C'Mon, It'll Be Fun, and It'll Make My Dad Happy

My dad says I always disregard his ideas.  He is basing this assumption largely on the years of 1985-1991, which is entirely unfair, as my brain cells were dulled by the cloud of Aqua Net that followed me wherever I went.

And yet, the assumption persists.  He called me this afternoon and said, "I have an idea for your blog which you can listen to and then dismiss completely."

Oh, Dad.

He said he was getting such a kick of the comments on this post, about how we all wind up dealing with the assumptions about where we live geographically.  You know, Arkansans are rednecks, Californians eat tofu, Floridians are tan, New Jerseyans (Jerseyites?) are in the mafia. 

So, my dad wanted to hear (and for the record, I think it's an excellent idea--did you hear that, Dad? I said it was AN EXCELLENT IDEA) what stereotypes you face where you live.  And--just come clean--how much of it might be the tiniest bit true?

Fire away.  Unless you are a New Jerseyite mafia member, in which case, please do not fire.  I am blameless. It was all my dad's idea.

Comments

[Kara @ Me-Moddy]

I have to comment right now simply because I am awake at nearly 1:00 a.m. and because I am the FIRST person to comment on your post tonight (or this morning) - what an honor!

Grew up in Missouri. The typical stereo types involve guns, pick-up trucks and flannel. If you just stop by the local Bass Pro Shops - you will see that it is all true! I still love that place though - it's the only place I truly feel AT HOME.

Loved your last post about this topic.

[Amanda]

I grew up in Oklahoma, and when I was in High School, my mom opted to take in an exchange student from Germany named Meike. Before she came to live with our family, we had a number of phone dates to get to know one another.

During one conversation, Meike's father described their life to my mother. He told her about their community, their house, her school, etc.

When my mom began describing our life, he interrupted her to ask if his daughter would be in any danger living with us in Oklahoma. Confused, she asked him to explain. He expressed honest concern that his daughter would be attacked by Indians -- you know, the ones who rode horses, lived in teepees, and scalped people. In 1992.

[Dorothy]

I live in Edmonton, Alberta. Other parts of Canada think we're all rednecks and cowboys. The redneck part might be true; once during the NHL playoffs they played the hockey game on the little tv's in the lobby during intermission at the symphony.
Most Americans I meet assume it's never really hot here. That's not true; it's been as hot here as it was in L.A. last week. But it is really, really cold in January.

[Megan]

I'm in Utah... and everyone assumes I'm Mormon. Oh, and that we Utans are like THIS.

[R]

Well, I am currently living in Utah, but I am originally from Michigan. The people here LOVE to make fun of the accent I have, and we love to make fun of theirs. As far as stereotypes, I don't think I feel any have been put on me...well, there is the just because your living in Utah, must mean you're LDS/Mormon one. Yeah, it's true...but not for everyone. Just happens to be true for me.

[Cindy]

Well, I live in NC. I was born here and never moved over 8 miles from my home place.

We are SOUTHERN and we are PROUD! I have a very Southern accent and find it amusing that Yankees move down from up North and then pick on the way we talk--ha! The funny thing is that my adoptive daughter from India has a REAL SOUTHERN TWANG to her voice and it is soooo funny!!

Some say tomato or potato, and we just say "mater and tater", ya know?

I guess people would consider North Carolinians to be a wide range of different personalities. We have rednecks, hillbillies, farmers, golfers, retirees, you name it, we've got it.

But whether you are a true Southerner or a transplant, NC is a great place to live.

I don't really know what people would expect of NC--I've hardly ever left the state..I know when I traveled to Boston, several people would overhear us and just stop to listen to us talk--weird!

[Rachel]

I live in Idaho. I get "Idaho? No You-da-ho" quite often. Pretty sure it's not a reflection on me. Also, most people think we're all potato farmers, or crazy potato eaters. Both not true.

[Christy]

Well...I too grew up in Arkansas. My mom tells the story of when her Girl Scout Troop took a trip to the the Capitol in D.C. As they stood in the rotunda Callin' the Hawgs, people actually commented on how shocked they were to find that Arkansans WORE SHOES. Evidently we're supposed to be shoeless, have only a handful of teeth, and own at least 3 shotguns.

Now that I'm living in Michigan I have to fight the Arkansas Stereotypes AND the Michigander Stereotypes. Seriously folks, Michigan is NOT "Yankee Country". If you call me your "Yankee Cousin" one more time, I'm liable to go all Jersey on your tail.

[Leslie]

I live in Alabama. One of the stereotypes is that we all marry our cousins.

Well.

My husband and I have been married for ten years. At this years family reunion, one of Karl's distant aunts pulled me aside and said, "C'mere, I need to show you something."

You know where this is going.

She pulled out a huge photo album and showed me a picture of my grandmother from when she was a little girl. And them she showed me some other pictures, taking me back six generations to show that my husband and I had the same grandparents so many generations ago.

I promise we had no idea we were actually related when we applied for our marriage license!

[Carrie]

I live in Alaska so have to put up with the dark half the year/light half the year, drive your dog sled to work comments every time I travel anywhere else. *Sigh* Just for the record, it never stays light all the time were I live (same with dark) and we get less snow here than some state in the lower 48 (North Dakota comes to mind).

We do however wear rain boots with EVERYTHING, including skirts, and never wear makeup. Also the ratio of men to women is really high so the popular saying here is "The odds are good...but the goods are odd!" THAT is very, very, very true!

[Junglewife]

Well, this is way off the usual map but I live in Indonesia, and everyone assumes that all Indonesians are m*slims and therefore t*rrorists. Where we live right now, most of the people are NOT m*slims, but we did used to live in an area that was heavily m*slim, and none of them hated Americans and none of them were t*rrorists... Most of the m*slims we knew just were sincerely seeking to follow and obey God, it's just that the God they were taught about was not exactly the God we love and obey. They're not bad people, just deceived.

[MoobeeMa]

That it rains all the time in Oregon. Oh contraire!!!!! Only the Western-most part of the state is even green! The majority of the state is high desert. Warm in the summer and cold but clear in the winter.

[Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First]

Tell your Dad I think he is brilliant.

I am a Texan transplanted from Southern California (Orange County) 2 years ago.

Before you jump to conclusions, allow me to save you the trouble:

1. Yes, I am BLONDE.

2. Yes, I LOVE tofu. And smoothies. And Fish Tacos.

3. No, my boobs are real.

4. Yes, I say DUDE a lot.

5. No, I do not love to go shopping.

6. No, I did not sell my house in CA for a million bucks when we moved! No, I did not pay cash for the house I have now in Texas.

