1. Not all Southerners have Southern accents
Olive oooohl (said in Paula Deen’s accent)
This one shouldn’t have surprised me. I’m from New York City and I do NOT sound like I’m from NYC. Well, except when I say corn or horn. That -aw sound is hard to resist sometimes.
When we moved to Georgia two years ago, I expected everyone to sound like Paula Deen. Not so. While there have been a small few that I’d consider having a Southern accent, most people don’t sound like they have one. At least not to me. Maybe I’m immune to hearing subtle differences in accents? I know more West Virginians sound Southern to me than Georgians.
2. Forget Texas. Everything’s bigger in the South
Houses. Cars. Bugs. Portions. You name it, it’s bigger in the South. McMansions cost less to buy than a small rowhome in Baltimore. Now that’s what’s up.
3. My disdain for the “Rebel” flag.
I guess I should explain what I mean by the “rebel” flag. The rebel flag is the stereotypical flag used in movies and on paraphernalia associated with the Confederacy. It has a red background, with a navy blue “cross” and 13 white stars on it. Most people don’t even know that what they consider to be the rebel flag, the flag of the Confederacy, is wrong. It was used on the battlefield, but I digress.
No, the “Confederate” flag really isn’t everywhere like in the movies, however, I do see it more than I’d care to. For example, some homes display the rebel flag instead of the American flag. Others have it on their license plates or screen-printed on their windshields (by far, the tackiest of all).
This is a sensitive subject for me. Native Southerners consider this flag as Southern heritage, akin to the firing cannons to defend the South from the “Northern Aggression.” I see it as a reminder of dark ages. To me, it’s synonymous with racism, slavery, hate, and ignorance. Perhaps it’s because I’m a Northerner. Perhaps it’s because I have a thing about flags. (Side note: I will never display another country’s flag in my car as many immigrants or first-generation children of immigrant parents do. I think it’s just tacky.)
I know that many people associate the rebel flag with the Southern lifestyle: Southern drawls, home-cookin’, good manners, sweet tea and country music. I’d rather associate it with this, but then I wouldn’t be honest here. I really think it’s a cop out… a lie to cover up what it really stands for: racism and hate. Why else would Georgia adopt a portion of the rebel flag as their state flag for decades, right after the Civil Rights Movement?
One of my neighbors admitted to me that the only reason she didn’t vote for Obama was because “I didn’t want a black President.”
I rest my case.
4. It actually gets cold down here.
Sure, it never reaches “snot-icicles” cold here, but it can get to freezing or below-freezing. Those days I welcome with pure unadulterated joy. Even the dogs like going for long walks when it gets colder.
5. I’m starting to call it my home.
For what it’s worth, I will always be a Northerner at heart.
However, the Yes, ma’am‘s have grown on me.
The Spanish moss has enchanted me.
I think I’ll stay.
ashley says
Love the south, so proud to call it my home!
Lisette says
It’s certainly a beautiful part of our country.
Meghan says
People tell me I don’t sound southern either. They’re always surprised to find out that I’m a native peach. Where I live though the majority of people sound like Paula Deen. Case in point, my mother in law. Thickkkkk accent. Savannah sees a lot of transplants and I think that helps keep the drawls to a minimum.
We like you too. Glad you’re going to stay. :)
Lisette says
I think you’re right. There are lots of transplants here in Savannah, and SCAD is a major contributor to the influx of outsiders.
I can’t remember the part of Georgia where everyone sounds like Paula Deen, but I know there is a region.
Haha good to know you’ll keep me :)
Tiff G. says
That WV accent is not southern! It’s just redneck! I agree with you about the Confederate flag. It is so odd for me to live in WV and see that flag so much. I always think to myself, ” Didn’t WV secede from Virginia because they were against the southern beliefs?” Go figure.
Lisette says
Hey now, haha. My husband’s family is from WV. That accent, to me, sounds Southern (although he corrects me all the time). I don’t think it sounds Redneck (wait, there’s a redneck accent?).
You’re right, though. WV seceded from VA. Makes no sense. But there was also a small town near Buffalo, NY that seceded from the Union and declared themselves as part of the Confederacy. People are crazy.
Elizabeth says
I’m from Texas so I don’t know if it counts as “the South”, but being from Austin, we don’t have southern accents. I was even told I didn’t have an accent by a New Yorker when I was traveling through NYC. Of course, Texas accents are a lot more twangy than the southern drawl the other states have. Also, yes, the confederate flag bothers me, too. I haven’t seen it in a while, but when I do, it makes my skin crawl. There’s heritage and then there’s ignorance. It’s a fine line sometimes.
Alisha @ The Alisha Nicole says
I have lived in the south my entire life and honestly cant see myself going anywhere else. I LOVE it here. Unfortunately we have those ignorant ones that often give the south a bad name smh but thankfully they are normally the ones who live in “the sticks” at least in my area.
krista says
I just moved to GA and all of the same things shocked me (the house we bought here for under 200k would have been closer to 500k in MD where we moved from, so that was an awesome surprise). And like you I’m from an area with an infamous accent (Boston) and don’t have one, but came to the south expect everyone to say “y’all” and “bless your heart” I haven’t seen the rebel flag at all though! But maybe I’m not paying attention.
Susan says
The real question is, have you caught yourself saying “y’all” yet??
I’m from Virginia. I consider myself a southerner even though I am in what most people see as a limbo state. My husband is from Northern Va while I am from Southern VA. It’s amazing the differences just within Virginia.
Yvonne, The Dahlia Scene says
I still have a Southern accent, and I’ve been gone for 8 years, especially when I say words like PIE or FIVE. The long I gets me every time. The truth about the Confederate flag is that for some people in the South it is about racism and perpetuating hate. For others, it’s about states rights and things that were involved in the Civil War that were not related to slavery. I’ve never had one nor do I plan to though.
Jackie says
Yeah, I won’t shop at business that have the Confederate Flag up. There are a handful that do them here, and I just can’t do it.
Kelly says
I love this post, and yes, the flags would bother me too!
Kenzie Smith says
I live up in Washington (the state not D.C.) and you would be surprised with how many rebel flags are plastered on cars or in homes. It is ridiculous because a) we do not live in the south and b) 99.99% of them do not even know the history behind it or what it stands for.