By: Ana Antic
I am running late for class (again). Looking around, I notice that I can still cross the street, so my pace quickens. Halfway through the crosswalk, the light turns green, and my music is quickly drowned out by the cars honking at me. How dare they! This would never happen in the South.
Even though I have only been here for a little over a month, Boston is very different from my home in Nashville, Tennessee. While I am embracing some of the cultural differences, I could do without some of them. So here is my list of 5 culture shocks.
1. Lack of Southern Hospitality
Now, this is something the South got right. The people there have an openness when interacting with almost anyone. They genuinely want to know how your day is going when they ask you. An older woman in her 70s might even adopt you as their grandchild and feed you (but this is not a guarantee). There is just a certain level of slowness in how southerners approach things that is so comforting and warm. Don’t get me wrong, southern hospitality is the most annoying thing in the world when you are in a rush. But, Boston could use some more of the southern mentality. I am not saying that people here are outright rude, but the sense of compassion is not the same.
2. So Much Honking for No Reason
First and foremost, I am a jaywalker, which is probably why I get honked at so much. However, I also get honked at when I am crossing the street, and the light is red for everyone. People love to honk here, and it is unnecessary 80% of the time. I do not get why they cannot wait an extra second for someone to react to the light changing from red to green.
3. Seeing Such a Mix of Cultures in One Place
I am so glad that this is a culture shock for me. I do not think I could have dealt with being in a place where everyone was culturally identical. In Nashville, there is a little mixing, but it’s not very multicultural. So being able to walk out on the street and hear German, Russian, Japanese, or literally any other language besides English has been amazing. During move-in day, I even met some Serbians which took me aback. My family is Serbian, but I am used to no one understanding me when talking in Serbian with my parents. So hearing the language I grew up speaking made me feel more comfortable moving to a new city.
4. The Weather (Though not exactly a culture shock, I sure was not ready for the Northeast)
Okay, to be fair, it can get cold (at least in my area), but it does not get this cold this early. October weather still reaches the mid to high 70s most of the time. Last Christmas, we even had 80-degree, sunny weather. The fact that the lows here are already dipping into the 40s (and even the 30s) makes me terrified for winter to come. I am so cold most of the time, but I am excited to see snow that lasts more than two days.
5. Drastic Decrease in Country Music
Trust me, this is a good thing. I am quite literally from the center for country music, and I should love it. Right? I mean Dolly Parton lives a two-minute drive from my house. But to me, country music is death to my ears. I would rather watch paint dry than hear some guy sing about a woman and a tractor. So the fact that I can walk through Boston and not hear country music coming out of almost every bar is a blessing.