7. No, I have never owned a Range Rover or Gucci sunglasses.

Any other questions?

[Mrs. Bubba]

I'm from San Francisco. What more do I need to say?

[monica @ transplanting me]

i grew up in texas. just a short drive from j.r. ewings ranch. and to set a few things straight - yes, everything is bigger in texas, way bigger. and we all have gobs and gobs of oil in our backyards.

i had always heard that because tx was a republic and could secede from the union at any time the state flag could be flown higher than the american flag - not true.

[Reformed Grits]

Being from Alabama, whenever I go anywhere-- especially overseas-- people love to hear me talk. And that tickles me, because I love to talk. But what makes me mad is when people think I'm not bright or smart because my accent makes me sound dumb. Scuse me? They also hear weird stories about chitlins which I've never eaten. And I don't hunt either.

[Kelly @ Love Well]

I grew up in Minnesota. Yes, it's cold -- in January. But in the summer, it can be hot and humid, just like the rest of the Midwest.

And while some people here sound like the folks from Fargo, I can assure you we never shred people in wood chippers.

Well, almost never.

[Marlene]

I live in Brooklyn, NY. Yes, I have a New Yawk accent, but it's only noticible to me when I am out of NY.

A lot of people think that most people in Brooklyn are in the mafia. Most aren't, but my landlord's family has had their share of drama.

Some people online think that Brooklyn is very ghetto. Some parts are really ghetto, but I am miles away from that. Homes here are $850 - over a million. How's a poor teacher suppose to afford that?

Ya can see some of the homes here:

http://jabourrealty.com/main/ListProperties.asp?sr=Sale&fm=1&st=House&s=N&w=N

But some decent (not great) actors and actresses come from Brooklyn - Marisa Tomei, Scott Baio, Woody Allen, Tony Danza, Samantha Mathis, Mary Tyler Moore, Lea Remini and Chris Rock.

[Kate]

i live in houston... and yes, that is in fact in texas... but i didn't ride a horse to my high school... i don't wear a cowboy hat... or even own one... i live in HOUSTON... the 4th largest city in the nation... my little suburban section alone is mostly transplants ( thanks to NASA being all of 2 minutes away from my house ) and is well over 250,000 people... and yet every time i leave the confines of my blessed homeland the first thing people ask me is if we ride horses everywhere... ummm... no... i drive my excursion mom-mobile... but i am fixin' to enlighten all ya'll... we have Go Texan Day... it's true.. and everyone, including suburbanites, dresses as cowboy as they possibly can and talks about texas history... which native texans know a great deal of since they spend two entire years in school taking Texas history... and they are proud of it... and you would be too... all ya'll would be... jealous... i gotta go saddle up now and rustle up some grub for my yunguns...

ps. the state flag can be flown the same height as the american and the state can not secede, but can break up into 5 different states to increase their congressional prowess at any time... and i didn't even live here for the texas history years!

[Ashley]

I live in West Texas. I can only imagine what people think- that we ride and rope, and wear spurs and ten gallon hats everywhere we go. My in-laws do, so I guess there's some truth to that, but I wish that everyone knew that there is no where else on earth like this place. People in West Texas/Panhandle are the best EVER.

So, while we do have lots of sprawling space and enjoy a good rodeo, our hearts are warm and friendly and we'll welcome ya right in and make you feel like family! Yes, we do all say y'all!!

[Lora]

Well, I'm from Arkansas and now I live in Alabama--does that say it all?!? Seriously, talk about stereotypes!!
Really, I wear shoes, am not married to any relative (I'm safe since he's from Oklahoma), I don't hunt nor does my husband, but I do have that Southern drawl--and I'm okay with that:)

However, my sister was actually born above the Mason Dixon line (28 years ago!!) and everyone in our family still refers to her as a *Yankee* even though she's lived in the South for 21 years:)

[Anne]

Oregon here...yes, we are the tree huggin, coffee sipping, wine making, liberals. ;)

[Marianne]

This is a great post idea!

As for me, I grew up outside of Annapolis, Maryland, have moved around with my dear hubs via the US Navy and corporate jobs (five states total) and now am a happily transplanted Buckeye.

That's Ohio for you East Coast folks...and I say that with sincerity since I grew up in the East Coast Bubble.

Some of the funniest things I've noticed (and my hubs has pointed out to me as a born and bred Buckeye) are the little language differences. He says acrost rather than across. Oh, and up to the lake is North while down to the river is South. And even after sixteen years (we met young!), he still gets a kick out of my southern y'alls and tarreds.

That's tired for those of you wondering!

I'll have to check back for more comments...this is a hoot!

[Heather]

I actually just made a post about this on my blog. I live in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. I do NOT ride a horse, wear a cowboy hat, have missing front teeth, or talk like a hick. My friends may disagree on that last one, because they seem to think I have the strongest Texas accent of them all, but I definitely don't talk how Texans are portrayed on TV.

[Karen {simply a musing blog}]

I was born in Texas and everyone assumes I have big hair and have been in beauty pagents.

I lived in Alaska for 18 of those years and everyone assumed I drove a dog sled to school.

[Alyce]

I live in Oregon and other stereotypes besides that it rains all the time are: that everyone wears flannel, is a logger or a cowboy and rides horses. My dad has always worked in a sawmill, and looking back at pictures of family reunions at Christmas we were all dressed in our very best plaid flannel. Seriously. Now that I am an adult I no longer own anything flannel. :) And for the record I have never ridden a horse.

[Karen {simply a musing blog}]

um...that's "pageants", I knew that.

[maudie-mae]

I live in Washington State and the assumption is that the whole state is Seattle, or that the whole state is green (I live in the desert).

[TransitionGirl]

I'm from Singapore and when I was doing my BA in the US, people used to always ask if I spoke English (Yes, very well), if monkeys roamed the streets freely (only in the zoo & nature park), and if Singapore was part of China (nope.)

[Lisa]

I am from California and everyone assumes we live at the beach, have great tans, blonde hair and eat tofu. Well, I live closer to the mountains, I am almost always very un-tan, I have natural black hair(starting to get grey!) and I hate tofu!
What a great idea Dad for the blog post!

[Kristin]

Well, I am an Oklahoman, and we all know how we can be perceived (country bumpkin-y), but why do the local news stations have to perpetuate the stereotype?! Without fail, at least once a newscast, someone will be interviewed whose teeth are less than "complete." Always!

[Kim]

I live in Idaho...we are not all skinheads and we don't eat potatoes all the time!

However, this state has some of the most beautiful scenery and the nicest people ever! We love, love, love it here!

