I always knew I wanted to go to college in a big city. From the sparkle of the skyscrapers to the hustle and bustle of metropolis areas, I was always instantly attracted to the contagious energy cities possess. Every time I took a vacation from my home in Louisville, Kentucky to Chicago, Boston, New York, or DC, I knew a city was the place I needed to be.
Going to school in the heart of Washington, DC has been, so far, one of the best experiences of my life. I have been learning so much so quickly and I could not imagine myself at any other school besides GW. Although I have been having a great freshman year so far, there have definitely been some drastic changes from my traditional, southern upbringing. Here are my top five reactions to the differences between the South and DC:
1. Manners
As a child, it was very important that my friends and I were all well-mannered. Pleases and Thank Yous are automatic, I don’t even think twice about holding the door, I say ‘excuse me’ if I accidently bump into someone, and I always smile to people I pass on the street. In DC, people rarely hold doors, on occasion mumble the word ‘thanks’, and, sadly, often appear to have cases of resting b*tch face. These northerners could definitely use a lesson on proper Southern manners.
2. Fashion
At my high school the vivid prints of Lilly Pulitzer, the bright colors of Vinyeard Vines and Southern Tide, and the sound of clacking Jack Rogers filled the hallways. In DC, there’s black, black, and black. Although I love the urban style that the Foggy Bottom neighborhood has, I will always be a bright color and vivid pattern kind of girl.
3. Change of Pace
In DC, everyone is always in a rush. Always. In Kentucky, people stroll down the streets and always bump into someone they know; they stop and have pleasant and polite small talk. In the city, people walk, talk, and do everything quickly. People are busy here and they do not let the crowded city stand in their way of getting where they need to be.
4. Being a Southerner
Every time someone asks me where I’m from and I say Kentucky they either:
a. Look at me as if I have three heads.
b. Ask if I live on a farm
c. Think I’m from Kansas
Yes, Kentucky and the South are places that really do exist and no, I do not live on a farm! I promise Louisville is a legit city (and it may even be bigger city than the New Jersey suburb you might call home…)
5. DC has the restaurants, the museums, the arts, the history! There’s so much to see and do! After growing up in Louisville for the past eighteen years I could say the phrase, “been there, done that” about most things in town. In DC, with all of the stuff it has to offer, I will never be able to say that!
Although there are some differences between my hometown and where I live now, I am so excited to be in a totally new environment and to take DC by storm! And who knows, maybe by the end of my four years I will be able to conquer the resting b*tch face too…
Image Sources:
http://giphy.com/gifs/reality-tv-dance-moms-holly-QvJmWaBd4GrBe
http://www.halliedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/HallieDaily-City-C…
http://www.hercampus.com/sites/default/files/2013/10/20/lilly-pulitzer-s…
https://ronekysdc.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/people-rushing.jpg?w=516&h…
http://markcouhig.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/usofthesouth.gif
http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2013/11/Washington-DC-hero-H.jpeg