6 Major Culture Shocks I Experienced in the US Midwest

[@Alan-lv9rw]

The first person to say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change” was Mark Twain. He was talking about the weather in Connecticut.

[@miriambarnett2782]

True in Ohio too.

[@davidlockwood9192]

Same for here in Pembrokeshire in Wales! All weather every day is one of the sayings!

[@trickygoose2]

@@davidlockwood9192 yes I've heard that phrase being used for Wales, Scotland and upland areas of England.

[@valerieannrumpf4151]

I remember Dr Mel the weather man on WTNH channel 8 saying that on a regular basis 😂😂. He was right about the weather in CT.

[@mirandagoldstine8548]

And true in Tennessee as well.

[@redonk1740]

I used to chat online with a dude from England a lot, and he thought it was strange that we never open our windows or doors without a screen. I explained to him it was to keep the bugs out, and he didn't seem too concerned about bugs finding their way in his house. If you left your window open and light on over night around here, you would wake up to so many bugs flying around your house it would be ridiculous. I'm guessing the bug population in England ain't got nothin on us.

[@janethays3408]

Every time I see a show or movie located in Europe and they open their windows with no screens, I *always* think, “How do they keep the bugs out??”. It kind of stresses me out for a second. I wish we could do that here. There are just too many flies and wasps around me to not have screens.

[@markbradley7323]

No we don't have that problem here in England , we do get mozzies that bite but that's normally when sat outside of an evening and doesn't effect everyone.

[@Rutabega_NG]

@@janethays3408 okay, so I'm not the only one who gets anxious when they throw open a window with no screens. I just can't imagine doing that.

[@janethays3408]

@@Rutabega_NG IKR?! It must be amazing to do that, though.

[@mournblade1066]

Meh. I live in Pennsylvania, and we've got tons of bugs everywhere. We just let our house spiders take care of any insect that manages to make its way in our house. Except stink bugs. Spiders won't touch them. I always have to pick them up and toss them outside. (Stink bugs, that is, not spiders.)

[@robertgronewold3326]

Iowa boy here, and I usually have to laugh when I explain to my UK friends the temperatures here in the Midwest. Yes, it gets super cold in the winter, often severely subzero, but at the same time, it becomes freaking boiling in the summer. They can't quite comprehend how a place can veer between such temperature extremes.

[@mournblade1066]

I think it's a mid-cotinental thing. I'm pretty sure much of Russia is the same way.

[@Highlanddragon]

Iowa and Missouri weather is just bipolar

[@robertgronewold3326]

@@mournblade1066 Yes, the further you are from a major body of water, the wilder the weather.

[@taracox1172]

@@Highlanddragon As a Missourian, this is very true. I remember one week it snowed inches. And then we were wearing shorts two days later.

[@talisikid1618]

Several years ago, here in my part of the South, we had tornadoes one day & snow the next. Now tornadoes are common. Snow is not. Strange few days. But that’s March in The South!

[@kennykendall5709]

“Ope”. I grew up in Pennsylvania and Colorado, and never encountered the word until moving to central Illinois. Now I find that I can express nearly any emotion, and communicate very complex ideas, with just that one magical word.

[@PlatinumHustle]

I use it daily 😂 wassup from Kansas

[@DanielleWhite]

The storms that truly terrified me as a teenager were summer thunderstorms. I was a farm kid in the hills of Pennsylvania so it was hard to see the storms approach and impossible to hear over the tractor. Being in the middle of a field atop several tons of conductive metal is not where you want to be when such a storm comes up. We had a tractor struck once but nobody was seriously injured.

[@mournblade1066]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Personally, I LOVE thunderstorms, but that's the thing about PA--especially western PA. I mean, if a tornado ever struck, you wouldn't know it until it was on top of you. That said, if your at the TOP of a hill, you can see thunderstorms coming from miles away. I was working for an archaeologist when I was in college in the late 1980s, and we were at a farm in Bedford County, and we saw this ominous storm approaching from MILES away. When it got closer, we packed up an trekked back about a half mile to our cars. Just as I was approaching my car, I looked behind me and this WALL of water was closing in. I barely made it into my vehicle; the people behind me were so lucky and got absolutely DRENCHED. Another time that same summer, we were working in the valley at the same farm, so didn't see another storm approach. The temperature was probably in the mid-90s. Anyway, this squall struck, we all got drenched and ran under the tent, and the temperature dropped to the mid-60s in a matter of minutes. We were literally shivering. So, after the day was over, we were driving home, and we noticed a line of trees that had been buzzed by a small tornado that had touched down nearby. Absolutely crazy.