We moved to Nebraska for 2 1/2 years and came back as soon as we could!

I moved here from California 15 years ago where I was supposed to be blond, thin and have big boobs..I must have missed the boat, because I am/have none of those things!

[heidi]

i'm also from south orange county, ca. i had to laugh when i read alyssa's list of answers... i have a few more...

1. no, i don't surf. (most people don't - it's CRAZY HARD!!) most people boogie board. foam board with a string that velcro's to your wrist - you lay on it and ride the waves. totally awesome.
2. yes, most of us say 'dude' pretty often. and 'sweeeet' and 'niiiice' and 'gnarly' and 'chick'.
3. mmm...smoothies... fish tacos.... mmmm... and MEXICAN FOOD!! oh, wanna know something ironic? walk into a chinese food restaurant and guess who's in the kitchen? latinos! nothing against them - they're lovely, sweet, hardworking people as a whole - but ironic to find latinos in a chinese restaurant! only here...
4. mine are real, too, but so many in so.cal are NOT!! and lips and...well...you name it.
5. about the selling the house for a million bucks... our house is 1400 sq. ft. and worth $800,000 easy. and we're 20 min from the beach. shacks off pacific coast hwy in laguna beach (or relatively close)? you're talkin' 2-4 million. don't even ask about waterfront mansions...

oh...and just fyi... there are 3 five star hotels within only a few miles of each other on the coast and a 4th one going up. they're always busy.

just my 2cents!!

[Nancy]

First of all - Hi Rock's Dad!!! This was a great idea!

I'm in California. I'm in the northern central eastern-ish part of the state. Or the southern north eastern-ish part, depending on how you squint.

We're not LA or San Francisco. We think they're just as, um... unusual as the rest of the country does. I haven't put my feet in the ocean since, like, 1996. There's sharks in there dude!

Okay fine. I say dude. Whatever.

Let's see, what else do we do in Northern Central Easternish/ Southern North Easternish CA?

Wine tasting. Check. And let me tell ya - it all tastes like grapes.

Sushi? Absolutely. But only the cooked kind. Okay, some of my friends eat the raw stuff, but ew...

We're all democrats? Nope. It's about a 50/50 split like the rest of the country. The last thing you want to bring up at a Northern Central Easternish/ Southern North Easternish CA barbeque is politics.

Because who has that kind of time?

And let's just talk about California Pizza Kitchen. When my husband lived in Maryland in the early 1990's, his friends there took him to CPK. He had no clue what any of it was supposed to be. We didn't have anything like that AT ALL at the time. At the time I think CPK was headquartered somewhere back east.

Reminds me of when a friend of our's had a German exchange student. We got her a German Chocolate cake. Complete with the coconut/pecan frosting. She had no idea what it was. Apparently they don't have German Chocolate Cake in Germany.

Who knew?

[Linds]

I grew up in South Africa, and the kids I teach here now all assume I lived in a ronadvel (mud hut) and had lions outside the door. If I mention high-tech /skyscrapers/ ultra modern details, they do not believe me. They also think I am lying, because I happen to be white skinned. This, might I add, says volumes about the modern practice of teaching Geography/Global ed!

[Char]

Oh, great idea for a post and comments!

I grew up in CA, but no, I am not a blonde, nor have I ever surfed (although I did do a little "valley girl" speak back in the 80's, even though I was most definitely NOT a valley girl, being from NORTHERN CA).

Now, I live in Vegas... talk about misconceptions. No, we do not live in a casino, no we do not work in a casino, and yes, there ARE Christians in Las Vegas. Quite a few, actually!

[Marcy Massura-The Glamorous Life]

Oh Rocks Dad- this is a great idea!
Okay I am a 3rd generation Orange County California native. Ya know California right? The Land of Fruits and Nuts as my husbands family in Chicago call it! Most of the assumptions ARE true. Lots of shallow, vain, credit rich and cash poor, botox loving, silocone implant buying, on the 3rd marriage moms out here. But it is not ALL that way. Actually lots of people assume I am from New York. (dark hair, wearing lots of black and I talk fast- perhaps a little pushy too. So that all fits THEIR cliche's!).....Oh and I did pay over a million for my house which would cost about $100,000 in North Carolina (I looked)....but hey we have Disneyland AND the beach...um, what more is there? Did I mention shallow?

[CcsMomma]

Oh, wow! I'm surprised at how many have commented and it's the middle of the night when this post went up. Guess I'm not the only one who can't sleep.

I live in Pennsylvania. I guess that would techinically make me a Yankee (I am sooo southern at heart y'all. spent too much time there growing up.) The only stereotype I can think of is that northern Yankee one. You know, the one that says we're stuck up, rude to outsiders and neighbors, and can't cook. FYI-In my neck of the woods the people are as friendly as they come; the type that would help anyone, including a complete stranger. And believe me, these PA ladies can cook! Oh, my, my my.

[Liz C.]

Living in Idaho the last 8 years has played merry cob with my son's phonetic ability. He's nine, and didn't speak until he was over three, so he's basically an Idahoan when it comes to language.

He lays his head on a "pellow", things go on "sell", and we've worked very hard to retain his genetic ability to pronounce "ing", because everyone around us cannot--it's "een."

Seen-een (singing), go-een (going), teetch-een (teaching), wahk-een (walking.) A good friend of mine is a voice teacher, and had one student dissolve in tears when she realized her complete inability to pronounce "ing" was holding her back from voice scholarships outside of Idaho.

My boy, he's getting better. The little girls are doing fine. My oldest daughter is still the only kid in Idaho who sings with a British accent (I think she channels Julie Andrews), but she's just odd.

Coming from Eastern Oregon, these stereotypes were encountered when I went to Portland State University, and were also true:

I have eaten rattlesnake. It does not taste like chicken.

We mountain people do not generally need a coat if it's above zero. That's still 32 degrees below freezing. Yes, I'm perfectly warm.

Though my name is not Heidi, we did ski to the bus stop.

I induldged in a few stereotypes, myself. When I moved to the Grande Ronde valley after leaving PSU, my goal was to date a redneck with a gunrack in his truck. I did, too--and learned that in each month of the year, there is *something* you can legally kill and eat in Oregon, and that there is such a thing as a redneck with a Master's Degree.

Of course, his Master's Degree had to do with plywood. (Okay, "engineered lumber products." I really never anticipated you could get a Master's of Plywood, for real.)

Shannon, tell your Daddy he's a brilliant fellow--I'm having a blast reading the comments!!

[Mrs. F]

I live in California. No, I can not surf. Contrary to popular belief, the whole state is NOT ocean side. Geez. We actually have to travel to see the waves.

