Southern Living, Pt 2

Like I said in the first part of my story, when I moved to New Orleans as a tween I expected Southern accents and heat. I didn’t expect exotic foods. I quickly learned that the South is full of different cultures which means different kinds of food. If you like to travel, be ready to try out different kinds of cuisine where ever you go in the South!

Since there are so many different groups in the South there is a huge variety of food. Plus, one kind of food can be prepared many different ways. BBQ is one such food. It is everywhere in the South, but Georgia has different BBQ from Texas.  Virginia’s is different from Tennessee’s. One of the fun things about the South is trying different versions of the “same” food.

As a tween, I was new to popular foods in New Orleans where multiple cultures intersect. Even the Popeyes, which was a regional fast food joint at the time, was new to me. No Northerner would eat red beans and rice as a side with their chicken sandwich. They wouldn’t eat it at all!

Cajun and Creole foods were (and probably still are) pervasive in New Orleans. Not only would we have crawfish boils at church instead of potlucks but whenever a crowd got together there would always be cornbread, red beans and rice, and watermelon – year-round.

There were also large immigrant populations in New Orleans. In 1988, I could ride my bike on the levee near my house and wind up overlooking a rice paddy. On Sundays after church, we could hit one of the local Vietnamese fish markets and have shrimp they fished just a few hours before. I’d never had food so fresh!

Grits and Butter

Grits. There is a joke about a Northerner who goes south for a business trip. He stops at a diner and orders. He gets his order and recognizes everything except for the mushy white stuff.

“What is this?” he asked his waitress.

“Them’s grits.”

“I didn’t order grits,” he said.

“Yew don orda grits, dems just comes.”

Yep, in the South, grits just comes.

Every mom and grandma have a different recipe for grits, the little ground up bits of corn hominy prepared like Cream of Wheat. Personally, I would much rather have grits than Cream of Wheat. They come in different consistencies from soupy to thick like mashed potatoes. My dad likes them with butter and brown sugar. My mom usually just has butter, salt and pepper. My favorite is cheese.

Butter also has a place of honor in the South. When the different diet trends discouraged butter, Southern cooks said “ain’t no way.” You don’t mess with a Southern cook’s butter. “No butter,” are fighting words.

I too have taken on this love of the golden fat. If it went on sale, I and all the Southern cooks and bakers flocked to the grocery store and stocked their freezers. I recently was down to 3 lbs of butter. It was scandalous!

Bottom line: Enjoy getting to know the local fare. If you aren’t adventurous, then find a new way to fix a favorite dish using local ingredients. And try the grits!

Chikin, Manners and Monograms

I asked some friends what some of their favorite things are about living in the South.  As someone who has lived within 10 minutes of a Chick-Fil-A in Georgia and then two hours away from the closest CFA in Missouri, I can agree with my friend who says she loves that she can always find a Chick-Fil-A in the South.

Some friends commented on the Southern hospitality and manners. Even store clerks will personally show you where to find things. They take you to your item instead of saying, “I think it’s on aisle 20.”

In the South people start conversations. They are interested in you. Life is slower, so before asking where the ketchup is at the local Publix, ask Joanie how she is. You might be in the condiment isle for a while, but Joanie will always be ready to help you.

Likewise, many Northern friends love the respect shown with the use of “ma’am and sir.” I remember even 40 years ago I fell into saying “yea” in Pennsylvania. My parents hated how flippant it sounded. When we moved South, I started to say, “ma’am and sir.” My parents were delighted!

My friends also reminded me that the South is full of traditionalists and patriots. For many of us in the military, patriotism in a region is a huge plus. The support of the community outside the post or base walls can positively impact one’s experience at a duty station. I prefer “thank you and your husband for your service,” to some of the comments friends have gotten elsewhere. This also means local policies and services tend to be to the military family’s advantage (like not needing to pay state or local taxes on your vehicle.)

Finally, my friends mentioned monograms as a cultural phenomenon in the South. My native Southern friends love monograms! I had a few monogrammed items (a purse, a ring, and a sweater) over the course of my teens and twenties, but these people DO monograms! One of my friends has a monogram sticker on her van.  Each of her children have multiple monogramed pieces of clothing and her Tervis tumbler has a monogram. I believe she has towels and sheets too, but I didn’t inventory them before she moved.

Can’t Never Could

The bottomest of bottom lines: Like any other military location, a lot of your experience in the South will depend on what you make of it. Think of it as an opportunity to practice and teach determination. Be determined that this is the best duty station yet!

Are you worried that you will miss winter sports like skiing or hiking big mountains? Do you like the museums, night life, shopping and other attractions cities offer? Do you seek adventures unique to the region you are stationed? Are you a history buff? What about all things space?

If you keep an open mind, I promise you can find something that suits your fancy in the South. You can check out some of the suggestions and links in the third part of my story  “If You Go”, Southern Living Edition to get started on your search for adventures.

Still worried about the bugs? I’ve lived more places since the last time I lived in the South. I have learned that just about every region of the country provides opportunities to practice determination. The super- heated Southwest has scorpions. The Pacific Northwest has a lot of rain. The Plains and Midwest “smell like money” (think cows).  The Great Lakes region has lake-effect snow and the Northeast deals with “Nor’easter” storm systems.

Truly, no matter where you land there is something to overcome and new ways to build your character. I am determined not to act like my bitter 11-year-old self again. Join me and be determined to embrace the adventure!         

Join us next Wednesday when Ande shares a plethora of fun adventures you can only experience in the South.