[@averagegatsby]

When I did my study abroad (in Germany) it rained for pretty much the first 2 weeks I was there, and I found the first thing I missed were midwest thunderstorms. Something about the fury and chaos of a midwestern storm is comforting to me. Recently driving in Kansas I saw lightning shoot acroos the sky that probably covered over 20 miles. It was awesome.

[@oldfogey4679]

Danielle lightening hit my neighbors satellite dish above my head didn't know it was there? Next it destroyed my headphones talk about a migraine!

[@Floydnewalla24]

My wife had never experienced a thunderstorm before. It was quite an experience.

[@oldfogey4679]

@@Floydnewalla24 really since my states climate is similar to the UK and thunderstorms in summer are frequent I just took thunderstorms as an international event for granted I'm surprised ur wife hadn't experienced them?

[@jacobyspurnger8488]

I was just talking about this today. My house is 8 miles from the nearest gas station, 10 miles from the nearest grocery store, 30 from my kids school, and 45 from where I work. The only busses in northern Indiana are school busses that stop at every house (so about 2-3 times per mile) and are impossible to pass.

[@justawhisperintheuniverse8257]

30 miles from the school? If that's not a private school, there's definitely a problem.

[@jacobyspurnger8488]

@@justawhisperintheuniverse8257 nope, public school. Happens when your house is in a cornfield.

[@garryferrington811]

And if you paid fair rates for the services you enjoy, you would be bankrupt.

[@justawhisperintheuniverse8257]

@@jacobyspurnger8488 I grew up in the midwest and never knew of anything like that. God rest your car's soul.

[@terryhiggins5077]

@@jacobyspurnger8488 the one school covers the county type of setup then? I grew up in one in SE Ohio

[@Aikidragon_Prime]

My first 12 years of life were in Chicago and the burbs around it. One of the insects I miss, Lightning Bugs. One spring I was in Danville at my aunt's house. During a rainstorm I stepped outside in back yard and stuck my hand out, it was raining so hard I couldn't see my hand through the rain, that same storm lightning struck a tree in her front yard about 30 ft. from where we were sitting.

[@GeographRick]

It's almost lightning bug time again! (next month)

[@route2070]

Sadly they aren't nearly as common as they used to be.

[@KAlovesherkitties]

Having left the Midwest, I miss lightening bugs too

[@matthewmillburg3933]

My niece from Florida visited one summer. She came into the house excited. There are strange lights in the trees and grass!

[@less_likely]

I miss lighting bugs growing up in Ohio. They don’t live out West.

[@artfuldodger7838]

I grew up in Ohio, Mom was British. Dad Slovak, but I digress. Growing up I found what we call pants, Mom called trousers. But my smallies underneath... Those are pants. It's a different dialect. Have you gone into a store and asked for an ice lolly? At least I was a kid. I went out into the world (kindergarten) knowing British English, and Slovak. It was hard sometimes when words were different. "Leah, can I borrow your rubber?" Got a weird look for that one. "So, what time shall I knock you up?" Another weird look.

[@corinnepmorrison1854]

“Ring you up...” Call on the phone...

[@kaycox19]

Ha ha ha!

[@margefoyle6796]

This. is. hysterical. Cheers!

[@lorirarich1875]

Are smallies kids short pants like boys wear in Europe? Here they wear long pants for "good clothes" shorts or cutoffs are for play. I wonder if we'll ever have school clothes again.anyway a big square eraser is a rubber eraser at school where the small pencil topper ones R just erasers. And small shoe size rubber overshoes were rubbers or galoshes. All kids wore high overshoes with zip or worse yet little clips for hand me-downs in the nineteen sixties .till kickerinos were invented, separate boots and you carried your shoes for indoors. In a shoe-bag. Now ppl always wear fashion boots and bring or are forced into bedroom slippers at their host house.

[@lorirarich1875]

Edit oops yu must mean underwear..can i borrow a rubber?lol

[@svefors1]

I came to America from Sweden 35 years ago. My parents came through Camp America, an organization that brings people from other cultures to work at American summer camps. They brought me and my sister with them and we ended up staying. I was 15 years old. But the funny thing I was reminded of here was that we were able to pick out the Brit’s by the amount of calamine lotion they were wearing. 😁 This was back when the only kind available was the pink kind. They got absolutely demolished by the mosquitoes.