[Tracy]

I live in South Africa, in a large city! (Durban, East Coast) When I was travelling abroad a few years ago, people would assume that we had lions, tigers etc in our back garden. A couple of years later a friend from the UK came to visit and he hadnt been here for an hour when his mum texted him, to ask if he had seen any wild animals yet. We set up a photo shoot with my daughters toy elephant in our garden. Took the pic to make it look huge, and sent it to all his friends, saying this was Tracy's garden. Most took it as a joke, but one emailed back wanting to know if that was an Indian or African elephant as it seemed to have characteristics of both! He was a bit upset when we told him the truth
And just for the record, no, there are no wild animals in my town, apart from things like meerkats, and monkeys, but only in the outlying areas. Not everyone lives in a mudhut, and going around without clothes will get you arrested!

[julie]

i'm from nashville. lived here all my 35 years.

i don't much like country music.

[Veronica @ Toddled Dredge]

I'm not sure that people know Ohio enough to even have stereotypes. I watched Jon Stewart's show on TV when he was visiting Ohio, and it was full of snide implications that we were all rabid sports fans incapable of understanding irony or complexity. That was annoying.

[Lorraine]

Well, I spent years 1 - 13 in Jersey. and yup, the whole mafia thing... Well, i have an uncle up there, who is in construction but not the mafia (that we know of), and he totally seems like the type, 'cept he's not Italian. but to hear him say "fogittabtit" sounds erie. My dad always said that New Jersey was a great place, to be from. I agree.

I spent the rest of my childhood and way to much of my adult life in southern MD. SMIBs - Southren Maryland InBreds. Oh yea. This is one stereotype that is well deserved. I once saw a rusted out pickup truck with copy paper bumper stickers taped to the back. not kidding.

Where I live now... Lets just say the my town has the rep of being the Ghetto of the area. I'd say not true, but.... we've had way too many wierdos commiting crime on the news lately. They are rehabbing the downtown area though, and trying to clean up that image.

[Beth/Mom2TwoVikings]

Everyone from Michigan grew up in Detroit area...NOT!

No one lives outside Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties (the metro Detroit area) unless they're in Lansing (our capital) or go to a state university (Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti, Marquette, etc.)

Those people in the Upper Peninsula aren't *really* Michiganders...and those "trolls" who live "under the (Mackinac) Bridge" are just tourists, "fudgies", or looking for a vacation home.

Everyone from the state of Michigan IS NOT a University of Michigan fan! There ARE other universities here, for pete's sake.

[Amy]

I am from Boston. I use my directional signals when driving and I pronounce (most of) my R's. Bostonians are perceived as not too friendly, and true to the stereotype, I have a hard time looking people I don't know in the eye and I am a private person...so this comes across as unfriendly I guess. We hate change and are proud of our history.

And for the record, most do not "Pahk their cahs in Hahvahd Yahd"... we take the "T" because pahking is too much trouble! ;)

[Amy]

I am from Boston. I use my directional signals when driving and I pronounce (most of) my R's. Bostonians are perceived as not too friendly, and true to the stereotype, I have a hard time looking people I don't know in the eye and I am a private person...so this comes across as unfriendly I guess. We hate change and are proud of our history.

And for the record, most do not "Pahk their cahs in Hahvahd Yahd"... we take the "T" because pahking is too much trouble! ;)

[Amy]

Whoops, sorry for the double post- there was an error when I hit "post"! and I only hit it once! :(

[Tara]

Another MinneSNOWtan here. Not the first one - shoot!

Well, I grew up in a Minneapolis suburb, and I'd say many of the stereotypes are considered for people "up north", such as:

knowing how to hunt and fish from birth (I have never shot anything bigger than a BB gun, although I fished a few lakes in my day. My uncle is an avid ice fisherman, if that counts.)

Of course, it IS as cold as they say (and they never cancel school for 20 feet of snow, just for maybe -75 degree windchill and that's all), although the summers can get VERY hot and sticky (all the lakes, remember?), so your blood never regulates to the temperature like it does in, say, Florida or I don't know, Iceland.

March is known as the "snowiest month" but it can snow 10 inches or more in the middle of April.

We have used the A/C and the heat on the same day before. Spring and Fall in Minnesota especially. Cool mornings and evenings, but warm afternoons. You learn to dress in layers.

"I survived the Halloween Blizzard of '91." (And have all the cavities to prove it!)

There IS an accent, although I am convinced I never developed one or have since lost it (I'm currently living on the East Coast), and I never actually "heard" the Minnesota accent until I moved away and then went back home for a visit. I LOVE hearing it now and miss it terribly.

Another stereotype: everyone is Lutheran. Which is mostly true, except for the diversity in the Cities (Mpls/St.Paul). Actually, there were more Jewish people who attended my school than anything else. (Half the school would be absent on Rash Hashanah and whatnot, no lie.) But everyone else is pretty much Lutheran. Except me, I'm Baptist. At least, a Christian who attends a Baptist church.

Yes, the mosquito is the unofficial Minnesota state bird. They've enjoyed their share of my blood, that's for sure!

One thing I noticed even over the last year, is that Minnesotans all say "Ya know..." ALL THE TIME! They don't even give it a thought.

Minnesotans wear shorts once the temperature hits 45 degree. Come on, HEAT WAVE. (I'm guilty.)

Our poor Dairy Queen closes most of the year...but that doesn't stop any ice cream lover from breaking out the rocky road in the dead of January!

SNOW football, 'nuff said

Everyone owns a snowmobile and there are always tracks along the ditches of the highways. SO fun!

Everybody eats lutifisk. Here's the truth. NOBODY eats lutifisk. My mom loves the stuff though, and enters lutifisk-eating contests just to get free fish soaked in lye! She's a true Norwegian! I'm...just blond.

Now LEFSA, on the other hand. Bring it on with plenty of butter and brown sugar!!! My mom even owns a real lefsa griddle. And a few other Norwegian food appliances as well. Homemade is the best!

It is called HOTDISH, not casserole.

Oh, and POP. Not soda. Not Coke. Not soda-pop. I don't care if we are MinneSOTA. And I never even tried sweet tea until I was 25 years old! (I can hear a collective, "Poor thing..." Eh. I think maybe I had to grow up with it to like it.)

Not y'all. It's, you GUYS. Regardless of gender or age.

Duck Duck GRAY DUCK, not Duck Duck Goose. (And yes, that one is weird, but I'm sticking with it.)

And, for the record, I did NOT vote for Jesse Ventura. But I had a lot of friends who did! It was my first legal election, i fact!

