Comments on: Life in the country? http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/ A 20-something on a mission to climb the net worth ladder, navigate the quarterlife, and find that perfect pair of heels Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:57:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Julie http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51711 Julie Fri, 23 May 2008 21:29:01 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51711 I think it's stereotypical to accuse the south of having some kind of market on racism, homophobia or narrow-mindedness. In fact, I think it's hypocritical to think in such terms, cause it's narrow-minded! The south is different from the north, and thank God it is. The midwest is different from the west coast, thank God for that too. You choose where you fit in best, where you feel most comfortable. That's why you find each city and town to have its own atmosphere. Some are more culturally diverse, others are more racially diverse. Some are closed minded about certain things, others about other things. But to generalize about north and south is ill-informed. Hanging a big sign on the south saying "racist" is just ignorant. Racism is everywhere, and not just in our country, but all over the world. I know plenty of people who think their city or area of the country is the best, and that they are somehow better than rest of the world, and most of them are NOT southerners. I live in Atlanta, personally. My children go to public schools, and they accept every person they meet at school based on who that person is and how they treat my child, not based on race or ethnicity. Sure, it's a city, but even in the small Georgia town where I went to high school, I find the same atmospere, especially from young people. The south has its own flavor, and I personally love it. I don't support the Confederate flag being flown, cause yeah, we lost the war, but I do feel like the Confederacy was about more than just the right to own slaves. There was a whole society that disappeared after the south lost the Civil War, and it was much richer than it is now portrayed. All anyone remembers is slavery, and in truth that was a small part of what the war was about. Read up on your history, folks. Sorry to rant, but I get very annoyed with always being portrayed as the bad guy. The truth is much more complex than that... I think it’s stereotypical to accuse the south of having some kind of market on racism, homophobia or narrow-mindedness. In fact, I think it’s hypocritical to think in such terms, cause it’s narrow-minded! The south is different from the north, and thank God it is. The midwest is different from the west coast, thank God for that too. You choose where you fit in best, where you feel most comfortable. That’s why you find each city and town to have its own atmosphere. Some are more culturally diverse, others are more racially diverse. Some are closed minded about certain things, others about other things. But to generalize about north and south is ill-informed.

Hanging a big sign on the south saying “racist” is just ignorant. Racism is everywhere, and not just in our country, but all over the world. I know plenty of people who think their city or area of the country is the best, and that they are somehow better than rest of the world, and most of them are NOT southerners. I live in Atlanta, personally. My children go to public schools, and they accept every person they meet at school based on who that person is and how they treat my child, not based on race or ethnicity. Sure, it’s a city, but even in the small Georgia town where I went to high school, I find the same atmospere, especially from young people.

The south has its own flavor, and I personally love it. I don’t support the Confederate flag being flown, cause yeah, we lost the war, but I do feel like the Confederacy was about more than just the right to own slaves. There was a whole society that disappeared after the south lost the Civil War, and it was much richer than it is now portrayed. All anyone remembers is slavery, and in truth that was a small part of what the war was about. Read up on your history, folks.

Sorry to rant, but I get very annoyed with always being portrayed as the bad guy. The truth is much more complex than that…

]]> By: sfordinarygirl http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51651 sfordinarygirl Mon, 19 May 2008 16:25:45 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51651 My general feeling just from brief visits (a week or less) is people are welcoming regardless of background, particularly in Austin and New Orleans. Maybe I'm just kind of naive and oblivious. Austin's a great place to live - there's the hot springs, zilker park, wonderful music and free food/booze during SXSW after parties. They have a diverse offering of food including Indian. It's very artsy, fun and hipster. But in Nashville they think Asian people are more "exotic" and seem particularly curious as to where you are from. It was a good place to visit but more hokey and backwards. Too heavily focused on country music. New Orleans is amazing. It's like Austin - artsy, fun (Bourbon Street vs Sixth Street), tons of art galleries in the French Quarter and Garden District. The music is more jazz-centered obviously but they have big name bands such as Ladytron who tour and play the clubs. It helps that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie live in New Orleans which makes it a lot cooler and hip. A lot of people asked me where I was from and when I said California, no further questions were asked like if I was from China or somewhere in Asia. But like the other commenters have said - big cities no matter if in the west, east or south are all the same. They have trendy areas, good food and the latest fashions and boutiques. My general feeling just from brief visits (a week or less) is people are welcoming regardless of background, particularly in Austin and New Orleans. Maybe I’m just kind of naive and oblivious.

