When I applied to a university in Oklahoma, I never imagined that I would actually end up there. Lo and behold, they gave me the best scholarship, so off to the South I went. Although the locals would describe Oklahoma as part of the Midwest, I disagree. Anywhere that boasts drive-thru tobacco stands, deep-fried bacon on a stick, a church on every corner and the majority of the population frequently decked out in cowboy hats screams “SOUTH!” to me.
(Sonic seems pretty South to us!)Â
Although as a college freshman I was desperate to get away from home and “see the world,” I have to admit that I was caught off-guard when I moved to Tulsa. People did really bizarre things, like smile at one another and start conversations with strangers. Obviously as a born-and-raised, cold-blooded New Englander, I was taught to put my bitch face on when strangers made eye contact. This strange, friendly people unnerved me but a year and a half later, I’ve come to expect men to hold the door open; for Wal-Mart cashiers to ask me how I’m doing and keep the conversation going for a few minutes; for gas to be priced $0.50 less than back home.
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Having homes in two different states certainly has its advantages, best of which being that I have learned to appreciate two separate cultures. I’ll tell you one thing the South is: unprepared. Most recently, we’ve had two “snowstorms.” Both occasions have resulted in school cancellations. How much snow? The first time, we got a grand total of two inches. It took a solid three days to get the parking lots plowed and I witnessed more than one person walking around on the phone talking to their parents about “that white stuff falling from the sky,” like it was the first time they had ever seen snow. Come to think of it, that’s probably the truth. That enormous amount of snow was followed by three days of mid-70 degree temperatures (that’s right, in January!) and three days after that, another storm.
(Oh Jimmy Neutron, you ’90s flashback you!)
This time, a legitimate amount of snow was dumped on those poor Okies’ heads and 16 inches and one snowfall record later, the National Guard was called, a state of emergency was declared and campus was shut down for days. The local paper even stopped printing because no one could get to work. In preparation for the big storm, hordes and hordes of people traveled en masse to Wal-Mart and various area grocery stores. There was not a carton of eggs, a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk to be found. While talking on the phone to my mom back home in New Hampshire, she nonchalantly informed me that it had snowed 25 inches and that she had driven to work and my brother still had school. I shudder to think what would have happened had Oklahoma experienced such a severe storm.
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While I have a deep allegiance to the North and its Ralph Lauren-wearing, beach-going, dirty-look-giving people, I do enjoy the South as well. I maintain the old adage: you never know what you have until it’s gone.