Hair conditioner is a MUST in the winter. Fly-away hair is a given. All you curly sue's would appreciate a Minnesota winter just for that. No frizzy. Mine just goes flat and sticks to my face and chin.

Everybody (except my family) owns a cabin up north. Ya know, I was SO deprived, you guys!!!!

My relatives actually say, "Uff-Da!" and mean it. My grandma especially.

I joined the cross country ski team in high school. One year it didn't snow a whole month into the season. We were stumped!

Ok, I better stop now before I get yelled at. This is just scratching the surface. Since living in Minnesota, I moved to Maryland and met my husband, who is from West Virginia! But he is NOT a redneck. Has a few redneck relatives, though, that's for sure!!!!!

[Lysa TerKeurst]

I live in North Carolina where we like a little tea with our sugar... or shugahhh as some would say.

We're always fixin' to go somewhere or do something. But before we go, we are sure to use our essential hair product that comes in a tall red can called, "Big Sexy Hair."

No matter how things turn out with our hair, we never talk ugly about each other in these here parts. You can say anything you want about anybody and it doesn't count as ugly as long as you follow it up with "bless her heart."

"Aunt Betty must have singed her bangs when she was fixin' to make some fried Okra and they got all nappy lookin', bless her heart. At least she's got her Big Sexy Spray to keep them in their full and upright position."

And that just pretty much sums things up here.

[Liz]

I'm originally from Ohio, and my worse fears were realized that I was a hick when there were TRACTORS in my high school parking lot.
Literally my school was in the middle of a corn field.

[Emily]

I'm from Ohio, The Home of The Ohio State University. And I have no idea what the rest of the country would stereotypically think of us? :) Ok, yes we are a little obsessed with a little school in Columbus.

[klutzymama]

I live in Indiana. I guess the biggest assumption people make about Hoosiers is that we're all corn farmers. And that we are all fanatical about basketball. Well the basketball thing is true. And we do have a lot of corn farmers, but we have other people too, like doctors and lawyers and such. :-)

[Jeromy]

I'm Tara's (above) husband and I'm West Virginia. I know you think this will be the best one yet but let me first say that the people in my state are not all like the stereotype (I guess that is what make is a stereotype). Actually, when someone sees another person that is the epitome of the stereotype, they shake their head in shame and realize why the rest of the country thinks we're all like that. I plan to only include those stereotypes that I have witnessed as true at least once and those that do not cruelly play games with someone else's hardship. Ok, so here goes:

-Fourteen cars in your yard and none of them work. I have an uncle that collects old, rusty cars (Edsel, Plymouth, etc) and he actually moves them from place to place when he relocates.

-A half-dozen or more dogs living under your back porch. I think they like it under there because the dirt is cool to lay on. We had a Pomeranian once that loved it under there!

-The bib overalls with nothing underneath. This guys makes us all sick when he comes around. I think I got a flash of some tighty-whitey's once so it's not all true!

-The outhouse in the back yard. Sad but true: If someone lives where they will not run city water, they have to do something, right?

-The Pepperoni Roll. It's like a hot roll with a stick of pepperoni in it. These things will stay fresh longer than the twinkie because of all the "natural" oils in them. Sortof like amber reserving a beetle for thousands of years, West Virginians will be fresh a lot longer than most of the world.

-Ramps. They're a wild growing leek/onion type plant that smells really really bad but people flood the woods in March/April to dig these and they actually have Ramp Fest's to celebrate the smelliness. Growing up, the motto in my home was, "Eat at least one so you can't smell everyone one else."

-Smokers. Everyone and their brother smokes in West Virginia. It's crazy, I tell you. When cigarettes become $5 a pack, you'll find West Virginians who will trade rent money for one more puff with Joe Camel.

West Virginia

[Anne]

I'm often called a Yankee by anyone south of Pennsylvania. I suppose it just comes with the territory:o). Another thing I'm (sometimes) called is Amish. Not everyone in Pennsylvania is Amish!

[Kristin]

I'm originally from Maine. I often get asked if I eat/ate a lot of lobster. Nope. My Dad didn't even like it. (And we lived a few hundred miles from the coast...yes, there is more to Maine than the coast!) I get asked about the blizzard conditions of our winters. They are cold with lots of snow, but not as bad as some states. I get asked why I don't have an accent. Only a very small part of the coast actually has an accent. Oh...and I'm not joking...after telling people I was from Maine, I actually got asked if that was part of Canada.

[Cassie]

I'm from Alabama. A very country part of Alabama for that matter. I don't hunt but everyone else in my community does. My BFF would take hunting trips with her mother and grandmother and I used to think it was the weirdest thing ever that they all went hunting and left the guys at home ha. I don't eat deer meat (unless I'm tricked, which I have been before) but another good friend of mine's family owns a deer processing place down the street from my old house. I do run around barefoot a lot, though almost never outside haha.

[catnip]

I grew up in Maine. We are a state, not part of Canada. I can't tell you how many people think that!

No, we don't eat lobster every day! We don't even all *gasp* live on the coast! Maine is a big state people, someone has to live inland.

Also, yes we get a lot of snow in the winter, but I promise you it gets hot in the summer too!

The funniest assumption I have to refute? We all really do have running water and toilets that flush!

[Carolyn F]

*Waves* to Cindy, also from NC.

1. I do NOT like sweet tea.
2. I do NOT like grits.

Those are two I think get said about many southerners.

[Becky]

Well, I'm from Tennessee! There are so many stereotypes that come with that! One that really really bugs me is that because I have a Southern (okay, real Southern) accent that I can't possibly be a smart person! I do NOT hunt, I do NOT wear overalls, I don't live on a farm (that would be fun), and I am not missing any teeth. I love sweet Tea and am full of Souther hospitality. And, I will say that I love to go barefoot (even when I was pregnant). :)
Great idea Rocks Dad!!!

[Maria]

Great question!

I live in Pennsylvania, but grew up in St. Louis, MO and came here via Chicago and Minneapolis. I also lived in Guadalajara, Mexico and upstate New York during college.

Depending on where you are living, people have different stereotypes and different expectations where you came from. In Minneapolis, we were from down south. In Chicago, we weren't from far away. In Pennsylvania we are from somewhere West (people have actually thought we lived next to California in St. Louis - I had to explain it was a few days' drive to actually get to California). I have also lived in Mexico, where we were Yankees and New York, which was similar to Pennsylvania in what they thought about us.

Now some of the funny things we discovered as observers in a lot of different cities.

- In Chicago, some people really sound like the SNL comedy skit about "da bears." It is a nice mix of fast-paced city with a Midwest feel. The Chicago-style pizza is just different in Chicago and it is good - very calorie filled, but good.