Austin’s a great place to live - there’s the hot springs, zilker park, wonderful music and free food/booze during SXSW after parties. They have a diverse offering of food including Indian. It’s very artsy, fun and hipster.

But in Nashville they think Asian people are more “exotic” and seem particularly curious as to where you are from. It was a good place to visit but more hokey and backwards. Too heavily focused on country music.

New Orleans is amazing. It’s like Austin - artsy, fun (Bourbon Street vs Sixth Street), tons of art galleries in the French Quarter and Garden District. The music is more jazz-centered obviously but they have big name bands such as Ladytron who tour and play the clubs. It helps that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie live in New Orleans which makes it a lot cooler and hip. A lot of people asked me where I was from and when I said California, no further questions were asked like if I was from China or somewhere in Asia.

But like the other commenters have said - big cities no matter if in the west, east or south are all the same. They have trendy areas, good food and the latest fashions and boutiques.

]]> By: Jane http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51628 Jane Thu, 15 May 2008 14:40:16 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51628 Austin used to be known as "The Friendly City" when I was growing up. If you stay away from the "trendy" areas, which as Emily mentioned are kind of being turned into a mini-LA (traffic and all), Austin combines the best aspects of the South (friendliness, laid-back-ness, BBQ-ed deliciousness) with the best aspects of other areas (open-mindedness, diversity, respect for education) and its own quirky funkiness. Sometimes people still call me "Sugar," but it's rare enough that it still makes me smile. You are, however, in Texas, and only a relatively short drive away from places where deep-seated racism, homophobia, and xenophobia are the rule, not the exception. And even in Austin, people mostly support the right to own guns and curse Yankies. Austin used to be known as “The Friendly City” when I was growing up. If you stay away from the “trendy” areas, which as Emily mentioned are kind of being turned into a mini-LA (traffic and all), Austin combines the best aspects of the South (friendliness, laid-back-ness, BBQ-ed deliciousness) with the best aspects of other areas (open-mindedness, diversity, respect for education) and its own quirky funkiness. Sometimes people still call me “Sugar,” but it’s rare enough that it still makes me smile.

You are, however, in Texas, and only a relatively short drive away from places where deep-seated racism, homophobia, and xenophobia are the rule, not the exception. And even in Austin, people mostly support the right to own guns and curse Yankies.

]]> By: AL http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51622 AL Wed, 14 May 2008 21:10:16 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51622 I was born and raised on the Alabama Gulf Coast and went to college at the University of Alabama. I loved growing up in the south, humidity and all...azaleas every spring and 200-year-old oak trees dripping with spanish moss are just gorgeous. I grew up in Mobile, which is a smallish city (not a small enough to be a town however), and it seemed like everyone knew everyone else. We were friendly with all our neighbors, played outside til after dark, made high school football games a weekly ritual, and generally had a wonderful life. After college, I moved to NYC, where I've been living for the past 4 years. I love New York too, but I will absolutely move back to the south one day when I get married and want to raise my kids. (No WAY am I going to lug a stroller up and down the subway stairs!!) It is a gentler, calmer, and more contented way of life, compared to here where people just seem to be striving to do more, go faster, earn more, be better than everyone else. It's fine for now, but not something I'd want to do forever. One of the biggest differences to me is the way men treat women. When I take trips back to the south now, I am struck by how much I am treated like a lady. Men hold doors, fetch drinks, carry bags, etc. at the drop of a hat. Now, I'm a very independant person, but I really do appreciate that solicitousness and consideration. Most southern guys I know wouldn't even swear in front of a lady. Compare that to the guys in NYC...ha! I think all parts of the country have their merit, and I'm glad I've had the chance to broaden my horizons and experience NYC. I've changed for the better because of it, but at the end of the day, I can't wait to get back to my beach, backyards, and barbecue! P.S. I love country music, but I can only listen to it occasionally because it makes me homesick. I was born and raised on the Alabama Gulf Coast and went to college at the University of Alabama. I loved growing up in the south, humidity and all…azaleas every spring and 200-year-old oak trees dripping with spanish moss are just gorgeous. I grew up in Mobile, which is a smallish city (not a small enough to be a town however), and it seemed like everyone knew everyone else. We were friendly with all our neighbors, played outside til after dark, made high school football games a weekly ritual, and generally had a wonderful life.

