I knew I was taking a big step when I packed up my car in New Jersey last August and headed for USC. 750 miles is a long way. I was excited about the warm weather and lack of snow. I had had enough knee-high snow to last for a lifetime and was ready for a change. I knew an entirely different part of the country was in store for me, but I still couldn’t have imagined exactly how different the two cultures could be. It didn’t take too long for me to see just how stark of a contrast there was and I know there are many other people at USC who are experiencing the same thing. It is my hope that these suggestions can help others who are adjusting to this new life.
1. Don’t be afraid of unfamiliar words. They really aren’t as confusing as you think and only take some time to get used to. During my freshman year I was placed in the all-girls dorm, Patterson. Upon meeting most of the girls on my hall, I quickly found there was whole new vocabulary that I was completely unaccustomed to. They threw out designer names like Lily Pulitzer, Jack Rogers and others that I’m still unfamiliar with. Everyone said “y’all”, wore croakies on their sunglasses and seemed to eat grits for breakfast. My head began to spin at this onslaught of names and fashions I was sure I would never remember. But it only took a short period of time before I got used to all of this new vocabulary.
2. Take advantage of the football games. This seems like a given for most, but for those who don’t find interest in the sport, I would suggest to still go. If you want to fully experience the south, this is a must. College football is an enormous part of southern culture. It becomes a way of life for some people. I had never experienced such a love for college football as back home where it seemed like most people only followed the pro’s with an occasional interest in college. But in the south, people take SEC football very seriously. Tailgating at these games is a great way to experience the richness of southern culture. As you walk through you can hear country music blasting as people share good food and drinks.
3. Get used to people saying “Ma’am” and “Sir.” One of the most striking things to me was how my friends used the phrases “Yes, ma’am” or “No, sir.” They told me that this was just something they learned in school and was second nature now. In the north, if I were to say, “yes, ma’am,” to a teacher they would most like retort with something similar to, “Don’t be a smart alec!” or “I’m not an old lady!” This was something that took a while to get used to. I worried that my teachers or future employers would think I was rude if I forgot to address them without using the phrase, so I try to be more conscious now.
4. Try new food. I was stubborn with my food at first, and it took me a long time to adjust to this. The basics were all there, but a lot of it was very different. I had never seen grits before and hadn’t even known they had really existed. I was craving my New Jersey bagels and the abundance of sweet tea didn’t really do anything for me. But then I came across one of my favorite things: Chick-fil-A. I loved it so much and during my freshman year I ate much more of it than I should have.
Coming back to school as a sophomore I knew what I was getting into. This made the transition so much smoother. It could at times be hard to navigate my way through some of the conversations, but really it is a wonderful experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I still have yet to say “y’all”, but people have told me that it’s only a matter of time.
