Since I was born, I have lived in the lovely Windy City that is Chicago. I take pride in my hometown- so obsessed with the culture and people that I recently had the Chicago stars tattooed on my ankle, but that is beside the point. What I truly want to talk about is a place hundreds of miles from my beloved skyscrapers- the South. My decision to go away to school in the South was not a difficult one. See, Chicago gets about 40 inches of snow per year. That is 40 inches too much for me. The way I view it, if I have the excuse to go somewhere warm for four years, why not use it?
As April comes to a close, the end of my freshman year at the University of Georgia is quickly approaching too. I am fortunate enough to say that this past year could not have been better and that I do not for a second doubt my choice in college. This contentment in being a dawg does not come as a surprise. What is surprising, however, is the culture shock I experienced when arriving last fall. I knew my classmates were going to talk weird and walk around in jackets in 60 degree weather, but there were many cultural differences that I simply was not aware of. None of these differences are necessarily bad, they are just, well, what make the Northerners and the Southerners different. Although I love my hometown dearly, I am glad I had the opportunity to thoroughly experience just how disparate regions of the same country could be. To give you some insight on what I mean, bear with me as I vocalize the various thoughts that came into my Northern mind as I took on the South.
- Is it just me or are most of the girls here blonde?
- I guess I didn’t get the memo that my sandals need to be designer.
- Jack Rogers what?
- If they are so uncomfortable why would you wear them?
- Why are my Old Navy flip-flops considered shower shoes?
- Seriously. They are cheap and I want to wear them.
- “Patagonia.” Pata- what?
- I cannot keep up with the number of Southern brands.
- Give me Comfort Colors or give me death. Got it.
- There is no way I am conforming to wearing large T-shirts and norts.
- Wow, who knew large shirts are so comfy?!?
- I can never wear sizes medium or small again.
- I swear I am wearing pants.
- Monogram this. Monogram that.
- The middle letter of the monogram is your last initial…?
- Oh I am the one with the accent???
- Being a Yankee and being from Chicago are two completely different things.
- Ew, Chacos.
- I will never buy Chacos.
- What is the deal with the need for a rain jacket and rain boots?
- It is just rain. Can’t I wear what I normally wear?
- I could really use rain boots right now.
- Y’all is not a word.
- “Hey y’all!!”
- Not sure if I am excited or disappointed that I just used that word…
- Don’t say “sir”, you are going to insult the guy.
- I am not a “ma’am”, thank you very much!
- Football football football FOOTBALLLLL!!!!
- I am supposed to wear a dress to the game?
- So I dress like I just rolled out of bed on the weekdays and wear fancy clothes on the weekends??
- But it is a football game..
- Ooooh so this is what tailgating is.
- So are these families that are tailgating giving away free food?
- I need to buy Ray Bans ASAP.
- The guys here are a whole different breed.
- Talk about preppy to the max.
- Vineyard Vines button-down, Chubbies, New Balance shoes, vest, baseball hat, croakies- check!
- I really don’t understand girls’ obsession with trucks.
- Isn’t a big truck making up for something else…?
- No that is not a “buggy”. That is a “cart”.
- No you do not have “chill bumps”. You have “goose bumps”.
- Oh dear Lord, I can tell that I am talking funny now.
- THE SOUTH IS CHANGING ME.
- I swear it is not that cold.
- Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, cuz it’s 55 degrees out!!
- You do not have an excuse to wear UGGS down here. Ever.
- THIS. IS. NOT. COLD.
- The snowpocalypse? Really?
- I wish I brought a warmer jacket.
- Please let it snow so we can get a week off of school.
- Why is everything closed on Sundays?
- So wait, Chick-fil-A has Chick-fil-A sauce and Zaxby’s has Zax sauce… but aren’t they the same thing?
- Y’all just can’t get enough fried chicken, can you?
- The cows must love it down here.
- Ranch on everything?
- Wow, it is like I have never had Ranch before.
- RANCH IS THE BEST THING EVER. (Mmm ranch and fries- YAAS)
- What am I gonna do when I go back home?
- The nearest Chick-fil-A is 20 minutes away…
- 70 degrees in March? I can dig it.
- My friends are stuck with snow right now, HA!
- Sending a Snapchat to them of me in shorts in 3, 2, 1…
- Yes, I have tried sweet tea before.
- No, I do not like it.
- Wait so I don’t have to hang out with my family over Spring break?
- Your family has been letting you go with friends on Spring break since you were how old???
- I cannot do the South in the Spring.
- Talk about bright color overload.
- Is it Easter everyday or what?
- Where can I buy my typical dark, depressing Northern clothing?
- The best part about this school is that it is in a state warm enough for guide dog puppies year round!
- Hey, the South is pretty great.
- Maybe I’ll come back to live down here 🙂
I saw this blog and absolutely fell in love with it. I’m going to be a freshman in college and I’m from the North going South. For my final English paper I’m writing about a similar topic and really would love if I could get in contact with the author so I can ask her a few questions, since my essay is more of a literary journalism piece. I hope I can speak with her thanks!
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