[@Adamz678]

lmao, that really was funny to read.

[@napalm_lipbalm86]

Reminds me The Parent Trap with Lindsey Lohan

[@karenk2409]

Does tea drinking make you taste yummy?

[@Nickadeamus11]

Growing up in Pa. next to a river I can tell you a lot of stories about gnat's. We always had the really small ones. They would dive-bomb your eyes, fly up your nose or fly straight into your ear. Try catching a baseball as one go's into your eye, another crawls up your nose as another one is buzzing in your ear. Yep, the ball smacked me right in the face.

[@erics607]

I remember going to a track and field camp back in high school. One of the camp counselors was from California where they don't have gnats. He decided to play a pickup game of basketball, and just so happened to dribble right into a swarm of gnats, and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen watching him freak out. He probably thought he was going to die because he couldn't figure out how to get away from them.

[@jonwallace6204]

PA cross country kids just expect to run through swarms of gnats sometimes. That was fun. They are just there though, which is nice, no biting.

[@pamelabennett9057]

In PA there's also annual spraying to help control them. And yes, I remember in school playing softball during PE and standing in the field with my gloved hand in the air to keep them away from my head as the gnats generally go for the highest/tallest thing. When walking, you can often see the swarms of gnats ahead and simply walk around them.

[@patiencecorfman7780]

I'm grew up in Ohio and it's the same. You almost need a mask to go through the huge swarms sometimes lol just pull your shirt up your hat down duck and run 🤣🤣. Also there are most DEFINITELY biting gnats. At least where I'm from and they live mostly in the grass near damp areas but seeing as I live on a property with a flowing creek there always seems to be biting gnats or midges in my grass 😑. So now I'm curious if that's something other parts of the Midwest don't particularly experience are the biting ones?

[@JimDixon55104]

A huge swarm of insects all hatching out at the same time is a survival tactic. They overwhelm predators. Predators can gorge themselves and there will still be enough survivors to perpetuate the species.

[@Jessofthecheese]

I’m from Wisconsin, I spent a semester in England in 2008 and the most notable difference for me was how green everything was even though it was fall, the way tax doesn’t get added on to the tab at checkout, elevators/the way the levels are numbered annnd living in a building older than my country. The trip was a bit disappointing in that I was with an American group and we didn’t really get to interact with the country, we just toured factories and castles. So I didn’t have exposure to the actual culture and language much.

[@Phiyedough]

A semester in England? When I was in England we called them terms!

[@Jessofthecheese]

@@Phiyedough we weren’t even at a British university or anything, it was just a group from our American college with our American professor. The only British people we got to really talk to were tour guides, waiters and waitresses and cashiers.

[@RaquelSantos-hj1mq]

I noticed that Seattle was beautiful and green when I visited. I've heard that it's the closest climate to England.

[@Jessofthecheese]

@@RaquelSantos-hj1mq Thats probably true. I’ve been to Seattle once, it was alright. I went to a wedding in the woods and it was quite green there! But mostly I was in the city and I don’t care for being in the city 😅 there was defiantly frequent rain sprinkles there which reminded me of England.

[@mournblade1066]

@@Phiyedough I work at a college in the U.S., and we use the terms, uh, "term" and "semester" interchangeably.

[@lorenaeichhoefer2989]

Our family went to Cheddar (the English town) and had some of their lovely cheese. And then we went to the Cheddar Cave near the town and saw Cheddar Gorge-spectacular! Met a nice lady there who wanted to go to US for two reasons--to get American donuts (she didn't think English ones were as good as ours) and to go to Memphis, Tenn. to see Graceland as she was a huge Elvis fan. I thought they were interesting reasons to visit a country.

[@kaldogorath]

I've eaten donuts on 4 continents. Nowhere does them like the US.

[@boatguy3800]

Crazy they actually mine cheddar cheese.

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

@@boatguy3800​​⁠Sure- If you take a rocket ride along with Wallace and Gromit on a Cheese vacation!! 😂🚀🌝🧀🫕

[@cathyaudette1060]

Whenever an awkward "corridor dance" happens to me, I usually pick a side of the passage and grin at the other person saying, "Shall we dance?" This usually lightens the awkwardness and I get a smile in return.

