I have been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging due to the holidays and traveling. I came upon this article on Buzzfeed, and it pretty much sums up all the things that one one told me when I moved away from the south...here is the article: Things no on tells you about leaving the south.....
Here are a few comments I have on the items listed.....
1) Referring to all carbonated beverages as "coke"- Having grown up in the South, I assumed that everyone drank coke products... WRONG WRONG WRONG...What i have found is that for the most part the west coast (or atleast Oregon ) is predominately a Pepsi culture...which I tell is NOT the same as Coke! I learned rather quickly that when someone offers a soda, to make sure that it is a coke product before accepting. Diet Pepsi=dirty dishwater in my books!
2) Manners....well, manners on the West coast are different. That is not to say that people are not nice, and hold the door open for you, etc. BUT, having grown up in a culture of "yes ma'am and no sir", I have had to QUICKLY break that habit. I have found that individuals out here DO NOT like being called ma'am or sir, and they often even find it insulting, like I am trying to say they are old. I slip up every now and again, but I have to reserve those manners for when I am at home in the south.
3) Sweet Tea---NOT the same outside of the south...NOT the same AT ALL! Except for the rare find of the Milo's sweet tea at the local Walmart...that was just a God send!
4) Yep, most everyone assumes that all southerns are a bunch of dumb, hick rednecks. And are surprised that I can read and wear shoes!
5)Using the word y'all in Oregon, usually illicit a response such as, "are you southern", or "you are not from around here are you"!
6)BBQ outside of the south is NOT GOOD...I REPEAT...NOT GOOD! Unless you know someone with a smoker and makes it at home...it is not WORTH wasting your calories on the stuff they call "BBQ" in the PNW...Its
7) Mosquitos...the people out here complain about them..but they are NOTHING like they are in the deep south...NOTHING. Growing up visiting my family in South Alabama, there were times I saw mosquitos so big I could have but a saddle on them and ridden them....
11) I would like to add to this list CHICKFIL A and Cracker Barrel, I have been so surprised how many people in the PNW do not know anything about either of these FANTASTIC dining establishments!
12) Air Conditioning...as I discussed in a previous post, it still blows my Southern mind that we live in a place where AC is not common place...its weird...so VERY weird! Here is my previous post on the topic: What do mean we don't have AC in our house???
15) Football, yet again something I have discussed in great detail in other posts..IS NOT THE SAME in the PNW. See previous post: Football Attire PNW Style .
17) Southern Sayings- I have found myself having to explain the true meaning of "bless her heart" far too often. As all southerns know, the saying has a double meaning it a)is a phrase of pure passive aggressiveness about said person in question...example..."Awww look what she is wearing ...bless her heart", and b) it serves as a term of empathy for someone..example.." The poor guy lost his job and his dog died, bless his heart". People out in the PNW are actually floored when I explain the double meaning to the phrase!
20) Summer- Summer in the south means one thing: HOT HUMID and MISERABLE. I find it comical when there is a "heat advisory" in Oregon...and the temperature is pushing 90 degrees with 70% humidity. These PNW natives would NEVER make it in the South during the summer if they think its a hot day at 90 degrees.
Here are is one additional one I would add to the list:
*Happy Holidays NOT Merry Christmas, is the preferred holiday greeting outside of the south- One thing I have learned is that in the PNW, religion is NOT the center of everyone's universe, as it often is in the south. This does not mean that I am not still religious, it is just that everyone is EXTREMELY sensitive to ALL religions/creeds/beliefs when it comes to the holiday seasons.
I hope you all are having a Happy Holiday!
Until next time y'all,
Emily
