I am continually amazed at how thoughtful people are on the busy, crazy roads down here in the south. I grew up with Minnesota Nice, but that doesn't include on the road. Everyone fends for themselves on the road Up North. Yet if you do the Road Dance with confidence, knowing that no one is going to slow down for you, it all works out.
Down South people actually stop to let others make right hand turns in front of them when the traffic is busy. A quick wink of the lights means go ahead. I've even seen both lanes of traffic come to a stop so that a person can make a left hand turn across traffic. This is so thoughtful! Of course, I never think to pause for someone else...I'm from Up North.
There was a time, however, where I just could not let myself make a turn. This was when I was at a lighted intersection waiting to turn left. The light turned green which meant as soon as traffic was clear I could turn. The first oncoming car was going to wait for me to turn before he started to go. It was a nice gesture, but I just couldn't do it. My dad's defensive driving drills just wouldn't let me. After all, if he decided to go once I was already turning, whose fault would the be? It might be hard to prove that this gentleman was coaxing me to go in front of him.
This thoughtfulness of other drivers and a willingness to put aside a few precious moments to help someone else get on the road (or off), is something I appreciate in the south. Maybe tomorrow I'll wait and let someone go in front of me...
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Just Follow the Yellow Brick Road...
Just a quick note about roads in the South: Do not assume anything. If you miss your turn, do not assume that you can take the next road that looks like it runs parallel and adjust accordingly. Roads are not mapped out on a grid in the south. I think they just took old ox cart trails that wound around huge trees and other obstructions, and paved them. Eventually the obstructions were removed and we wonder why in the world the roads are so curvy and crazy.
Do not assume that just because you took Kudzu Lane there, Kudzu Lane will bring you back. Because on the way there Kudzu Lane may well have changed names three times and at your destination it might actually be Keziah Rd.
Conifer Street may intersect with Conifer Street. This is where it is really good to have your destination mapped out ahead of time and have the map with you!
Not all roads are two-lane; people actually bicycle on these busy, narrow, winding roads; the road sign may be up there somewhere, but may be unreadable because of vines or tree overgrowth.
If you just follow the yellow brick road without paying close attention, you may not end up where you want to be...or even worse, know how to get home again afterwards. You will do just fine, though, if you googlemap beforehand, keep a map in your vehicle at all times, and pack plenty of snacks. And most of all, don't assume anything.
Do not assume that just because you took Kudzu Lane there, Kudzu Lane will bring you back. Because on the way there Kudzu Lane may well have changed names three times and at your destination it might actually be Keziah Rd.
Conifer Street may intersect with Conifer Street. This is where it is really good to have your destination mapped out ahead of time and have the map with you!
Not all roads are two-lane; people actually bicycle on these busy, narrow, winding roads; the road sign may be up there somewhere, but may be unreadable because of vines or tree overgrowth.
If you just follow the yellow brick road without paying close attention, you may not end up where you want to be...or even worse, know how to get home again afterwards. You will do just fine, though, if you googlemap beforehand, keep a map in your vehicle at all times, and pack plenty of snacks. And most of all, don't assume anything.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Humidity and Hair
We never took into consideration what the constant humidity would do to my hair when we moved down South. I am a natural,curly-girl; and actually like it. But on days like today with the humidity so high it's hard to move, or even breathe, my hair gets me down. Every hair feels a need to display its unique individuality in curly form and I end up with a halo of fuzz. I'm not one to obsess about my hair. Really, I'm not. And even in this humidity I will often forget about what it looks like. But it's downright discouraging to be reminded of my big hair by the cashier at Aldi who apparently has no tact (bless her little heart). What do curly-girl Southern Belles do down here to keep their curls united and working as a team?!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Language Barriers
I never thought that I would deal with language barriers when I moved south. After all, we are still in the same country (although the Confederate Reenactors still pine over what could have been. But that is a topic for another day). English is still the official language. However, not only is there a different accent, but you never know in a given conversation when a seemingly straightforward English word means one thing to a Southerner and quite another thing to one from Up North.
