Just a few short months ago, my family made the move all the way from Illinois to Georgia. I've lived in Illinois pretty much my entire life - well, for as long as far as my memory goes back. I was born in Indiana, lived in Wisconsin for a bit, and then my family finally settled in Illinois when I was about four. So, I've basically always been a Midwestern girl.
I'm not going to lie, I was never a fan of living in Illinois. I don't particularly enjoy staring out onto seemingly endless miles of cornfields or sporting a winter coat for over half of the year. So, this move down South was kind of refreshing. Except now, I never leave the South because I go to school in North Carolina. So, I guess you could say I'm kind of an expert on the South now. Okay, not at all, actually but I'm adjusting. However, I can say, for those folks who have never ventured up into the lands of the Midwest, there are some fairly drastic differences.
1. People are extremely friendly.
It is not weird for a stranger to smile at you and ask you how your day is going- it's actually weird if it doesn't happen. People are always willing to lend a hand and seem to genuinely care about the well-being of others. Holding the door open for others is expected, and yes Northern and Midwestern boys, it does make Southerners the real gentlemen.
2. Everything is done much more slowly.
Down here, people take their time. Everyone is pretty calm, cool, and collected unlike people everywhere else in the country. My mom is from outside of Philly, so I'm used to that get sh*t done, chaotic mentality, but that is not how it is done here.
3. There are a lot of churches.
My mom told me one of the first things she was asked when my folks moved here was, "Have you joined a church yet?". Now, my family isn't particularly religious, so we get pretty weird looks when we respond to that question with a simple, "No." But hey, to each his own, right?
4. The weather is consistent. And warm.
After living through several snow storms and temperatures in the negative numbers, I will gladly embrace any 65 degree "winter day". Not having snow at Christmas will be strange at first, but I'm sure I can easily adapt to wearing jeans and a light jacket in the middle of December.
5. Snow is equivalent to the end of the world.
If it ever does snow in the South, people will act as if the apocalypse is upon them. Coming from a place where you spend most of winter snowed into your house, it's almost comical to watch Southern people panic over half an inch of snow.
6. College football is a big deal.
Who knew there was such a big difference between college and pro ball?
7. Cowboy boots are for any occassion.
Seriously, there's a store down the road from my house dedicated to just cowboy boots. They're not really my taste, but I can appreciate why people love them because it's a regional thing. I guess cowboy boots are the UGGs of the South.
8. Being referred to as "honey" or "little lady".
Anywhere you go, you can probably expect at least one person to refer to you using a pet name. No one in Illinois ever called me "sweet pea" at the local grocery store checkout. I have to say, it's definitely nicer than being referred to as "hey, you there".
9. Gas is gloriously cheap.
Seriously, I have no complaints about $1.99 gas.
10. There is more to nature than cornfields.
I feel a little jipped not having grown up in a neighborhood with trees that weren't planted by man. I appreciate corn and wheat fields as much as any decent human being can, but the South is about 1000 times prettier to look at than the flat, barren lands of my home state. Sorry, Illinois.
