How to be the "New kids on the block"/

At this point my kids or I have lived in every corner of the country: Either the whole family or sometimes just a couple of us have gone out on our own to live in NH, UT,AZ,CA,OR,WA,ID,CO,TX, ME and TN. We've gained some perspective from having lived in these places rather than just visiting. Here are a few of the simple truths I've picked up in my travels:

Everybody does things differently. Yep. No matter where you go, 'normal' has a different regional definition. What you think of as 'normal' is really just 'the way your parents did it' or 'the way my teacher did it' and so on.

Weather changes everywhere. Everywhere I go, the indiginous people say, "Well, you know what they say about the weather in (insert state name) - if you don't like it, just wait 15 minutes and it'll change!" Sorry to burst your bubble, but the people in your town, wherever it is, did not invent this saying.

Everybody drives stupidly. Its just the human condition. There is no utopian society where everyone is courteous and obeys every single traffic law. Having said that, certain areas do have their own 'regional stupidity.' That is, common stupid things done by local drivers. For example, in AZ people will kill themselves and everyone around them making a turn across three lanes of traffic without signalling - so they don't have to make a u-turn fifty feet down the road - while in New England, people make up lanes that don't exist and come creeping up along side of you at a stop sign so they can squeeze by and turn right. Now that I moved to TN, I have to get used to 1-way streets. Some are only one-way for a few yards then it changes so traffic can go either direction again. Good thing I ride the public bus around town or I'd end up with a ticket for driving around in wrong direction.

Your home town may not be as unique as you think. "Back home it gets so cold the rain freezes and turns to SNOW!" People who don't travel much seem to perceive uniqueness where it doesn't exist. If you've ever watched old westerns on TV, and seen a wind storm blowing tumbleweeds around a ghost town....it's more amazing to watch in real life.

There are still people that call northerners 'yanks'. I think I just assumed they all died. But nope - they're still out there. For some reason, they especially hate New Englanders. Bear in mind, this isn't ALL people. But there are a few sitting around somewhere. So even though I was born in NH, I've traveled everywhere and if you ask where I'm from I'll probably tell you "anywhere there is a greyhound bus". Someone asked me the other day "What brought you to the hillbilly state? & How may hillbillies have you met yet?" Gee, I assumed hillbillies were in VA & KY.

Morality is less universal than you think. Different cultures have different reasons for perceiving different things as right and wrong. For example, in New England 'hell' was not such a bad word. But when I moved out to Utah, more people found it objectionable. In contrast, I would see most of the teenage boys wearing sneakers to church in Utah - something that was considered improper in my home church. My favorite story comes from a young man that served a mission in rural Africa. In this particular region, church was held outside, and the women were topless. Yep - the women went to church topless. Try that around the USA.

It takes eighteen months to two years to get used to a place. Generally speaking, if you live somewhere for a shorter span than this, it hasn't had time to change you. No matter how much you hate a place, if you've lived there for two years, you're used to it. Any less time than that and you really don't understand the area. Best way to get to know your new home area is find the public library...they will have info on everything you want to know about.

Wherever you go, there you are. Its true. I've tested it. Sorry you can't lose yourself...but you might be able to find yourself.

Language is not as universal as you might think. In New England, you bunk class. In Utah, you sluff class. In New England, if you're a 'boob', you're a stupid person. In Utah, a 'boob' is someone who cries or is crying. If you're hammered in New England, you're drunk. Hammered in Utah means tired. "BUGGY" can mean a volkswagon, a strange-wired person, or even a shopping cart...just depends on where you are.

 

ahahaha...... its much more prevelant than you can imagine down here squawkers..... get used to it..... i been down south off n on for 21 years,,,, my first stint down in NC i went to a fast food joint n ordered frenchfries,,,, dude behind me says what you say ,,, you be a fukkin yankee,, down here its frah's,,, why dont you get back on that fukkin bus ya come down here on.... to which i promptly thru my frah's at him.... ... it dont matter how long yer down here, you are a yankee, a damned yankee or a DA (dumb ass yankee) n if yer left handed all i can say is beware

 

I kinda loved the whole culture shock when I moved ot southern missouri from washington state. I had to get used to the idea to hold onto my wallet since if you failed to have an accent in my area you were presumed a natural resource of income to the locals. I guess alot of ppl did nt mind paying too much or thought they had no other options. The learned that I was willing to outsource to ppl from outside the area just to make sure they did not see my money. Wow to my surprise when they decided to be alot more freindly and charge reasonable fees.

I drive truck so I see a new group of ppl like 4 times a day or more. You try to just let things roll off ya to keep from going insane. I have found that even among large companies even that proceedures vary from one of their locations to another (except walmart dc). Alot of expect you to know how they function but I am at new spots almost everyday.

 

i've loved being a navy brat and gypsy. people are awesome all over.

 

I'm 1 of those wierd people who writes with both hands. LOL, I haven't gone to McD's or BK yet to order french fries, but stopped into a small restuarant over near Zero II, house and had "Chicken fries" I don't know what the hell they were cuz it wasn't chicken & it wasn't fries...more like garbage and after 2 bites I had to save them for the dog.
All & all, being the new girl in town can be rather fun. Everyone seems helpful and real interested to talk to you to hear your life story.

 

Squawkers, what you say is so true....I've travelled a lot also, and heard the same damn things in every town, mostly the driving thing...worst damn drives live here, I swear... , and the weather stuff too.

I guess maybe it comes from a sense of identifying with a certain place...in being able to define it in a certain way (even though everyone, everywhere does that), it becomes more a part of you, more something that defines you're personal experience in that place. I don't know if I'm making sense or not (probably not!), but I think I know what I'm saying...

Time for this Yank living in the South to get something to eat...'

 

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