One of the main reasons I decided to move across the country to attend college was that I wanted to experience something as different as possible from where I grew up. I grew up in a mid-sized suburban city about 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, so what better way to experience a completely different culture, while staying in America, than to head south? So the following are just a few (among many) observations from my perspective during my time attending UTD.
1. The heat.
- Yes, yes, I know this is the first thing native Texans hear from us Northerners who brag about not being cold unless it’s under 30 degrees, but it is seriously such a major part of living here. The summers are unbelievably hot, and the winters are practically non-existent. This obviously has it's advantages, but I do miss having seasons.
2. So many big cities.
- Texas is huge, and each region/city seems to have its own identity and stereotypes associated with it. I'll (hopefully) get better at understanding the specifics the longer I live here, but until then, for all intents and purposes, Austin and Houston are exactly the same thing.
3. Country music.
- Nothing against this type of music in particular, but I have never been to a place where country music was actually regarded as a serious genre.
4. Southern Hospitality
- I came in thinking that southern hospitality was this old-fashioned concept that only existed in movies, but it is a real thing. People here generally love to engage in conversation with other people, and everyone is very warm and inviting. It probably says more about where I come from that these things surprise me so much, but it is taking me a while to get over thinking everyone nice has an ulterior motive.
Recommended for you
5. Diversity
The South definitely gets a bad rap for being unwelcoming to people of different races, but I've never been in a more diverse and open place than Dallas.
6. Texan Pride
- There is no other group of people that are more proud of their home state than Texans. And it's a beautiful thing.
