enjoy them, then it doesn't really count..
9. Language. We have our own secret language that Northerners can't decode. “Y'all, I reckon it ain't no thang, but a chicken wing (pronounced “wang")…" JK…kind of.
10. Southern pride. I do mean pride, not Tide. There is just something special about living below the Mason-Dixon that can't be put into words. All of these elements are a part of it, but there seems to be an unspoken sense of unity in being southern. People from the South generally LOVE the South and everything that it entails.
All of this being said, both the North and South have pros and cons. However, for me, the South is the place to be. Embrace your inner-southern twang, y'all.