[@chilldon26]

I laughed when it got to the baggy clothes part. It’s like 73 degrees here in Michigan today and I’m wearing shorts, a band t shirt and then a baggy oversized flannel looking straight out of the 90s

[@crs7937]

I am wearing shorts and the swamp cooler is on....in Joshua Tree!

[@cavlizzy]

As a native Texan we moved to Belgium for several years.... the culture shock is REAL! (but Belgium is truly wonderful)

[@trudydavis6168]

Oh, and the FOOD!...

[@danielleporter1829]

And the chocolate. Q patient of my mom's in 2001, gave us a box of Belgian chocolates, they were good.

[@justawhisperintheuniverse8257]

I've only been to Brussels, but been several times. Fantastic city! Hope the rest of the country is just as good. Would be a great place to live for a while.

[@andrewwilbraham6875]

As a former Brit and now Midwesterner, we also moved to Belgium for a couple of years and it is absolutely the armpit of Europe. The only good things were the beer, mussels, and the fact you can drive out of it in about an hour. That said, the Vlaams isn’t bad but Wallonia is horrid. Britain, Germany, and even Lithuania were better.

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

If you've lived in Belgium, maybe you can explain this one to me. My sister, who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is currently dating a man from Belgium. He's black, and every time he sees another black person, he, in his unmistakably foreign accent, asks them where they're from -- as in, what country they're from. Is he just really odd, or does this make some kind of cultural sense in terms of Belgium?

[@RAD6150]

Born and live in the Enchanted Mitten (Michigan). When I went to London, I was absolutely SHOCKED by how easy public transportation was. If I wanted to go east, cross the street and pick the right bus - one of them goes where you want. If you want to go anywhere west, the stop on your side will have a bus to take you there. D.C. has a fine Metro/circulator system, but nothing like London.

[@maryherblet1133]

I'm also in the mitten state and if I see a bus, it is either a school bus or a charter bus going to the casino. Public transportation is almost non-existent.

[@christinesmith6639]

Thanks again I appreciate I hi

[@shirleysenkler781]

The twin cities in Minnesota also has an excellent transit system. I can get just about anywhere by bus or train.

[@gordonbrandt9739]

May I suggest you visit southern Florida between June-September for the true definition of A. downpour B. Suns-shower C. gnats we have our own special type referred to as no-seeum's (a truly vicious type of flying beastie that's mainly just wings & teeth).

[@risitascositas1699]

I live in S. Florida and I 2nd this.

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

Noseeums? They need to mind thier own business.. :-P

[@justawhisperintheuniverse8257]

B. What? Who says that?

[@Deckape75]

Agreed on the downpour. I lived in Florida for 5 years and now live in Virginia. They do not know how to drive in what I call a Florida Grade Downpour here, but then again, I bet they don't have RainX on their windshields and RainX windshield washer fluid. It drastically improves visibility and increases my comfortable driving speed to about 10-15 mph under posted speed limit instead of everyone else driving 20-30 under. I also picked up the hydroplane recovery skill.

[@kkampy4052]

For as little as they are, they bite HARD!

[@420raulduke]

I live in northern MN, skeeters, 7 months of winter, and 80 mph winds during thunderstorms have given me hardened skin. Head net, layer up, basement shelter, etc. And a good whiskey can make a helluva lot of difference.

[@CitiesTurnedToDust]

I tried to use umbrellas many times in my life, but inevitably they get shredded by the 60 mph+ winds we get here. Plus an umbrella doesn't keep you dry when the rain is horizontal.

[@jimschuler8830]

A sunshower is when it rains while the sun is still out, sometimes when there isn't even a cloud in the sky. It's not an interruption of sunny weather by a brief rain.

[@TonyMichaels166]

Come to Michigan during the mayfly hatch. It’s like stepping into a brown flapping blizzard. The road gets so greasy with dead bugs that it’s like driving on ice.

[@williamanderson5295]

Only real strange storm I ever saw was when I lived in Hoffman Estates (suburb of Chicago) and it was a nice sunny day, around 70+ F. Looking out my window I see what I can only describe as a tornado rolling on its side towards me. As it swirled past, the temperature plummeted to below freezing and it started snowing.