- In Minnesota, there accents are VERY strong. It took me a while to adjust to them. People do really drive on lakes in the winter because it is so cold. People are often very nice, but also very guarded and it can be difficult to make friends.

- In Pennsylvania, when you ask someone if they grew up around here, unless they grew up in the zip code you are now, they say no. A typical response is "No, I grew up about 10 miles away." I have to laugh because in my mind, that's around here. There are a lot of people who have lived in different places and have found their way back to here (we're just north of Philly).

- I assume for outsiders, St. Louis can be a lot like Minnesota in the way that people are kind, but already have their set communities and it can be difficult to break through. We still consider it home and hope to make it back someday.

[Jen]

*ahem* Australia. And no, we don't have crocodiles walking down the street, or kangaroos for pets, we have t.v, phones, cars and indoor plumbing, the country is a WHOLE lot bigger than people think... no I don't know Steve from Sydney... which, by the way, is not our capital city... and we don't all speak and dress like Steve Irwin or the girls from Kath and Kim.

[Maria]

One more quickie - on the East coast most people we know really think we grew up on a farm or just removed from a farm. They are surprised to know we have no farm experience and grew up in a regular city, just in Missouri.

[Krista]

I live in Massachusetts and everyone assumes that I:

- drive like a maniac
- talk like this: "Pahk the cah in the habah yahd."
- I am a huge blue-statey liberal.
- am a cold and unfriendly snob.

Well, with the last one...I really a reserved, quiet person, so people assume that the quiet, introvertedness that I am is all that snobby exterior.

But I don't have road rage and I don't call my aunts 'arnts' or say wadah and soder. :-P And I'm definitely a conservative.

[megan]

I am a born and raised Texan living in France. It is assumed that I am American from the first French word I speak! People ask me first if I live in New York, and when I tell them I'm from Texas they ask if I love George W.
Contrary to stereotype, the French like Americans and are always interested to talk with us. In our two years here, we haven't had one anti-American encounter!

[Kim]

Hmm, I'm not sure what the sterotype is for Pennsylvania. I live outside of Philly (that's short for Philadelphia) where our vocabulary includes such words as Yo to greet people and when ordering a steak sandwich you ask for it with or with out. (you'd be talking about cheese).

Shannon - On a side note I'm back in business. My URL has changed tho. Thanks for checking in on me!

[Jeana]

Well, if we say we live near Dallas, the first thing people do is start humming the theme song to the old TV show. (Dallas was the name of the show, for you young 'uns.) If we simply say Texas, they ask if we live on a ranch and own horses, and if it's like a desert where we live. Parts of Texas are desert, but not all. When we say no, they often ask if we know any astronauts.

No, we don't.

[Sarah P]

G'day from Australia.
I have never wrestled a crocodile!
There really are no kangaroos hopping down main street. There are, unfortunately however, possums in the rafters! (Imagine huge rats on steroids that are a protected species...grrr)
If I lived in Melbourne, an Australian from another State could make me an artistic, coffee drinking, movie critic. However, I live in the Yarra Valley, an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne - 1hr drive east. It is a well known grape growing region (at least to other Aussies anyway) but I have never toured the vineyards, and I don't own a 4WD.
As for putting shrimps on the barbie, never have, and Aussies call shrimps: prawns.

[Capri K]

We are from Michigan and to give folks a visual, we used to say "the Detroit area".(While pointing to the location on our hand, as all good Michiganders do!)

I think people had the idea that we carried guns and knew how to handle ourselves!

Now we say the "Ann Arbor area". University town verses crime ridden, drug infested city? Wins hands down!

BTW, it's total suburbia here, no "city" to be found!

[We are THAT family]

I was born and raised in Texas. Everyone assumes I talk with a strong 'twang' (southern accent). I don't. I am highly dignified.

And everyone assumes, we wear cowboy boots down here.

We only wear them to the Rodeo.

We moved around for the first 10 years of our marriage. My first child was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I couldn't believe how many people thought it was only a Spanish speaking state and was a part of Mexico.

Hellllooooo, New Mexico is in the Union.

Oh, and can you send your Dad over here, I've got some ideas, that I need to bounce off him!

[Slacker Mom]

Ah, I am from Georgia. I hate the idea that people think there are a bunch of 'rednecks' here. (And then there are the people who think its a sunburn to the neck!)There are not. Just like every state, we have a diverse population of residents. Our past times do not involve going out and tipping cows either. We don't all play the Banjo (although my Dad plays any and all stringed instruments) and the people in North Georgia are not like those creepy creatures from the movie Deliverance.
What we are though is something better. We are friendly - we will smile at you if we pass you on the sidewalk. We love college football and the Braves, even when they are losing. We will always pitch in to help a neighbor in their hour of need. We love our friends and neighbors from the North. (I married a Nebraskan and didn't get kicked out of the state!) We don't fret around all day like Scarlett O'Hara and I have NEVER made anything out of a pair of curtains. :)

[chocolatechic]

Mariann, I too, live in Ohio, and they do that.

They also say crick for creek....it is so annoying.

[Judy]

Native Texan here...I had big hair in the 80's, but I don't think that was a Texas thang, y'all. I have never owned a horse, but my in-laws have four and a donkey. There is an overabundance of pick up trucks around here, and in fact, we owned one up until a couple of months ago. To trade in the pick up for something OTHER than a pick up was a BIG DECISION! You can find the BEST BBQ here and no one makes salsa like South Texas restaurants (we once ate Mexican food in Louisiana and I promise you that the salsa was actually spaghetti sauce! Ew!).

While we don't typically see "cowboys" around, we were at Schlitterbahn the other day and saw a dude in the water with his straw cowboy hat on...my son got all excited and wanted to find his horse! Leave it to a three year old...

And, as said in a similar comment, we do have Go Texan Day - it usually centers around an event like the county fair and rodeo. It is a SCHOOL HOLIDAY. We're serious about our heritage.

I grew up being told that the Texas flag can fly at the same height as the American flag because Texas was an independent republic before joining the US. However, ANY state flag can be flown at the same level as the US flag, provided it is on its own pole and the US flag is given a placement of honor (i.e. to the right of the other flag). When flown on the same pole, the US flag flies on top.

Wow, who knew this would turn into a flag lesson?

[Jenni S.]

I live on Michigan (didn't grow up here) and people often think 3 things - terrible drivers (mostly true!), everyone works for one of the Big Three car companies (partly true, though there's more diversity than you'd expect), freezing cold winters (never truer).

However, what they don't know is that the summers are gorgeous and everyone travels north for vacation. And if you've ever seen it up there, you'd understand why. The terrain is beautiful.