Take the word toboggan. Up North we all know that one slides down a hill in the middle of winter on a toboggan. Imagine my confusion when after a Sunday Service there was an announcement that someone had left a red toboggan the week before. Why would you bring a red toboggan to church? There wasn't even any snow!!! I ran it by my true blue southern friend, Robin, and found out that toboggan is actually a hat. Where did that come from?
Another word is buggy. Buggy is a little old fashioned, and is a shortened version of baby buggy. We most often use the word stroller now. But down south this is a very common word. In fact, my first time into a store down here, I was asked if I needed a buggy. A what?! I was taken aback by this old fashioned word. A buggy. I was quick to detect that this might be another one of the language barriers to overcome. Obviously I didn't need a buggy. My four children were with me, but my youngest one was 3 and very able to walk. After my blank look, the southerner took pity on me and used the universal language of hand gestures. And there where she was pointing was a row of ready-to-use shopping carts. Oh. I can't actually bring myself to say buggy, but I now know what it is.
My southern language skills are broadening, and I can now usually understand someone even through the strong accent. Yet, there was one time, last year, where my confidence in my progress was shaken to the core.
I was scheduled to meet with a representative from the State of North Carolina to go through my homeschooling records. I was a little intimidated and wanted to make a good impression, so I took time to find just the right outfit to portray a smart, able-to-homeschool-my-children kind of woman. I made it to my appointment three minutes early and shook hands with a beautiful, black woman in a classy business suit. We smiled and introduced ourselves and then she asked me...well, that is where my confidence was shaken. I had no idea what she asked. She spoke in English with a fairly strong accent, but I just couldn't get it. I politely said, "I'm sorry?" and she repeated the question. And it still made no sense whatsoever. Maybe the question was too full of "straightforward" English words spoken in too strong an accent. I don't know. This was not the impression I wanted to make. I finally had to fully humiliate myself and and say that I had no idea what she was asking. She looked at me strange and put the question in other words: "Why did you decide to homeschool?" Huh. That was it? Even now, knowing the root of the question, I have no idea what her original question was. This fully demonstrates the language barriers that one can face when moving across state lines, especially from Up North to the South.
Take the word toboggan. Up North we all know that one slides down a hill in the middle of winter on a toboggan. Imagine my confusion when after a Sunday Service there was an announcement that someone had left a red toboggan the week before. Why would you bring a red toboggan to church? There wasn't even any snow!!! I ran it by my true blue southern friend, Robin, and found out that toboggan is actually a hat. Where did that come from?
Another word is buggy. Buggy is a little old fashioned, and is a shortened version of baby buggy. We most often use the word stroller now. But down south this is a very common word. In fact, my first time into a store down here, I was asked if I needed a buggy. A what?! I was taken aback by this old fashioned word. A buggy. I was quick to detect that this might be another one of the language barriers to overcome. Obviously I didn't need a buggy. My four children were with me, but my youngest one was 3 and very able to walk. After my blank look, the southerner took pity on me and used the universal language of hand gestures. And there where she was pointing was a row of ready-to-use shopping carts. Oh. I can't actually bring myself to say buggy, but I now know what it is.
My southern language skills are broadening, and I can now usually understand someone even through the strong accent. Yet, there was one time, last year, where my confidence in my progress was shaken to the core.