[@katie18976]

Wow, that sound incredible, I would've been scared af 😮

[@YoungAndTheBitchless]

Holy fuck?😮😮😮

[@thomasw.eggers4303]

Thunderstorms in Northern, Minnesota. It was raining so hard I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of the car, so I had to pull over. Lightning striking all around me, bolt after bolt after bolt. What to do? Curl up in the middle of the front seat. (The car is a very good Faraday cage.) Sit back and watch the show, nothing else possible. After about 10 minutes, it all passed, and I could continue driving. Very memorable experience, and that was about 1958.

[@floridaman5411]

I don’t live there, but as a southerner, I find regional dialects very interesting!

[@garryferrington811]

The south had 150 distinct dialects. There are now 5. Interestingly, "ya'll" didn't show up until the 1890's. Southerners like Mark Twain or Andrew Jackson - or, for that matter, Jefferson Davis - never said it.

[@lmboh8585]

You'll know your a true Midwesterner when it doesn't even phase you when you swallow a gnat or are bothered by someone grabbing at invisible things in the air (we always think we can catch 'em).

[@garryferrington811]

You know you're a true Midwesterner when you have a Glock collection.

[@lpinbrez]

Born and raised in small town Minnesota, now living in Minneapolis. Pretty accurate!

[@shaunvlog]

Geographically, I’ve never understood the term, until now, and I’m so excited to see the Midwest myself soon 😃

[@rhov-anion]

I grew up in a Californian city of 50,000 people. There were two bus lines in the city. They each ran once an hour, these times set 30 minutes apart from one another, and they were two miles apart. This meant if you missed the bus, you either stood (no benches or covering) for an hour on a major boulevard inhaling the smog, or you had 30 minutes to race two miles to catch the next bus. So if I was trying to get to my college in the next city over and missed the bus (or the driver simply didn't bother to stop, which happened at least once a week) I would have to RUN to the next bus line, and if I was fast I might make the other bus. If I missed that one too because I just couldn't run two miles in 30 minutes carrying a backpack with 7 thick college books, then I was screwed, because that was running DOWNHILL. The trip back to the first bus would be UPHILL, and if you couldn't make it two miles in 30 minutes running downhill driven by adrenaline, then you simply weren't going to make it back an additional two miles, now winded, lungs burning with the smoggy air, shoulders aching from lugging around a 40-pound backpack. Only twice did I miss the 2nd bus, and one of those was because that bus driver ALSO just refused to stop, despite there being 3 other people waiting and the bus wasn't even half filled. So I had no choice but to stand there for an hour with three pissed off passengers. When the next bus came and was obviously NOT slowing down, one brave idiot leaped out into the street and waved his arms, forcing the bus to slam on his brakes. Like hell were we going to wait ANOTHER hour. As that brave idiot put it, "My boss will accept the excuse that I got hit by a bus, but not the excuse that I missed TWO buses in a row."

[@RexFuturi]

The sounds and views of rainstorms, even thunderstorms are my lullabies. While lightning striking a couple houses over is a bit less peaceful, a torrential rain and some good thunder in the distance is pure peace. As a kid, I slept on the top bunk, and I would listen to the rain on the roof as I went to sleep. (From Dayton, OH)

[@kittylady8]

Sweeper is so specific to certain parts of the Midwest. In MN, everyone (that so know) just calls it a vacuum.

[@gl15col]

Ever had to deal with "no-see-ums"? Bugs so tiny that bite so hard. Being surrounded by a cloud of them is hell. When I was stationed in San Antonio, TX an overpass I went under every day to work would have rain on one side, and dry pavement on the other. Hard on you brain at 0 dark 30..

[@timmmahhhh]

I'm from Indiana and never heard of them until I visited Florida.

[@kaldogorath]

I had to google "no-see-ums" but yeah I've seen them (ironically). I just didn't know their name. I didn't know they bite, they never bit me even though there'd be clouds of them outside sometimes.

[@nomdeplume7537]

Depending how old your mother-in-law is ... the reason she may refer to a vacuum as a SWEEPER is there was/is a contraption called a ...CARPET SWEEPER is a mechanical device for the cleaning of carpets. They were popular before the introduction of the vacuum cleaner It's a non-motorized hand held push sweeper with rollers, you push back and forth to picks up dirt, deposits it in side containers on the inside, that you empty into trash In restaurants with carpets, they will call it a "HOKY"

[@thecraigster8888]

Hoki is the Japanese word for broom, which I think was used as a brand name

[@nomdeplume7537]

@@thecraigster8888 Might be yeah ... I clearly remember my grandmother having one when I was a kid in the early 70s, when what was on the carpet didn't require a vacuum

[@georgina3358]

@@nomdeplume7537 I'm English and my mother owned a carpet sweeper some time in the 60s and 70s

[@aspenenglish4976]

In the Midwest today, it’s usually referred to as a vacuum cleaner.

