What should I expect different in the South?

[olwyngdh]

I wonder what kind of responses the OP would get if she said the opposite, that she was moving North East from the deep south?

Buy a warmer coat! No, warmer than that.

The snow won't kill you, you only wish it would.

When you see the bumper sticker that says "M*******," the driver really is.

The seafood is awesome. Find a local place.

Go to The Big E in Springfield MA. It is worth it. Leave your diet at home.

 

[TanyaS]

If you go to a wedding, it is likely that there will be heavy appetizers and not a sit down meal. Guests generally give a gift and not cash. There is no expectation to cover your plate.

In January you will get to post on Facebook about the 70 degree day you are enjoying while your friends back home are posting about shoveling snow!

Good luck with the move!

 

[henry lutz]

We finally did it and bought that house in the South, the deep South. So tell me what should I expect different about being in the South except the weather being warmer?

People are pleasant and live life a little bit slower. My two cents

 

[nroush313]

North Florida is the Deep South. Central and South Florida are not.

I'm sorry but there is a section of central Florida that is considered the south, it is called the Heartland. "Unlike the coastal areas to the east and west, the rural nature of the Florida Heartland is culturally closer to the Deep South than the rest of peninsular Florida." There are many southerners and it has all the qualities that come along. Many 4th and 5th generation Florida Crackers. Look it up.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Go to the Flora-bama, there is no place more awesome. If you can make it for mullet toss weekend, it will be an event you will never forget. Don't forget your beer koozie.

(mullets refer to fish- not hairstyles )

 

[Disneychick75]

I wonder what kind of responses the OP would get if she said the opposite, that she was moving North East from the deep south?

Buy long underwear, warm socks, boots, and a good coat. The people I've net from the NE are nice. They won't walk up and be your best friend when they first meet you but they warm up quickly.

 

[Minnesota!]

Depends on which side of the state you grew up on. I never heard of a bubbler, either until I met DH, who grew up on the southeastern side of the state.

I grew up on the Western side.

My college room mate was from the southeastern part of WI and said it. I grew up going to Northwest WI every weekend (cabin) and never heard it up there. LOVE YOU CHEESEHEADS!

 

[erin1715]

I wonder what kind of responses the OP would get if she said the opposite, that she was moving North East from the deep south?

We have long winters, but the Fall season produces some of the most beautiful scenery you've ever seen. Springs are cold and wet, and summer generally has perfect temperatures.

The people keep to themselves for the most part (which I prefer, I like my space and don't want to talk to every stranger everywhere I go).

High taxes but in my experience the public education is pretty good.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I am from Atlanta, went to school in Charleston and can trace my lineage in SC back to the late 1600s so I think my Southern card is valid and in good standing.
I don't recognize the world a lot are describing----

1) My daughter has never worn smocked dresses and bows. I will admit to wearing a few when I was a girl, made by my grandmother and worn on Easter.

2) Both my father and mother came from old school southern families but I never did cotillion, nor did anyone I know. My child will certainly not be doing it either.

3) "Bless your heart" as an insult is a total misconception. Most people that say it really mean it sincerely. You will know when someone is saying it as an insult and you don't want to be around people like that anyway.

4) I love fried chicken but we hardly eat fried food. When I think of southern food, I think of super fresh veggies in the summer from my grandmother's garden, low country shrimp and oyster roasts and good GA BBQ. For the record, I despise sweet tea, but coca cola runs in my veins.

5) SEC football, ok---never mind, that is absolutely true. It is a religion and I am a faithful adherent.

6) Religion; I'm not religious and I am generally not harassed about it. When I have been, it has not necessarily been done by southerners.

7) Rednecks are universal----I have met them all over the world.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I am from Atlanta, went to school in Charleston and can trace my lineage in SC back to the late 1600s so I think my Southern card is valid and in good standing.
I don't recognize the world a lot are describing----

I live 100 miles Southwest of you. I've only lived here 11 years. But I see most of these things every time I go out.

1) My daughter has never worn smocked dresses and bows. I will admit to wearing a few when I was a girl, made by my grandmother and worn on Easter.

I see dozens of these dresses every Sunday. At least every other family has their daughters dressed in these dresses. The others are wearing ruffle pants.

2) Both my father and mother came from old school southern families but I never did cotillion, nor did anyone I know. My child will certainly not be doing it either.

My son was invited to do something like this, whether it was actually "Cotillion," or not, I don't know. It was for grade school/middle school kids. They learned manners and had to dress up. There was a dance at the end of the program.

3) "Bless your heart" as an insult is a total misconception. Most people that say it really mean it sincerely. You will know when someone is saying it as an insult and you don't want to be around people like that anyway.

I totally agree

4) I love fried chicken but we hardly eat fried food. When I think of southern food, I think of super fresh veggies in the summer from my grandmother's garden, low country shrimp and oyster roasts and good GA BBQ. For the record, I despise sweet tea, but coca cola runs in my veins.

We don't eat a lot of fried food at home. BUT, much of the local food is fried. In fact, until I moved here, I had never seen a "chicken finger" place. But in our town, you can't throw a stick without hitting one. And all they sell is fried food.

I also despise sweet tea, but I couldn't count how many time I have been invited to a party or get together where all they served was sweet and unsweet tea.

5) SEC football, ok---never mind, that is absolutely true. It is a religion and I am a faithful adherent.

6) Religion; I'm not religious and I am generally not harassed about it. When I have been, it has not necessarily been done by southerners.

