Things We've Learned

The time has come! Our final week of Tyler's internship has arrived. This week will pass quickly and we will find ourselves driving out of Alabama (hopefully for good). I have had mixed feelings about our stay here. It isn't a culture we grew up with and having no family anywhere close makes it uncomfortable and lonely. However, new experiences make us grow and learn, especially the uncomfortable ones. Tyler and I made a list of things we have learned from our stay in Alabama.

• We like the southern accent and have learned how to use it. In fact it is good to use when you want people to think you're local.
  
• The name of any woman, regardless of age or marital status, is prefaced with "Miss," like I am Miss Mindy. I especially thought it was cute.
• Strangers may call you "baby" or "honey"
• People in the south like to lounge and have a good time. Everyone has camping chairs, etc. and are always ready for a nice sit together at a baseball game, picnic, or tailgating (which we will unfortunately miss, I hear it's quite the experience where everyone brings their RVs and parties for 2 days!)
• Troy University informal dress code: white girls-tee shirts and short running shorts, black girls-clubbing wear, white guys-shorter shorts, tee shirts tucked in (especially in mesh shorts), black guys-extremely long tees, wife beaters, fancy tennis shoes.
• Every house has an immaculately furnished front porch, such a great idea for cool summer southern nights. Yet I only ever saw them in use a handful of times.
  
• Healthy food is not a concern in the south--you will have a hard time finding anything but plain white sandwich bread and fat free milk makes up about 5% of milk at a store; but snacks get two whole aisles.
  
• Anything, especially meat and potatoes + lots of butter, oil, cream = Southern Cooking
• Anything can be deep fried, and usually is.
  
• Grits!!
• Chick-Fil-A is a BIG DEAL. I used to wonder how they afforded a whole BCS bowl. I no longer wonder.
  
• Carls Jr is called Hardees.
  
• The children are surprisingly overweight (seriously, are we surprised?)
  
• I've seen more rain fall these three months than the past 10 years of my life. It comes quick and hard and can stop about as quickly too.
  
• We experienced two tornado watches/warnings complete with blaring sirens.
  
• I have never lived in such a diverse population. Oregon and Utah naturally do not provide much.
  
• I have usually been a racial minority while here. I haven't minded it and didn't notice after a while. I was really glad for this experience; it is something I needed to understand for myself.
  
• Social groups and neighborhoods are still largely segregated, I think mostly by choice though now. We tend to group with those like us.
  
• A small church branch reveals who is serious vs. social about church.
• I was for the first time able to help with real missionary work! Tyler got to baptize a young man for the first time since his mission. What a neat experience!
• You always hear about southern hospitality. The people are generally very nice here (everywhere has a few sour people). Of course you sometimes need to be the first to say hello, but they are quick and easy to be friendly with you once the ice is broken.
  

It's funny the things that stand out to you in the end.

Another thing I have decided after living here is to find ways to embrace and adopt the good and unique things about the local culture where you live, no matter where it is. Let your life and style reflect a little about all the places you have been, like a scrapbook of your travels through life.