<p>I went from Houston to Baltimore. A huge change was the weather - even though we haven't gotten much snow yet, there have been a lot of really cold, windy days (and not just by Houston terms, where we consider temps in the 60s chilly). Also, like other people, I was reluctant to try the Mexican food up there, but so far I've been to one Mexican restaurant (from a chain that I've seen in CA) and it was great. Other than that, you have to get used to different versions of English from around the country. To me, pop is just a noise (apparently some people think it's another word for a Coke) and I still get wierd looks when I say y'all. :)</p>
<p>Cheers, St. Louis is a Midwestern city located in a Southern state, to be precise.</p>
<p>Susantm: Does Indiana have any of those "mole hills" that are called ski areas in the midwest? Coming from WA State, my kids are in WI and MN, and we laugh each time we see them. It probably takes 2 minutes to get up to the top on the lift and then about 10 seconds to ski down.</p>
<p>As to the OP's question, my kids wanted to experience everything that would be different from home. They figured this would be a prime time of their lives to subject themselves to as many new experiences as possible. I think, for both, there was a great desire to break away, and that meant getting out of their comfort zone. This made them open to the differences they found in location (rural), geography (flat), weather (very cold/very humid), people (extremely welcoming), etc. Getting away to a different part of this country also made it possible for them to try new, simple and pleasurable things such as ice skating on frozen ponds. So far, it's worked out. They did not, however, encounter a political culture shock having landed in other blue states. S will start his working life in the midwest (Chicago) after being in MI and WI (met the local girl). D thinks she wants to try the east coast next for grad school. Can I be 18 again? I never moved from CA until I was 26.</p>
<p>We expect DS to suffer a bit of culture shock where ever he goes to college in the states. He will have lived in Germany for 6 1/2 years by the time he heads off to college next school year. </p>
<p>We all suffer a bit of culture shock whenever we go back to the states to visit family. My kids notice and comment on the billboards along the roads, trash in the ditches and along the roadsides, sprawl (as opposed to compact villages and cities), 24/7 shopping, and fast food everytime we visit the states. Our DS also has a very different attitude about alcohol than many of his stateside peers. We expect that more than anything to be a bit a shock to him.</p>
<p>D went from NY to Arizona,although Tempe is urban and cosmopolitan.What she noticed the most is the neccesity of slowing down.She had to speak slower to be understood,and move slower!There's just a much more laid back attitude.
H said he learned to do this as well over the years as he presented marketing meetings all over the US.</p>
<p>My son goes to school in CA while we live in New England. He likes it a bunch but has noticed 2 things:</p>
<ul>
<li>The Californians do not understand sarcasm as well</li>
<li>The west coasters do not talk as fast as east coasters</li>
</ul>
<p>Not sure how accurate those observations are but I found them interesting. When school is all over I am not sure where he will end up. Probably back here.</p>
<p>My D likes the East Coast tempo. She gets by just fine as pedestrian in Manhattan.</p>
<p>I went from Nebraska to Virginia. One big shock was the formality of culture. My peers knew and practiced etiquette. They used formal speech at all times. Where I came from, things were quite casual, and people spoke differently (far more casually) than when they wrote. </p>
<p>People always say midwesterners are friendly, but they have nothing on Southerners. It took awhile to get used to the fact that someone would say "hey!" to you and just keep walking. It was a greeting, not the start to a conversation.</p>
<p>New England S goes to school "down south". He has a roommate from California, a good friend from Indiana, and girlfriend from Chicago.
His roommate called over break and I overheard S talking on the phone. It was the first time I ever heard him say," Wahz up Dude"? Now that is definitely not a southern thing! He clearly did not say "How y'all doing?"</p>
<p>Culture shock... I went from a 98.5% white and unilingual city to the most diverse school in the country, without leaving my province. Being in a different language environment was quite a shock too.</p>
<p>My NYC kid told me that the best sushi she has ever eatten is in west lebanon, NH :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
- The Californians do not understand sarcasm as well
- The west coasters do not talk as fast as east coasters
[/quote]
That explains it! Our California kid/transplanted to NYC is not only much more sarcastic than when he left (I thought it was a new stage), but also talks so fast when he leaves a phone message that I can't understand him.</p>
<p>Observations I've heard him make about the differences: The weather there sucks. New York girls are more "formal," than laidback California girls, meaning they expect him to have a plan for the evening rather than just hanging out. There's no real Mexican food there. </p>
<p>On the other hand, he complains that there are not enough places open here at 3 am when he's hungry. And he bought himself a suit as his Christmas present. He now owns two, which is two more suits than his father owns. He is definitely well on his way to becoming a New Yorker.</p>
<p>We live in the Southeast. One of our neighbors lasted exactly 5 days at a northeastern LAC. He said that the kids were rude and unfriendly. He quickly transferred to a Southern LAC and has been very happy. These stories make me nervous in that I'd love it if our kids went "up north" for college. (and I lived in NYC for 15 years so I know rudeness when I see it! ha!)</p>
<p>My son, raised here in Santa Cruz, CA was very unhappy when he went to school in NE. He went from an area where people were extremely laid back with "whatever floats your boat, it's OK" mentality to one that seemed to him the people were aggressive, impatient, rude and arrogant. He called home everyday to complain. However, he never mentioned the "transfer" word.</p>
<p>After the first semester, his complaints were more infrequent. He found some like minded friends and he adjusted. He has since graduated and is working in the NE. However, he goal is to come back to California, perhaps after grad school.</p>
<p>One school counselor did mention to me years ago that California kids who venture outside the state do better if they were in a bigger city where there are more hustle and bustle especially during the winter months when the cold and and lack of sun can cause depression, driving them back to California.</p>
<p>Maize&Blue, I did see a couple "skiing" resorts on an Indiana map. My son didn't bother taking his snowboard back to school, however. He was quite sure they would NOT compare favorably to Mt. Hood. He is just hoping the snow lasts so he can snowboard during spring break...</p>
<p>"The Californians do not understand sarcasm as well"</p>
<p>Hehe, you've never met me. :P</p>
<p>my son is in the northeast for college, transplanted from the south. He says that he notices a difference in friendliness there, but not among students- they are all friendly and approachable. He says it is when you go out to eat at a non campus restaurant that you really notice it- especially the waitstaff at places. No one goes out of their way to be hospitable or friendly- they sorta just throw the food on the table and leave. He says it is borderline just plain rude. That is way different than what he was accustomed to in Texas.</p>
<p>Shutterbug312, as transplanted northerners we were delighted with the politeness of the people here in the southeast and I guess we got used to it as being the norm, because when we went to Boston for a long weekend we were both appalled at how rude the people at the hotel were.......front desk, waiters, etc. ("how can they do business that way?")</p>
<p>The Californians do not understand sarcasm as well"</p>
<br>
<blockquote> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>You know, this really is true. I say this as a native New Yorker transplanted to California who often finds myself getting dead stares from folks here when I crack open my dry wit. :)</p>
<p>Carolyn, when I went to southern California I noticed that people didn't understand what I was saying. I'd say something, and they'd blankly stare and then blink a couple of times before talking. I realised (after awhile) that I was speaking too quickly. (at that time being a new yorker)</p>