[Toblerone @ Simple Mom]

We are Americans who live overseas, so we hear the craziest ideas about us. We're uber-rich, we're loud, we have huge cars, we work for the CIA, we only know English, we hate every other country, we love George W.

And then when they hear we're specifically from Texas, it's all over - we're cowboys, we ride horses everywhere, we wear boots, we go to backyard barbecues with the Bushes.

From other Americans, they're usually surprised I don't have a southern accent. Most Texans from Austin don't, but people are still surprised when they find out I'm Texan.

[kcjayhawk]

i live in kansas. i once had someone ask me if i rode a cow to school. i live in a suburb of kansas city. i had never even seen a cow up close until i had kids.

[Teri]

I grew up & live in Northeast Indiana in a rural community.
Let's see, everyone not from this area thinks we all know some german because of the Amish. Not true. For the record, we call their dialect, Slop Bucket Dutch.

We're all farmers. My grandfather was & my husband's grandfather was but we aren't. We all drive pick-ups, hunting & fishing are the main source of entertainment, which is true to a point for some but not all. I do drive a Durango but only because my husband decided he didn't want me getting stuck in the snow. We only listen to country music. Not true.
Corn, cows, and Bobby Knight are all our heros. Again. Not true. Can't stand corn, hate it in the fall when the farmer across the road cuts it & my house fills up with dust & chaff. Cows are not cute cuddly creatures. They smell and yes, one night as a teen I did get a little trashed & we went cow tipping but only once! And Bobby Knight?!?! Please. I'm a Purdue Fan. I have never been to the Indy 500 Race. Sane people avoid Indy that weekend.
Now for a bit of truth. Yes, there is a large FFA chapter at our local high school. That's Future Farmers of America for those who don't know. And yes, it's true that one day a year the guys drive the tractors in & park them in front of the school. But not my kids. I homeschool & the only John Deere we own is the lawn mower.

[Andi]

I don't know if there are any big stereotypes about St. Louis, where I grew up & currently live. I can tell you if you grew up in St. Louis & meet someone else who also grew up here, the first question you will ask is, "Where did you go to high school?" If you don't ask it first the other person will.

I went to college at KU in Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence was not a hick farm town. It was an amazing town with a huge arts community and fairly liberal mindset. It's completely unlike the rest of Kansas.

And, from there I moved to Jersey City, New Jersey- right outside of New York City. It's supposed to be a hotbed of terrorisim, and sure enough, one night my husband & I were watching Dateline & the reporter was in Jersey City, filming right around the corner from us at a cell phone store- it was owned by a former arms dealer. Lovely.

[amy c]

I was born in Tennessee, where Andrew Johnson and Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett came from. We don't all wear coon skin caps (that's raccoon), most all of us have all of our teeth, we don't sit around all day makin' moonshine and fightin' with revenuers. We are volunteers like our state nickname- we reach out and help. We are southern, enjoy sweet tea, say ya’ll and phrases as “fixin’ to” (which implies we are about to do something), and “supper” (which is the evening meal).

[Fuzzytop]

I grew up in Arizona (Phoenix area) and the biggest stereotype, which is sadly true, is that it is HOT HOT HOT there....

I've lived in Tennessee for almost three years now, and when I told my people at work I was moving, someone said to me "... hmmmmmm, Tennessee, 3 million people and not one good set of teeth..." Well I have seen some major league dental ugliness here, so there is, unfortunately, some truth to the stereotype. But on the plus side, people here tend to be much more connected to their communities and families than in Arizona, where everyone is a recent transplant from somewhere else.

[lisa (lost pezhead)]

this is a really fun post. mmmm....well i've lived quite a lot of places and being originally from South Carolina, I enjoyed the Southern views people gave. We've been in Ohio now going on 5 years and besides absolutly loving the Columbus area....one thing is true, football. I've never lived somewhere where football is religion!! It is really fun (and I really don't enjoy football). The city pretty much shuts down on game day . . . everyone is wearing scarlet and grey (if you go grocery shopping on game day you better be decked out in your buckeye gear). The midwest is so friendly (more so than the South I have to say . . . which can be rather clicky (is that spelled right)?

[A&EMom]

I'm from Oklahoma, live in a large city, and have only seen tepees in museums. We have cows and cowboys, but not so much here in the city.

However.

We cringe every time it storms. If there's a tornado, the news is sure to find Bubba Joe in his wife-beater t-shirt standing toothless in front of where his tin trailer used to be. No doubt CNN will pick it up and there's Anderson Cooper with Bubba Joe representing all of Oklahoma for the world. Fabulous.

[Kira]

I live in Las Vegas. Which means that I eat at buffets every night, live in a casino and am teaching my three young children how to properly play blackjack. - Riiiiiiiiight - ;)

[Linds]

I'm from Iowa, many, many people have said, "That's where they grow potatoes right?" When they realize that they're mixing Iowa with Idaho they ask me if I live in a cornfield.

[JanMary, N Ireland]

Lived in N Ireland for all but 1 year of my life. No,
I don't live in a thatched cottage
I don't do irish dancing
I don't have red hair (but my son does)
I don't drink Guiness (I prefer diet coke)
but you probably do all think I have a cute accent (but I don't think so!)

Well done your Dad on a great idea for a post. When does his blog start?

[SEUSSGIRL]

Growing up in Central PA, there are a lot of assumptions about the Amish and just general hickishness (hey, we do close schools on the first day of deer season!). When I went to school in Virginia for a year, everyone compared weird sayings that you never realize are localized. For instance, we say it's "a quarter till" when we're saying it's 9:45 or whatnot. The older generation says "You'uns" and Philly people say "you's".
I hope your dad enjoys all the comments!

[The Bargain Shopper Lady]

I gew up in Texas as well! We just moved to New England and everyone here thinks I wear Cowboy boots and hats! I do own them but as someone stated, for State Fair Day or Go Texan Day.
I grew up in Houston and we do have, THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD, great shopping, Beth Moore and some kickin good preachers who will grow your love for God into a huge TEXAS size love!
I don't miss the galleria traffic ya'll!
~The Bargain Shopper Lady

[lisa (lost pezhead)]

Shannon I hope this comment is okay...

Megan who was about comment #4...yeah, I don't know if that is your blog you write or what, but devoting an entire blog to criticizing the LDS faith (mormons) is just sad. Especially to link it on this Rocks in my Dryer blog, which is a nice friendly mom type blog - it's just not appropriate.

[Jolyn]

I grew up in Kansas and have since lived in seven different states and two different countries in my adult life.

