Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Southern Hospitality
Here is something that I've noticed about living in the South (a Google search confirmed that West Virginia is, in fact, considered The South): people are really, really nice.
When we first came to Charleston a few months ago looking for a place to live, we stopped by a grocery store to get some beer*. This tall, lanky high school kid was our cashier and he was the sweetest, friendliest grocery store worker I have ever encountered. Same trip, when we picked up lunch, all of our Sandwich Artists were happy and chatty and genuinely nice people. I'm not sure if this is because Charleston is a smaller city than we're used to, the stars were in line and everyone we met was having a good day, or if people in the South are just nicer.
Brad's father, who is a born-and-raised Wisconsinite but has traveled a lot, gave us these words of wisdom before we moved; "People in the South move at a different pace." He was right. People tend to drive more slowly and the cars that cut you off on the Interstate have PA or Ohio plates. People amble through the stores, picking items up and examining them instead of rushing around, throwing elbows to get milk, eggs, bread like I'm used to. Also? Children sit in the actual cart, with the groceries just like we did as kids. I haven't seen any of those giant plastic firetruck carts that take up the entire aisle and were in every store in Pittsburgh.
It's going to take some time for me to adjust and I'm kind of one of those elbow-throwers, as much as I try not to be. But I think I like this attitude. Maybe the laid-back lifestyle has something to do with the friendly people? I think I have a lot to learn from my new neighbors.
*Beer at the grocery store? WV 1, PA 0
When we first came to Charleston a few months ago looking for a place to live, we stopped by a grocery store to get some beer*. This tall, lanky high school kid was our cashier and he was the sweetest, friendliest grocery store worker I have ever encountered. Same trip, when we picked up lunch, all of our Sandwich Artists were happy and chatty and genuinely nice people. I'm not sure if this is because Charleston is a smaller city than we're used to, the stars were in line and everyone we met was having a good day, or if people in the South are just nicer.
Brad's father, who is a born-and-raised Wisconsinite but has traveled a lot, gave us these words of wisdom before we moved; "People in the South move at a different pace." He was right. People tend to drive more slowly and the cars that cut you off on the Interstate have PA or Ohio plates. People amble through the stores, picking items up and examining them instead of rushing around, throwing elbows to get milk, eggs, bread like I'm used to. Also? Children sit in the actual cart, with the groceries just like we did as kids. I haven't seen any of those giant plastic firetruck carts that take up the entire aisle and were in every store in Pittsburgh.
It's going to take some time for me to adjust and I'm kind of one of those elbow-throwers, as much as I try not to be. But I think I like this attitude. Maybe the laid-back lifestyle has something to do with the friendly people? I think I have a lot to learn from my new neighbors.
*Beer at the grocery store? WV 1, PA 0
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Hi.
My name is K.
I was born, raised and educated in central Wisconsin, where I met my fiance and best friend, Brad. We have been together for almost 11 years, lived in 5 cities and 3 states together, and are finally making it official on September 12th, 2009 at an art gallery in our hometown in Wisconsin.
We recently moved to Charleston, WV from Pittsburgh, where Brad attended law school. He has accepted a job offer here in C-town, and is currently studying for the bar exam and looking for fast guys to go mountain biking with.
I am looking for a job, watching bad reality TV, and dying to try ramps.
I intend to write about planning a wedding from hundreds of miles away, learning my way around Charleston, living in Appalachia, and whatever else life brings my way.
I was born, raised and educated in central Wisconsin, where I met my fiance and best friend, Brad. We have been together for almost 11 years, lived in 5 cities and 3 states together, and are finally making it official on September 12th, 2009 at an art gallery in our hometown in Wisconsin.
We recently moved to Charleston, WV from Pittsburgh, where Brad attended law school. He has accepted a job offer here in C-town, and is currently studying for the bar exam and looking for fast guys to go mountain biking with.
I am looking for a job, watching bad reality TV, and dying to try ramps.
I intend to write about planning a wedding from hundreds of miles away, learning my way around Charleston, living in Appalachia, and whatever else life brings my way.
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