[@RichZFishes]

My absolute earliest memory is of riding on the sweeper as my grandmother pushed it around to clean her floors. I distinctly remember the "wood grain" image painted on the sheet metal cleaner. I brought up the memory when Grandma passed on, some 45 years later, and my mother couldn't believe that remembered it, because I was just 18 months old when my grandmother moved from the apartment directly beneath us.

[@rhiahlMT]

Culture shock is a thing. When my father retired it was the first time I attended a non Dept. of Defense school. It was bad. I'd been to the Far East, Europe, Philippines. Everywhere. My classmates hadn't moved their entire lives. Things straightened out when I joined the Army and went back to Europe.

[@elissahunt]

I never understood the term "Army brat" because from my perspective it was the civilian kids who were the brats. All the kids in the DoD schools were welcoming and friendly to new kids--we all moved all the time so we knew what it was like. I didn't end up enlisting myself, but I did marry a Soldier (and also went back to Europe).

[@LindaC616]

I grew up inone.oart of the States and live in another. While it's not as strong as culture shock while in other countries, I still feel it, even after 23 yrs

[@rhiahlMT]

@@elissahunt I wear Army Brat like a medal. I wear Veteran status with pride. But, yes, going into public schools after dad retired was massive culture shock. I was so glad to get back to Germany, it wasn't funny. I enjoyed my time in the military. I saw a lot and am now settled in Montana and while not as happy as I used to be since my husband passed. There are very few places I'd rather live. Yes, DoD schools were far better schools than the public school I wound up in, in the middle of Baltimore city. It was like night and day.

[@jwb52z9]

That's how the vast majority of Americans without money live. They almost never have the chance to leave their hometown, let alone the state or nation, and that's even if they were given the desire to do so.

[@elissahunt]

@@jwb52z9 Do you imagine that military folks have money? I understand that traveling to another country can be expensive, but it can also be done pretty cheaply. And traveling around the US isn't that hard. Motivation, not money, is the major limiting factor.

[@jmp111851m]

I've lived in Eastern Iowa my whole life. I love the way you describe the midwest. It's so true. Thanks for the laughs.

[@lairdcummings9092]

Be careful. If you ever find yourself in Alaska, there are horrible biting gnat-sized flies called blackflies. They are very small, and quite horrible. In Florida, they have "No See Ums" which are also known as biting gnats. Yes, they're tiny to the point of invisibility, and yes, they will bite the ever loving crap out of you. Enjoy your benign gnats whilst you may.

[@LindaC616]

The black flies exist on the coast of the northeast and the northeast and the Great Lakes as well

[@rckoala8838]

@@LindaC616 Encountered these in Ontario and Quebec. Bites the size of eggplants. I looked like you did, Lawrence, you poor thing.

[@LindaC616]

@@rckoala8838 I would too, because I am sensitive to bug bites. We have them here, but since I am near open water the breezes usually keep them off us. I have been to other beaches North of Boston where they are fierce. When I was in Scotland on the Isle of Skye, I noticed at a pub that they were selling to all of the tourists who had come to go fishing.... guess what?? Skin so soft by Avon. Apparently it's a claim as International!

[@Jacob-qr8pl]

Oh yeah! Black flies are terrible in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!

[@chadnguyen6332]

Just make sure you have bug spray with you.

[@blisterbrain]

A sun shower is when, in the afternoon or morning, when the sun is not overhead, the clouds directly above can dump rain on you while everything is still illuminated by the direct sunlight coming from the side. These are usually a pleasant sprinkling and not a pelting downpour. Look for rainbows!

[@kristend344]

My mother is from rural MO. I remember my first day of my first visit. 100 F and 100% humidity. You could see the water droplets in the air. And lake swimming . . . the water was *warm*! that, was a novel concept. I once mentioned chiggers to my mother . . . . that triggered a memory for her, as she shuddered . . .

[@skeletonkeybooks]

Chiggers are super triggery! We don't have them in Colorado, but every time I see someone sitting on grass, it takes all my willpower not to run over and drag them to safety. Chiggers will eff you up.

