Anthony Luneckas // Chicago transplant loving life in Greenville
I’m terrified for this summer. Midwesterners are not built to handle humidity and prolonged heat like down here.
I’m originally from a city outside of Chicago (shout out Lemont, IL) but up until Sept. 2016, I had lived/worked in downtown Chicago for about 4-5 years. A new job and personal reasons brought me down to Greenville this past fall and I couldn’t be happier. Occasionally I do find myself listing the differences between the Midwest and the South. That’s what I want to do here today:
1. Weather. I mentioned this above but EVERYONE has been telling me how bad summers are in the South. This doesn’t put my mind to ease. Back in Chicago, it does get very hot in June, July, and August but it quickly cools down after that. My “football weather” attire is a hoodie and jeans…not down here I guess. On the flipside, this past “winter” down here was laughable to me. We went to a grocery store to stock up because of Snowmageddon and all of the bread and milk was gone. Who survives on bread and milk alone? I’m used to putting on my snow boots, pants, sweater, long underwear, wool socks, jacket, gloves, another jacket, hat, and scarf on and start walking to work. Just have to bring a change of clothes.
- Politeness: Southern hospitality is something you hear about, but unless you get to travel to the lower part of the U.S., you rarely see in action. From my previous work, I was able to see different parts of the South and it is a very real thing so it’s not something new to me. However, it is quite new to my parents who don’t come down to the South too often (Florida doesn’t count/shouldn’t be a part of the US):
*Walking into a book store. Stranger holds the door for my mother.
Mom: Thank you
Stranger: Yes ma’am (in his southern twang)
Mom: *gasps* (turns around) Did you hear that? He said “ma’am.” Is everyone this nice?
Dad: It’s the South.
Let’s get a few things clear…
1. We hold doors in Chicago, we’re not animals.
2. I’ve always said this; the Midwest is the South’s cousin. There are a lot of similarities and one of the main ones is that Midwesterners are insanely nice as well. We’re not like those Northeast Yankees who toss you aside and would rather slam the door in your face if it saves them 4 seconds of commute time.
3. Football. I’m talking ACC/SEC football. This is a whole other beast and should be classified as its own season. Up in Chicago it’s Daaaaaa Bears or bust. I’m used to watching football on Sundays...not down here. I much rather enjoy watching on Saturdays and am just as excited as the rest of the South to see it start up again this fall. For personal reasons, I’m going to say Rollllllll Tide.
P.S. I’ll never call it a buggy, it’s a shopping cart.
