We've all know that there is a debate about which is better; the north or the south. Northerners say that Southerners aren't as smart; Southerners say Northerners aren't as classy. We fight back and forth about who has better food, who has better weather, and who's side of the Mason-Dixon line is all around better.
Since grew up in the North (proud Jersey girl), and I'm currently living in the South (proud gamecock at USC), I can get a pretty good view of both sides. I'm here to announce that both sides of the country are pretty darn fantastic, and I honestly can't even pick my favorite.
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If never been to the other side of the dividing line, here are the pros of both the north and the south.
Pros of The North
1. We get all the seasons.
The north covers all of its bases season-wise. Autumn is cool, colorful and festive with plenty Halloween/Thanksgiving vibes. There is usually at least one good snowstorm every winter. Spring is blooming with flowers and bright, pleasant days. And summer is full of sunny, humid days that are great for laying on the beach all day. The North will make all of your seasonal dreams come true.
2. The food is delicious.
Maybe I'm biased, but I'm really going to have to say, in my humble opinion, that Northern food is better than Southern food. Yes, the South has comfort food, but the North has basically everything else. If you want a good bagel, good slice of pizza, good soft serve ice cream, good sandwiches, good coffee, good calzones, good dinner food, and of course, Wawa, the North is the place to go.
3. The fashion is great.
The first thing I noticed when I moved to the South is how different the style was. In the North, you will rarely see someone in Nike shorts and an over-sized t-shirt. No one in the North would ever wear Chacos unless they were taking a tour of Niagara Falls. Northerners love their fashion, as made obvious by the fact that no matter where you live, there is a mall at least 15 minutes from your house.
4. The city life is popping.
Although I honestly prefer southern cities over many northern ones, the North has the bigger cities. With New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., it's difficult to beat the North when it comes to urban living. Most Northerner children grow up taking field trips to any three of those cities. Being able to take a day trip to any one of those three cities is a privilege not every person in the USA can say besides the north.
5. The lifestyle is fast-paced.
It's really hard to be late to something when you're in the North. Drivers aren't messing around on the highway. Lines don't take nearly as long. Everything is centered around efficiency and speed. Another thing I noticed immediately after moving to the South is how slow the customer service was compared to the north. Northerners will get you in and out quickly without a fuss. And a fast-paced lifestyle is ideal because you have more time for activities throughout the day.
Pros of the South
1. It's more laid back.
My favorite thing about the South is how it's all about being happy and living well. Northerners complain a lot more, and Northerners are a lot more cynical. Southerners are just generally happier and more relaxed. Maybe it's all the sunshine, but the life in the South is a lot happier.
2. There's a lot of pride.
Southerners are really proud about a lot, and it's really contagious. People are proud of what state they're from, about what school they attend, and about just being from the south in general. Ole Miss' marching band is literally called "Pride of the South." Honestly, Northerners never even talk about how we live in the North, but Southerners are always talking about how proud they are to live in the South. A lot of my friends say they wished their school has as much spirit as mine, and I definitely blame it on southern pride as a whole.
3. The weather is great.
Yes weather was on the Northern pros list too, but I just can't help it. I love the weather in the South. It's like an endless summer, except for those few weeks there is a brief, mild winter where people have the chance to wear their favorite sweaters. The sun is always shining, and outdoor activities are total acceptable almost year-round. People tell me they don't understand how I handle the heat, but once you experience Southern weather, you'd understand the infatuation.
4. College football is better.
The North has some pretty great college football too, but the South takes the cake. I wanted a big football school, so I knew the best place to look was the South. As I stated before, since there is a lot of pride in the south, game days are always pretty exciting, even if your record isn't the best. There are a lot of traditions at our games, and even professors can't help getting excited for game days.
5. People are friendlier.
People are a lot friendlier in the South. It's not uncommon to start a conversation with a total stranger. Cashiers will always make conversation when checking you out. People don't shy away from paying you a compliment. People say hello to each other even if they only met that one time a few months ago. It's actually encouraged to be friendly, whereas in the north, people think you're trying to sell something if you take the time to be hospitable.
