I read a funny post about regional differences on Kelly's Korner this morning and immediately thought of many times I've had to explain something or have realized that I wasn't in the south anymore.
One of the most interesting things I've had to explain is deer camp. I'm originally from Arkansas and my dad's side of the family are all hunters, primarily deer. Deer hunting is very common and popular here and it's often a family affair. I should note deer camp also turned me into a vegetarian for 13 years but that's another story.
I was staffed on a project in Detroit (and the only southerner on my team) and was sharing a story about going to deer camp. One of my colleagues from Toronto had a very strange look on her face. "What do you do with the deer at deer camp?" My turn for the strange look. "Not sure I'm following your question."
She thought my family camped with deer and I guess assumed there was field frolicking and other deer games involved. She was horrified when I explained what deer camp is. Of course she had also never seen a cow "in real life" so we were coming from very different backgrounds.
A few other things that came to mind:
Buggy - I've now learned that most people call it a shopping cart but I grew up calling it a buggy. I've heard other (but not all) southerners call it a buggy so I assume this is some sort of regional thing.
Chocolate gravy - It is a tragedy that more people are not familiar with chocolate gravy. I guess this is also a southern thing but it is likely what angels serve for breakfast in Heaven.
Grill out - I don't say this but my husband does. I have no idea if this is an Arizona thing but when we were first married he would say things like "We should grill out for dinner tonight." Anyone from Arizona?? Does anyone else say this? I think it's weird to not just say grill. Theoretically you could grill IN your house but your insurance company would not appreciate that.
Y'all - Probably one of the best known regional differences. I've worked in Philadelphia where they say something along the lines of you-uns (I have no idea if this is how it's spelled but that's what it sounds like). I love y'all. It makes me happy and I will never stop saying it. No matter how many times people comment about it.
Wearing color - I interned for my congressman during college and all of the east coast people had a field day commenting on my clothes. I had no idea prior to this that people up north essentially live life in varying shades of black/grey. It was very depressing to me and I felt like Capitol Hill benefited from pops of color the southerners wore. Of course I later moved to DC and have a ton of black and grey in my wardrobe now but that's primarily because I weigh 30 pounds more and it's slimming.
Sundae - My dad pronounces this as sun-duh as opposed to sun-day. Pulling up to the Tastee Freeze drivethrough and I'd hear "Yes, ma'am, I'd like to order a chocolate sun-duh." I haven't heard a lot of people say this but I've always loved that Dad says it this way. Except when I was a teenager. It was embarrassing then.
I'm sure I'll think of more but those were a few things that came to mind. If you want to read a hilarious collection of southern/country sayings and stories, run on out to Barnes & Noble and buy this book:
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What are some differences you've had to explain?
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