I might have give the wrong impression when I said that people will asked about where they go to church.
I didn't mean that they harass you about it. It is all very friendly. They just want to share their what makes them happy. No one is pushy about it

7) Rednecks are universal----I have met them all over the world.

Again very true.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Depends on which side of the state you grew up on. I never heard of a bubbler, either until I met DH, who grew up on the southeastern side of the state. I grew up on the Western side.

I grew up on the Southeastern side. I had to teach myself to call them water fountains when I moved to NC.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree mostly with Suzanna, based on my experience, being born and raised and still living in the South.

I am sure that some of these things described, by Mary Loves Pooh, and others, and some examples of some other stereotypes, do exist. (And, I have posted that some of them are very true.)

But, some of these details and stereotypes, while they may certainly exist in some circles and pockets and communities, are very limited.... They are not anything near what I would consider the norm, or anything that one should be concerned, AT ALL, with being a part of.

 

[tajz90]

Reading all of these comments has been really fascinating!

I've lived in the South my whole life, but Houston is a far cry from "the deep South."

The only consistencies (between here and there) I've noticed from the comments are the conversations between strangers (does this really only happen in the South?) and use of the word "y'all." My little sister cringes every time I say "y'all," but I think it's even more awkward to say "you all" or "you guys."

I never call soda "coke" unless it's actually Coca-Cola. I didn't start drinking sweet tea until a couple of years ago, but I only have it on rare occasions (McAlister's has the best I've tried). Southern accents are more foreign to me than actual foreign accents. I've never been to a football game, nor have I watched one on TV. No one has ever asked me where I go to church. And the closest I've been to Cotillion was watching it on Gossip Girl!

Lol... You must have been dropped into Houston or 2 hrs makes a huge difference . Everything is Coke around here unless it's Dr. pepper. Soda and never been uttered unless baking is in front of it. Y'all.... never you guys or you all. Where do you go to church is the norm around my neck of the woods, but maybe not in the "big city"




I'd say the use of ma'am is another difference between south and north. We were in Seattle a few years back and was placing an order at Starbucks and I said yes ma'am to the cashier when she read the order back to which she replied "don't call me ma'am".

 

[Wishing on a star]

Lol... You must have been dropped into Houston or 2 hrs makes a huge difference

That's what I was thinking!!!!
99.999999% of Texas (at least most of Texas, except maybe the Western areas???), as far as I know, is decidedly Southern.

I know folks from DFW area.
This one friend, in particular, just totally embodies what one might envision in a middle aged woman from Texas.

And, she is one of those Texas people who actually will stop, sit down, or lean forward, and make good eye-contact, when talking and communicating. I thought that was just wonderful when I realized this, and have read this comment about people in/from Texas!!!!

But, that kindly act alone, instead of avoiding all eye-contact all together, could very well be taken the wrong way by somebody from other areas.

 

[Planogirl]

Lol... You must have been dropped into Houston or 2 hrs makes a huge difference . Everything is Coke around here unless it's Dr. pepper. Soda and never been uttered unless baking is in front of it. Y'all.... never you guys or you all. Where do you go to church is the norm around my neck of the woods, but maybe not in the "big city"

I'd say the use of ma'am is another difference between south and north. We were in Seattle a few years back and was placing an order at Starbucks and I said yes ma'am to the cashier when she read the order back to which she replied "don't call me ma'am".

I spent most of my adult life in Houston and those I knew said "Coke". I was raised elsewhere so it always seemed strange to me.

I rankle still at being called ma'am but I don't say anything. It seems to be generally older people that get called that and I don't need that reminder!

 

[perdidobay]

To the OP, people are the same everywhere, even though their customs and style of living vary upon location. People in the south move slower, talk more and use 10 words where two would suffice! Small towns will be different from cities, small cities vs big cities, but that is true everywhere. I was talking to a mechanic from Mobile who works in Orange Beach yesterday, who stated that the folks in Orange Beach were much more laid back. I guess that's beach vs city.
Welcome to LA!
Just read this article today, seems fitting:
http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/people/article_1ff4893a-5f6a-11e4-b15b-a72ab4efab90.html

 

[tajz90]

I spent most of my adult life in Houston and those I knew said "Coke". I was raised elsewhere so it always seemed strange to me.

I rankle still at being called ma'am but I don't say anything. It seems to be generally older people that get called that and I don't need that reminder!

I call everyone ma'am. I even called a little girl ma'am last night in reply to her question... Yes ma'am!

 

[EMom]

Lol... You must have been dropped into Houston or 2 hrs makes a huge difference . Everything is Coke around here unless it's Dr. pepper. Soda and never been uttered unless baking is in front of it. Y'all.... never you guys or you all. Where do you go to church is the norm around my neck of the woods, but maybe not in the "big city"




I'd say the use of ma'am is another difference between south and north. We were in Seattle a few years back and was placing an order at Starbucks and I said yes ma'am to the cashier when she read the order back to which she replied "don't call me ma'am".

Goodness gracious. At that point, I'd have been tempted to have called her something else and canceled my order.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Goodness gracious. At that point, I'd have been tempted to have called her something else and canceled my order.

No kidding!!!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I call everyone ma'am. I even called a little girl ma'am last night in reply to her question... Yes ma'am!

I'm the same way. My mom is "ma'am" but so is my four-year-old daughter. When I was teaching, my students were "ma'am" and "sir". In fact, if someone calls out to me, I just about always respond with, "yes ma'am" or "yes sir" regardless of who it is or his or her age.