I was scheduled to meet with a representative from the State of North Carolina to go through my homeschooling records. I was a little intimidated and wanted to make a good impression, so I took time to find just the right outfit to portray a smart, able-to-homeschool-my-children kind of woman. I made it to my appointment three minutes early and shook hands with a beautiful, black woman in a classy business suit. We smiled and introduced ourselves and then she asked me...well, that is where my confidence was shaken. I had no idea what she asked. She spoke in English with a fairly strong accent, but I just couldn't get it. I politely said, "I'm sorry?" and she repeated the question. And it still made no sense whatsoever. Maybe the question was too full of "straightforward" English words spoken in too strong an accent. I don't know. This was not the impression I wanted to make. I finally had to fully humiliate myself and and say that I had no idea what she was asking. She looked at me strange and put the question in other words: "Why did you decide to homeschool?" Huh. That was it? Even now, knowing the root of the question, I have no idea what her original question was. This fully demonstrates the language barriers that one can face when moving across state lines, especially from Up North to the South.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A Southern Gem
Yesterday I found a southern gem--McAlisters Deli. I drive by it all the time, but just recently noticed a "Kids Eat Free Tuesdays" banner above their window. I have four children, so eating out is for Very Special Occasions only! Most "kids eat free" offers are one child per meal which is still too expensive for me. But McAlisters is different! I took three of my four children there yesterday after swimming lessons (oldest son was at a friend's house), and all three got free meals. I only had to pay for mine. Total for our dinner out--$6.75. I think we'll be heading back there next Tuesday!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Coupon World
I guess you could say I was sucked into the coupon world a year ago when, after two years of living in NC, I learned that there are grocery stores that double coupon value. And those stores are near me! Up North it never seemed to pay to clip a couple of coupons for $.35 off of a $3.00 product. Another way things are just different down here. Being a diligent Southern Belle Wannabe, I quickly dived in and with the help of thegrocerygame.com and some southern friends I began my journey into the coupon world.
A year later my small, four bedroom house is full of my coupon deals. I used to go out and buy what I needed after I realized I was out of ____ (fill in the blank), and would often have to pay full price for it. Now I check the cupboards before I head out to the store to see if my stash is getting low. If it's not...I'll only pick it up if it's free, or better yet, if they pay me. The free toothpaste at the beginning when I realized that you can get product free when you buy it on sale and use a coupon was so exciting that I quickly overdid. I'm not allowed to bring more toothpaste into the house until we have less than 15.
Here's a sample of my coupon adventure from yesterday: A quick stop at Harris Teeter during their Super Double Coupon sale (double coupon value up to $1.98). I spent $3.26 and got 2 Dawn dish detergents, 4 shaving creams, 4 packages of Playtex gloves, 9-4pk packages of yogurt, 2 Buitoni pastas, and 1 Damp Rid Closet (it is the South); then on to Walgreens where I spent $.64 to get 10 candy bars and 4 bubble mailers. My final coupon stop was Old Navy where I used a 15% off entire purchase coupon on their 5o% off of clearance sale.
Some friends from Up North have recently delved into the coupon world and are finding good deals. But I think there are more deals to be had here in the South. Which is what any good Southern Belle Wannabe would say...
A year later my small, four bedroom house is full of my coupon deals. I used to go out and buy what I needed after I realized I was out of ____ (fill in the blank), and would often have to pay full price for it. Now I check the cupboards before I head out to the store to see if my stash is getting low. If it's not...I'll only pick it up if it's free, or better yet, if they pay me. The free toothpaste at the beginning when I realized that you can get product free when you buy it on sale and use a coupon was so exciting that I quickly overdid. I'm not allowed to bring more toothpaste into the house until we have less than 15.
Here's a sample of my coupon adventure from yesterday: A quick stop at Harris Teeter during their Super Double Coupon sale (double coupon value up to $1.98). I spent $3.26 and got 2 Dawn dish detergents, 4 shaving creams, 4 packages of Playtex gloves, 9-4pk packages of yogurt, 2 Buitoni pastas, and 1 Damp Rid Closet (it is the South); then on to Walgreens where I spent $.64 to get 10 candy bars and 4 bubble mailers. My final coupon stop was Old Navy where I used a 15% off entire purchase coupon on their 5o% off of clearance sale.
Some friends from Up North have recently delved into the coupon world and are finding good deals. But I think there are more deals to be had here in the South. Which is what any good Southern Belle Wannabe would say...
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