I’ve lived in North Carolina for 3 ½ years now and these are my observations:
Drawing from fairimmigration.org
1) Barbecue is a noun, not a verb. My friend Nate and my coworker Edwin remind of this whenever I slip. Back home in the Midwest, barbecue was something we ‘did’. Here it’s about something I eat as often as I can because I love it with the vinegar dressing/sauce.
2) Sug (pronounced shoog) is just one of the many endearments I hear daily. I’m called darlin’, sweetie, honey, hun. It’s just the friendliness of southerners. But my favorite is when JoAnn at work calls me “Sug” in her beautiful southern drawl.
3) Bless your heart – ummm, not a ‘nice’ term. I didn’t know that. I usually used it when someone did something nice or special. According to the Urban Dictionary,” the term ‘bless your heart’ is used by the people of the southern United States to express to someone they are an idiot without saying such harsh words.” Ah, Southerners just have a way!
4) Stop and smell the flowers is much easier to do down here because they bloom year round. And they are everywhere! Along the interstates, at highway exit and entrance ramps, in the street medians, at all the shopping centers…just everywhere! Such a feast for the eyes!
5) Outdoor seating – nearly 99% of the restaurants seem to have it here. I love it! Yes, our weather is spectacular and I take advantage of being outside anytime I can. Even our office park has patios and picnic tables for many of the companies.
6) It’ll get done. There doesn’t seem to be the hustle and bustle of the north. Yes we have as much work as northerners do but the attitude is “it’ll get done” and we take advantage of work-break walks, outdoor events, and other opportunities to slow down. I love it – much healthier than the 12 hour days, six days a week I was doing.
7) When you order ice tea it’s going to come ‘sweet.’ That’s a southern thing. I’ve learned to not order by saying “regular ice tea” – that’s still ‘sweet’. My line is, “I’ll have an UN (increase decible level on that syllable) sweet ice tea, please!”
8) Grits are not so bad. Don’t really understand their purpose, though. Since they are made from corn that makes them a vegetable, I guess. Is that why they’re served with everything? If I’m going to have them, I need them with cheese.
9) I’ll be honest, I love all the “Yes, Ma’ams”! It’s just so pleasant to hear. Their mommas raised them right (oh, that’s another thing: it’s Momma, not Mom). Love it!
10) The beach and the mountains – North Carolina has them both. Plus the Colonial history, Civil War history, Black Beard pirate history, lighthouses….I could go on and on!
I’m sure there’s a lot I’m leaving out so I’ll try and come up with another post in a few months and add more reasons why I love the South. I also love the Triangle because of their generous spirit. Thanks for supporting United Way of the Greater Triangle!