<p>Things I overheard in conversations between D and friends this break. All students from Ca. attending schools in the NE, South, and Western States not Ca. Common thought that people from Ca are just different. Casual and laid back. They all feel like the males on their campuses are not attractive. They went out to IV where UCSB is located and had lunch and all commented that the guys at their schools dress differently and just don't look like the guys at UCSB.
Also for all those except those in the south expressed the feeling that they have never felt so cold.
Those in the south felt that people are more formal and much friendlier.
Some are ready to come home. The Mom's all expressed that it takes time and one is not better then the other just different. Also that they are lucky to have the chance to experience both.</p>
<p>I have lived in CA and overseas (Jakarta and Singapore) before coming to UVA. It's been a pretty huge change for me since people here are all friendly, and strangely conformist to traditions. I really miss the California laid-back attitude though, and coming here has just been a surprise. Do I like it? Probably not, because people are quite conservative here. The weather can get really cold and that's when I dream of California weather. It makes me want to go back there and enjoy the warmth. Ahhhh, I miss the palm trees!</p>
<p>DD from Ohio is in love with Boston and everything that goes with it.....accents (would require some speech therapy in Ohio) included.</p>
<p>My Connecticut Yankee son is going to school in SC. Aside from the adjustment to a milder climate (no complaints about that!), he's adjusting to:
- the use of "sir" and "ma'am"
- the fact that NO ONE jaywalks (quite a shock, when one is used to ignoring all traffic cues in NY City)
- the bagels don't measure up to northeast standards
- very little Jewish presence on campus - his Yiddish vocabulary is met with blank stares
- a generally friendlier atmosphere
- pervasive use of "y'all" - he says he will pay us $10 if he lets that slip out of his mouth (he's very independent, linguistically)</p>
<p>DD went from rural Alaska, (boat/plane required for travel anywhere), to Boston. Was there any culture shock? Not in the least, in fact, she is not sure she wants to come home except for very short visits. I grew up in MA. so DD has had prior exposure to the NE but I was surprised as to the complete absence of an adjustment period.</p>
<p>Bethel, I married a man born and bred in SC. I learned over time, as will your son, that "y'all" fills a vocabulary niche. Now I couldn't do without it!</p>
<p>Y'all is much better than "you guys" that i used growing up in Michigan. Better watch out if you start using "might could."</p>
<p>Could be worse. When I went to college, I heard the dreadful "yins" everytime I stepped off campus.</p>
<p>You mean yuse guys.</p>
<p>No, in Pittsburgh it was definitely yins, a warped form of y'all.</p>
<p>kids from D's graduating class went from large public hs to many smaller colleges and universities in the east, midwest and northwest. biggest shock (aside from weather and no good mexican food) is the difference in wealth and academic preparation. so many of their new classmates all seem to be rich (boarding schools) and better prepared. it has been a hard first semester for many and am anxious to talk to them at the christmas break. I think most will be going back now that the dreaded first semester is over (except for the harvard kids who still have to face finals. :(</p>
<p>My daughter's main "culture shock" adjustment to Wisconsin is having to defend California cheese. They take their cheese really, really seriously in Wisconsin. :) Otherwise, she hasn't had any culture shock, but then, her school is very geographically diverse so most of the students are from "somewhere else."</p>
<p>My S1, a Southern-born kid from a small college town in a rural part of TN, has missed what he (from Wendell Berry) calls 'The peace of wild things' . . .much lacking at Brown. Oddly the choice of Brown was based in part on wanting the opposite type of environment from home sweet home. He loves every other aspect of Brown and Providence, though, so he is glad of his choice. </p>
<p>DD, who went to college in suburb near Philly, is still in Philly for grad school and will likely never live again in the South. Call her a culture vulture; she loves the world of classical music, which is in short supply around here.</p>
<p>S2 is in the S part of Indiana at Earlham. He is so absorbed in the whole freshman-at-college experience that I don't think he pays much attention to the world around him, but I can tell he is glad to be able to walk around the fields and hills of our area now that he is home for Christmas.</p>
<p>Love reading what y'all have to say! :)</p>
<p>Both of my Ohio bred sons go to school in the south and I have noticed a definite improvement in their manners. Even my second son after one semester in the south makes liberal use of the phrase "yes Maam"!</p>
<p>The subject of regional accents is funny. Ages ago when I was in college in Kentucky, it drove me nuts the way certain words were pronounced. After living 18 years in Wisconsin, where I was firmly convinced we spoke with no accent but that's another story, it was a shock to have someone stick their head in your room and ask if "ya'll have a pen?" and have your roommate answer without batting an eye, "A straight pin or a ballpoint pen", every word starting with p sounding exactly the same! I never could convince them that those were different words!</p>