After college, I moved to NYC, where I’ve been living for the past 4 years. I love New York too, but I will absolutely move back to the south one day when I get married and want to raise my kids. (No WAY am I going to lug a stroller up and down the subway stairs!!) It is a gentler, calmer, and more contented way of life, compared to here where people just seem to be striving to do more, go faster, earn more, be better than everyone else. It’s fine for now, but not something I’d want to do forever.

One of the biggest differences to me is the way men treat women. When I take trips back to the south now, I am struck by how much I am treated like a lady. Men hold doors, fetch drinks, carry bags, etc. at the drop of a hat. Now, I’m a very independant person, but I really do appreciate that solicitousness and consideration. Most southern guys I know wouldn’t even swear in front of a lady. Compare that to the guys in NYC…ha!

I think all parts of the country have their merit, and I’m glad I’ve had the chance to broaden my horizons and experience NYC. I’ve changed for the better because of it, but at the end of the day, I can’t wait to get back to my beach, backyards, and barbecue!

P.S. I love country music, but I can only listen to it occasionally because it makes me homesick.

]]> By: Esme http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51609 Esme Wed, 14 May 2008 04:28:22 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51609 I love country music. Every one is a story. I just came back from a two week trip to Austin. I also been to San Jose recently. I find the pace is a lot more relaxed in Austin. People are so friendly. Everyone smiles and says hello. I love country music. Every one is a story. I just came back from a two week trip to Austin. I also been to San Jose recently. I find the pace is a lot more relaxed in Austin. People are so friendly. Everyone smiles and says hello.

]]> By: Margo http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51607 Margo Wed, 14 May 2008 02:50:27 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51607 #1 comment made by people from the Northeast - "It's so CLEAN here" #2 "and everything is so NEW" I heard both while traveling for grad school tours. The cities of the Research Triangle are very clean and new, in stark contrast to older NE cities like Boston. But for seasonal allergy sufferers, this area is miserable from March - May. It's so bad I don't sleep some nights. Oh, and we really can't handle the growth rates, because we don't have a stable water supply to support it. The recent drought was terrible - Durham's water supply was so low at one point that restaurants would only bring water upon request. Only after 3 weeks of daily t-storms has our water supply been replenished. #1 comment made by people from the Northeast - “It’s so CLEAN here”

#2 “and everything is so NEW”

I heard both while traveling for grad school tours. The cities of the Research Triangle are very clean and new, in stark contrast to older NE cities like Boston.

But for seasonal allergy sufferers, this area is miserable from March - May. It’s so bad I don’t sleep some nights.

Oh, and we really can’t handle the growth rates, because we don’t have a stable water supply to support it. The recent drought was terrible - Durham’s water supply was so low at one point that restaurants would only bring water upon request. Only after 3 weeks of daily t-storms has our water supply been replenished.

]]> By: Erin http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51603 Erin Wed, 14 May 2008 00:41:55 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51603 I forgot - it does annoy me when Southerners are stereotyped with the accent, etc. I do not have an accent and none of my friends/family do. I remember one incident in particular where Jessica Simpson was quoted as saying she was "po'dunk Southern" - it made my skin crawl. She and Britney set a bad example for our area of the US! The Confederate flag is a source of annoyance for me as well - but you don't hear as much about it as you used to, although it's still visibly seen - have you seen the flags for the state of GA and AL - they are modeled after them, obviously. But I love all that the South has to offer, as well as Alabama History. I love: Beale Street in Memphis - The Bayou in Mobile - The beaches in Virginia - Driving over the Coosa River in Pell City, AL - it just feels like home. As far as country music goes... I used to HATE it as a kid, but now I think it's okay. SOME of it, anyway. I forgot - it does annoy me when Southerners are stereotyped with the accent, etc. I do not have an accent and none of my friends/family do. I remember one incident in particular where Jessica Simpson was quoted as saying she was “po’dunk Southern” - it made my skin crawl. She and Britney set a bad example for our area of the US! The Confederate flag is a source of annoyance for me as well - but you don’t hear as much about it as you used to, although it’s still visibly seen - have you seen the flags for the state of GA and AL - they are modeled after them, obviously. But I love all that the South has to offer, as well as Alabama History. I love: Beale Street in Memphis - The Bayou in Mobile - The beaches in Virginia - Driving over the Coosa River in Pell City, AL - it just feels like home.

