OK, now, this is a true Southern Belle here, born in Florida, raised in South West Georgia! Yep we do things different and even talk different, I like to tell people that my husband, Jessie, is fluent in 2 languages, American and SouthGeorgianese.
BUT, yes, BUT, we moved to Massachussetts and you have never seen such culture shock......I don't know who had the biggest shock, me or them.
I had people follow us in the store to listen to us talk! Had my granddaughter with me and they were fascinated with our speech and manners? Evidently the folks up North NEVER speak to a stranger, I would say hello or good morning, afternoon, evening to someone and they acted as if they smelled something bad. Short tempered, frowns, suspicious, and so very outspoken! I could not understand them any more than they could understand me, BUT (again) i was much more tolerant than most of the ones I met were. I found most people rude.
However, I did survive it for a year, my husband was there 2 years, and was sooooooo happy to move to Washington D.c.
Yep, you guessed it, out of the frying pan right into the flame! After living in Alexandria for a year we moved out 22 miles and stayed there about 3 years, then moved down to Fredericksburg Va.........truly Southern and I was truly appreciative.
Been gone from there now since 1990 and love the small place we retired to (well, Dh retired, I'm still working full time) we have 138 registered voters and you will hear gun shots now and again, but its someone checking a new gun or practice shooting a new scope.
I am truly thankful I was born in the United States of America and truly, truly thankful I was born and raised in the Souther part of this great nation. I used to have a bumper sticker -only one I ever put on my vehicle that read:
AMERICAN BY BIRTH -- SOUTHERN BY THE GRACE OF GOD!
No matter where you're from or where you go folks are different from where you were, I love meeting new people from everywhere!
delma