It seems there is a lot of talk about the US that makes it seem like one big homogeneous country, but we are still a melting pot with many pockets of cultural uniqueness.
I'm from Southwest Louisiana and we have a lot of unique culture and traditions here. My wife is from New York and she and I have many traditions in common but have also learned a lot about how culture, heritage, and tradition vary according to background and area of the country from each other.
We celebrate Mardi Gras by chasing chickens to make gumbo. They celebrate St. Joseph's feast day with St. Joseph's Spaghetti. We celebrate Good Friday with boiled crawfish. They celebrate Easter with pizza gana.
There are lots of food examples, but there are also differences in how we communicate. She and her family are louder and bolder when they speak. Most people here are generally more subdued, holding on to a sense of Southern decorum. While she knows how to insult people with some Italian, I know how to give it to them in Cajun French. And I'm sure our accents have us sounding like movie/TV characters to each other.
What are some things about your part of the country that would not be common in other parts? Let's see what we can add to our bucket list of things to experience in different parts of the US!
#1
I am from Anchorage, Alaska. The two things I love most is the Iditarod and the schools.
Majority of the schools are immersion schools. I went to a german immersion school from kindergarten to second grade, and was basically fluent by the time I left. Also, the teaching style was super chill. One day, my teacher that taught german brought her husband and dog into school. The dog was for fun, the husband was to show the dangers of frostbite.
The Iditarod is SUPER FUN! When I was younger, my aunt was a volunteer, and she let me come pet some of the huskies. They are super energetic. To the people who say that they don't want to run, go to a Iditarod shelter where they have dogs that they run. They are super energetic and want to run. If they are accidentally let off their leash, they will run away. We were allowed to go on a sled ride with them, and whenever we stopped, they would strain and bark at us. Its amazing.
I love my home town.
5points
#2
I live in West Detroit (I wish I could say south Detroit) in Michigan and what makes my region different is the Great Lakes. The worlds largest freshwater source.
3points
#3
We’re the only province who says “bunny hug” instead of “hoodie”
Who can guess where I’m from?
2points
#4
Brothel, casinos and no fireworks purchase laws other than federal age related. Welcome to the Nevada High Desert
2points
#5
Alien and ufo museums......everywhere! Oh and Demi Moore was born here.
2points
#6
The largest freshwater lake in the whole world is located in my state, Michigan. It's Lake Superior.
2points
#7
Wisconsin here. Our gas stations have a larger selection of cheese than grocery stores do in other states. We can get cheese just about anywhere. And we can get bratwurst all year round. Not just in the summer, now I'm not sure about bratwurst year round across all of America. But in my travels most states bratwurst is a summer only deal
2points
#8
It has both mountains and beaches (North Carolina). Now Raleigh is very popular, which is good for people moving here, less good for those of us who have lived here our entire lives (even though my parents moved here just 16 years ago . . . ). Kinda sucks that half my YouTube ads are political, though :(
1point
#9
I live in Brooklyn. I think people are under the impression that Brooklyn is something akin to a suburb. If Brooklyn were considered a separate city unto itself, New York City minus Brooklyn would still be the most populous in the nation. And Brooklyn would displace Houston to number 5 to become the 4th largest city in America. Brooklyn has more manufacturing than 24 states. On Friday evening, the air raid sirens are there to signal the star of Shabbat for observant Jews in Williamsburg. There are 5. Of the 28 mosques, many have live muezzin issuing the Adhan (not pre-recorded.) The Italian population is equivalent to Modena, putting it in the top 20. The Irish nationals who call Brooklyn home number more than the population if Limereck, 3rd most populous. There is a predominantly Irish beach community with natural white sand beaches and one of the best long distance views of the Manhattan skyline anywhere. This is not merely an inventory to impress with how many people reside here. The diversity of people in Brooklyn make it a very accepting place to visit and live. With a lower density than Manhattan allow for some/many? large single family homes with yards and detached garages. Lower commercial rents have permitted the proliferation of businesses and cultural institutions in every imaginable niche, many of which would be priced out of any Manhattan neighborhood. Arguably, the best pasta in the city is in Brooklyn, the best bagels, also Brooklyn. Come for the carbs, stay for the community.
1point
#10
I live in Western New York, which people tend to think is either very much like NYC or nothing but rural farm land, but it really isn’t either of those things. We have urban, suburban, rural, and even mountainous area here and you can get to Canada, Pennsylvania, or a sandy Great Lakes beach all within an hour.
1point
#11
In CA, we have a little bit of everything, beaches, mountains, forests, even snow if you know where to look :D
0points
#12
I live in Montgomery County Maryland. What's interesting is that one of the smallest states has the 3rd largest school district in the country, next to LA county and New York.
0points