As far as country music goes… I used to HATE it as a kid, but now I think it’s okay. SOME of it, anyway.

]]> By: Erin http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51602 Erin Wed, 14 May 2008 00:36:15 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51602 I live in Alabama, about an hour away from Birmingham. I go to school in Tuscaloosa (University of Alabama) and I frequently visit Atlanta and Memphis. My home is in a more suburban area, and things can get pretty slow down here - people just seem to take their time more. There's not a general rush. When I was a kid I used to consider it a huge deal if we went to Birmingham for something, whereas now it's just another trip. Atlanta is a great place - very fast paced. In my mind I think of it as a "Little New York." There is always something to do and seen - as well as be seen. After I graduate from college I would like to move either there or Washington DC. I live in Alabama, about an hour away from Birmingham. I go to school in Tuscaloosa (University of Alabama) and I frequently visit Atlanta and Memphis. My home is in a more suburban area, and things can get pretty slow down here - people just seem to take their time more. There’s not a general rush. When I was a kid I used to consider it a huge deal if we went to Birmingham for something, whereas now it’s just another trip. Atlanta is a great place - very fast paced. In my mind I think of it as a “Little New York.” There is always something to do and seen - as well as be seen. After I graduate from college I would like to move either there or Washington DC.

]]> By: Katie http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51599 Katie Tue, 13 May 2008 22:59:05 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51599 Sorry that should say 'slow' not 'low'. I guess I am being the stereotype right now. Sorry that should say ’slow’ not ‘low’. I guess I am being the stereotype right now.

]]> By: Katie http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/2008/05/12/life-in-the-country/#comment-51598 Katie Tue, 13 May 2008 22:57:21 +0000 http://wellheeled.wordpress.com/?p=694#comment-51598 I am a southern belle to the core. I grew up in Athens, GA and went to school at Auburn which is in Alabama. And while I read what others have written about the south i have to say that i had a very different experience growing up in the south. I love the traditions that run deep through family. While yes there are somethings about the south that others twist and contort to being low or less educated... I think the word 'y'all' is a great conjunction. Examples of my personal 'southernisms'.... ~~When I receive a gift or come home from a dinner party or have someone do something nice for me, I CANNOT sleep until the thank you note is written. Seriously. ~~Just about everyone I know has asked for the my family's recipe for my chocolate pecan pie and I try to quickly change the subject because we have to "keep that one in the family" ~~I want everything I have to have my name on it. Southern women love a monogram and I now even have stickers that say "from the kitchen of ...." - that is not a joke. They are really very useful when taking new mothers, neighbors a casserole! The adage holds true for me: "You can take a girl out of dixie, but you can't take dixie out of a girl!" I am a southern belle to the core. I grew up in Athens, GA and went to school at Auburn which is in Alabama. And while I read what others have written about the south i have to say that i had a very different experience growing up in the south. I love the traditions that run deep through family. While yes there are somethings about the south that others twist and contort to being low or less educated… I think the word ‘y’all’ is a great conjunction.

Examples of my personal ’southernisms’….
~~When I receive a gift or come home from a dinner party or have someone do something nice for me, I CANNOT sleep until the thank you note is written. Seriously.

~~Just about everyone I know has asked for the my family’s recipe for my chocolate pecan pie and I try to quickly change the subject because we have to “keep that one in the family”

~~I want everything I have to have my name on it. Southern women love a monogram and I now even have stickers that say “from the kitchen of ….” - that is not a joke. They are really very useful when taking new mothers, neighbors a casserole!

The adage holds true for me: “You can take a girl out of dixie, but you can’t take dixie out of a girl!”

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