Carmel, Indiana: a suburban city in central Indiana directly north of Indianapolis. If you're from outside the state of Indiana or haven't heard of Carmel, allow me to enlighten you with some Carmel culture, stereotypes, and truths about growing up here. If you're from the central Indiana area, you've probably heard of our city, and most likely have some preconceived notions about us Carmelites. Finally, if you're from Carmel, I think you will find some truth in these statements about our wonderful hometown!
1. You're an expert at driving in roundabouts.
Yes, I'm already talking about roundabouts. It had to come in at some point, why not right off the bat? Growing up in Carmel, you quickly grow accustomed to not only driving in roundabouts but also knowing when and how to properly cross the street at one of these intersections. It's also pretty easy to tell if someone is from out of town based on how they conduct themselves in and near roundabouts. (Their license plate can also be a dead giveaway, but that's beside the point.)
2. You sometimes forget that realistic statues scattered throughout your downtown aren't the norm for most cities.
When people visit Carmel from out of town, they often comment on our random statues along Main and Rangeline. Typical reactions include shock, confusion, amusement, and finally a strong desire to pose and take pictures with the statues.
3. You are used to people grimacing when you tell them you're from Carmel.
Especially if they're from another suburb in central Indiana. Carmel High School was a rival of most of the other high schools in the area, but the stereotype of people from Carmel goes beyond that. According to several people from Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Zionsville, Carmel is full of wealthy, snooty families. I will admit, we do have some people that fit that description, but it does get old having to explain to people that, "Yes, I'm from Carmel. No, I'm not the rich snob you probably think I am."
4. Bub's Burgers was one of your favorite restaurants in your hometown.
Granted, if you're vegetarian or vegan this probably isn't the place for you. But for all my fellow omnivores out there, this award-winning restaurant has a fun, laid back atmosphere and might be one of the most popular local restaurants in Carmel. Sure, there may be a location in Zionsville and one in Bloomington, but Carmel will always be the home of the original!
5. When your high school girl's swim team won the state championship, it wasn't even a surprise.
Carmel High School's women's swimming and diving team is incredibly talented, which isn't surprising when you realize how hard they work. They make it look so easy to win 30 consecutive state championships, but these young women seem to be at practice constantly, and needless to say, they deserve the recognition they get for their extremely impressive levels of dedication!
6. Many of your high school friends went to IU, Purdue, IUPUI, or Ball State.
I mentioned this briefly in an article about switching from a big high school to a small college, but it's so true that I'll say it again. Obviously, with a graduating class of over 1000 students, not everyone goes to one of these four colleges. But a significant number of them will go to one of these Indiana public universities. Because of this, the number of IU, Purdue, and Ball State license plates in Carmel is unreal.
7. You were extremely lucky to have a high school performing arts program that was, in a word, excellent.
From Carmel High School's Symphony Orchestra to the Marching Greyhounds, the various musical and theatrical ensembles are very impressive to watch/listen to, even if music isn't your forte. The band, choir, and orchestra directors, in particular, are some of the most talented music educators in the area, if not the state. Like the women's swim team, the ensembles at CHS, especially the top show choirs, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony 1, World Guard, and the marching band all work extremely hard to be as successful as they are. And let's all be honest, the annual performing arts convocation was the favorite convo of pretty much everyone in the school.
8. You know which city was number one on the list of CNN Money's Best Places to Live in 2012.
That was four years ago, but you're probably still proud of it.
9. You are extremely lucky to have the hometown that you do.
It's not perfect, but it's home. You will probably move away and live your life somewhere else, but the wonderful city of Carmel, IN will always hold a special place in your heart.
