Ah, Northern Virginia. I grew up in Loudoun County, at the very top of Virginia near the Potomac River. The culture up there is vastly different from anywhere else in Virginia, something I didn't realize until I got to college. If you understand or relate to any of these, then you probably spent some time living up in good ol' Northern Virginia.
1. When people ask where you're from, you say NOVA or DC because no one knows your actual hometown.
Everyone has heard of Northern Virginia, but the chances of someone hearing of your actual hometown is slim to none. So instead of saying it, in order to save time, you say NOVA.
2. Traffic is normal.
Need to get somewhere 15 minutes away after 4:00? Make sure you leave 30-45 minutes early or else you won't get there on time! Bumper to bumper traffic is normal, and it's key you learn how to drive in it ASAP.
3. All of your field trips were to Washington DC.
Every year, you took the same old field trip to see the museums and monuments in DC. By the time you were 10 years old, you knew everything there is to know about DC and more than you'd ever want to know.
4. NOVA is actually a college to you
To us, NOVA is actually Northern Virginia Community College, and you probably know someone who goes there or you took a class there.
5. You don't know where anything is outside of NOVA.
People tell you where they're from and you have absolutely no idea where that is, it's all a blur.
6. The weather can change in an instant.
It could be 30 degrees and snowing in the morning, but by the afternoon, it's 55 and sunny and there's no snow on the ground; almost like it never happened. That's considered to be normal.
7. School gets canceled because it's "too cold" or there's an inch of snow on the ground.
They're very cautious about school in the winter in NOVA, so even if there's a slight chance of a few inches of snow or it being too cold, they delay or cancel school. And that means we all get a call from the County's Public Communications Officer. In my case, Wayde Byard, a legend of sorts to NOVA kids.
8. Backs of cars are full of stickers displaying kids' High School teams.
It's mainly used for bragging rights, that's all.
9. Most of your friends can't talk about what their parents do for a living.
Meaning their parents work for some form of the Government and it's top secret info that you couldn't understand even if you tried. They can't talk about it? End of story.
10. Northern Virginia is not the South, and that's a fact.Â
You don't consider yourself a Southerner, but you're also below the Mason-Dixon line so you're not technically a Northerner, so you're just a Virginian.
11. You don't say distance in miles, instead you use time.Â
You don't say "I live about 15 miles from there!". Instead, it's "I live about 40 minutes from there!"
12. You say you hate it there, but really, you miss it a little when you leave
Going to college in Southern Virginia was the best decision I made, but sometimes I do miss the crazy culture and atmosphere of NOVA. But, I won't truly ever admit it.
In reality, Northern Virginia is not that bad after all.
The minimum wage is not a living wage.
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