People assume that I have seen lots of tornadoes -- I never saw a single one. (We go downSTAIRS, people.)

People assume it is completely flat, which it is in Western Kansas but not in eastern. Ever hear of the Flint Hills? I have seen many, many beautiful things in this world, and there is a certain majestic beauty to them thar hills, people.

People HAVE to make Wizard of Oz jokes. It's like a compulsion. I never saw the movie until I was an adult.

People assume it's boring in Kansas. Granted, it is not exactly a tourist destination. But a large contingent of my mom's cousins migrated to the country of Southern California over 20 years ago, yet more often THEY are the ones visiting Kansas and not the other way around! People ask them, "Don't you get bored there?" They say, not with our family! Kansas MAY be boring, but the people rock!

[Veggiemomof2]

I grew up south of StLouis, Mo & I hate that anytime my county is on the news for something..they seem to find someone to talk to who is missing teeth, in a ratty housecoat, w/their hair in curlers who "seen" it all!

I swear it looks like we have a whole county full of rednecks!

[Shelly W.]

I live outside of Chicago, and I'd say the stereotypes are rather minimal (although our Governor is doing his best to label us the most stupid, liberal state in the union). BUT, when I travel overseas, people still think Al Capone lives. It's so funny that the gangster image from the 1920's and 30's is still around. Chicago is nothing like that. It's one of the most beautiful cities in the country. There are lots of fun things to do here and the people are great. Sure, the weather pretty much stinks for six months of the year, but for the other six months it's glorious (like today!).

[Laura]

I have lived in Texas all but 3 years of my life. I was born on the Llano Estacado just like the song that you've probably never heard. Everyone talks about how flat and boring it is there, but I loved it very very much. I also lived in North Texas which everyone associates with Dallas, but we lived in a town of less than 500 on the border of Oklahoma. I've lived in Austin, which really is weird just like the bumper stickers. I also have lived in the Rio Grande Valley, which is a lot like Mexico in some ways. I've also lived in St. Louis. The people there seem to be known for driving in the "downtown" lane. That means that they drive in the left lane no matter how slow they want to drive, and it really is annoying. They also call I44, I Farty-far. Very odd. And I've lived in Minnesota where my Texas accent was quite misplaced. While working in a store someone asked me if our store had an flags. The "a" in minnesota isn't pronounced the same as in Texas and I showed her every snowflake (I thought she said flake) in our little shop. She probably thought I was a flake.

[Lora Lynn]

I'm from Alabama. My accent isn't as thick as some, and when we lived in DC for 8 years, it definitely wasn't that strong. I remember seeing the looks on people's faces once they'd talked to me for awhile and THEN learned where I was from. They were shocked that anyone from there would come across "the line" and not be immediately recognizable by the tan lines and twang. I did have a tendency to go without shoes, though, which is a dead give away.

Now we're back in the southland and, I have to admit, it's nice to be here. People are just NICE.

[Heather]

I grew up in NC but traveling with the military over the years have lost the thickness of the accent that I once had. When people ask me where I'm from and I say NC, they assume one of two things, depending on what they know of NC. One, that I must love college basketball. This one is oh so true. Second, that I am of redneck heritage and must have been happy to get out of there. The first part of that, sort of true. The latter part is not, I'm itching to get back there!

[Tammy H.]

I was born in Alabama and have lived here most of my life. We do not eat possum and drive on dirt roads. We DO have beautiful neighborhoods that are not trailers. We love antiques and all things southern. In Alabama you must declare your love for either the Tide or the Tigers at a young age. We take our college football seriously! :) Our kids must say "mam" or "sir" - We still say it as adults to people older than us. We do love hunting and fishing, but we play golf and tennis too.

[Melissa]

I'm a Kentucky-born southern girl, now transplanted to Florida. Because I'm from KY, people assume my family tree doesn't branch, but that's not true! Why, my momma was one of 17 children (10 from her momma and 7 from her daddy)...and not all of 'em from the same momma and daddy, so my family tree has PLENTY of branches!! KY kids call their parents momma (or mommy) and daddy longgggg after their parents have passed away.

Because I now live in FL, people assume that I'm not "really" southern. Florida, at least where I live, is actually very southern, with rednecks, pickup trucks and lots of hunters. Our guys just hunt wild hogs rather than deer.

People also assume that I have a tan, which I don't. My least favorite misconception is that we all live on island time. I actually once had a bumper sticker that said "Take it easy on me, I'm a local". Some of us actually are in a hurry and are prompt to appointments.

[Gettysburg Mom]

Hello all. I'm orinally from Upstate New York. When I say that do you think Westchester County, right above NYC? Because, I mean up-up-up-upstate NY. That part right below Canada. I've had people ask if I've ever seen a tree before or what it's like in NYC. Ummm... I'm from the Adirondacks- A SIX MILLION ACRE STATE PARK- YEAH, I'VE SEEN A TREE! It's a big state out there beyond the city...

[noname]

I grew up in the Piedmont of NC. Morgan Freeman played a character from NC in one of his movies, Kiss the Girls, maybe(?) and I'm telling you. We don't all talk like that! NC hosts many versions of 'southern' from your gun toting, hay chewing, tobacco spitting redneck to your prim and proper southern belle. And everything in between. The way we're portrayed in the movies is often more hilarious than correct. We really do give directions by landmark however. Like, 'go on down the road and take a left by the old stump and then when you see the fork in the road, bear left. Turn by Old Man so and so's farm. He's the one with the rickety fence, not the chicken wire contraption fence. ....'

I never thought much about it until I moved to Iowa where everyone gives directions by North, South, East and West. I've had to stop people and flat ask, is that a left or right before. Or ask for landmarks. Iowans tend to look at me like I'm stupid when I do that, and they can't follow MY directions (because I don't use the N-S-E-W thing).

[Helen]

I live in Georgia but I am from the east coast of Canada.
Here are some answers to questions we have had since moving here...

-We drive on the right hand side of the road
-We celebrate Christmas on December 25th
-We have our own government.
-We are not American. We are actually quite different.
-We have summer and for most of the country our winters are not that much colder than most of the States.
-We don't all speak French.
-Wearing a hooded sweat shirt with shorts is totally acceptable.
-we say bathroom or washroom, not restroom
-it's a chocolate bar, not a candy bar
-not everyone is gay or a lesbian but most who are not would gladly have them as neighbours.
-not everyone plays hockey! but 4 out of 5 gals have dated someone who does!!
-NOT EVERYONE SAYS EH!!! I have never said it in my whole entire life!!!

[Angela]

I am from Florida, and have lived here all my life, and my husband calls me Snow White. :)