[@negf22]

I live in the Midwest, north central Ohio to be exact…about an hour south of Lake Erie. Love the people and vibe of the Midwest. I used to travel all over the country when I was working ( retired now) and each region has its charm, but home is definitely the Midwest. Since it got up to 80 here today the June bugs came out…they are a really annoying. They come out at night and are attracted to light.

[@johndunsmore6462]

When my firm moved to downtown Houston, from a suburban location, they offered employees a choice of a parking space in a garage, 1/4 mile from the building or a fully funded bus pass. I took the pass. It was a five minute drive to the bus depot, non-stop bus, a one block walk from stop to work. New, clean and comfortable buses. When I told people that I took the bus, many, many people would react as if there was something dangerous or funky about doing that. Since Houston is so spread out, you would think mass transportation would be more comprehensive, but it just is something that doesn’t derive from common sense.

[@rowynnecrowley1689]

I used to love the midwest thunderstorms, where the clouds are so think and black, it looks like midnight at high noon.

[@francesmeyer8478]

I still love them!

[@nrrork]

The only thing about the rain I don't like is it puts me to sleep. Wonderful at night, but less so at noon when I'm trying to NOT sleep. It didn't used to, but once I hit 30 or so, it's like a switch flipped and now a rainy or just overcast day saps the energy right out of me.

[@Quagthistle]

When I was in Junior High (long, long ago), I moved from Houston, Texas to a tiny farm town in western Kansas with a population of about 120. The Houstonian kids insisted that Kansans don't drive cars and, instead, ride goats everywhere. Not horses. Not donkeys. Goats. Why? No clue, but they all seemed convinced Kansas only ride goats for transportation. I have now lived in Kansas for most of the last 3 decades, and I don't think I've ever even SEEN a goat here... but I've seen lots of cars. XD

[@lorettaross5146]

When I was a toddler we moved from Oregon to Missouri. Some of my older siblings stayed behind with our aunt and uncle to finish the school year and when they arrived they were so surprised to find that we had a normal house. Our aunt told them all the houses in Missouri were like the hillbilly shack in the opening credits of Beverly Hillbillies. Also, one of the first nights after they arrived my brother Danny came inside all freaked out. "Dad, you better come outside. I don't know what's going on but there's a whole crowd of men down on the road with little bitty flashlights!" It was lightning bugs! 🤣

[@selectstriker2]

I've seen plenty of goats on farms and such here in Kansas, that's funny that anyone would think people would ride them lol.

[@jayt9608]

Quagthistle, which part of Kansas are you in? I lived a little off 50 about 30 minutes from the Kansas-Colorado border and am familiar with a lagr amount of the area.

[@clintshiplett8548]

Born here in Michigan, and lived here all my life. One thing you could comment on is the big city, small town dynamic. I was born in Detroit (actually one of it's suburbs) then moved to a smaller city on the other side of the state for forty five years. My wife, a resident, once introduced me to her coworkers, telling them that I was from Detroit. I had lived here more than half my life at the time. Not only had I lived here longer than any place else, I had lived here longer than EVERY place else. And I was still from Detroit.

[@lisapop5219]

🤣 you should see the mayfly invasion in Michigan! It's freaky but thankfully short-lived & not widespread.

[@robdoyle2223]

Truth! I know the MI state bird is the mosquito, but it should probably be the mayfly

[@pkmcnett5649]

Mayfly Festival in Dundee, Michigan should be coming up soon

[@petuniasevan]

Lake flies in Wisconsin near water (I live by water). Mosquitolike but do NOT bite. They swarm by the billions and get in the house, all over the cars, outside walls of house and garage. and fly in your face and I swear try to fly up your nose. There are three or four major hatches during the warm months; like mayflies they don't live long in adult form. They can be so abundant on Lake Winnebago that they show up on radar as if they were a rainstorm.

[@jessicaajarrett]

I got caught in a mayfly invasion in Sandusky Ohio once. It was apocalyptic.

[@rebeccaquartieri5509]

Gnats yeah otherwise known as blackflies. I don't envy the folks that in the Adirondacks. One year many years ago blackflies were all over our windshield. We ran out of windshield wiper fluid trying to get them off our windshield 🤣🤣🤣🤣. It was worse than a snow storm! 😆

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

Culture shock is definitely a thing... be it moving to or moving away from the Midwest. I grew up in Wisconsin and moved to Connecticut when I was almost 13. It nearly broke me. I was mocked for my language... I felt like no one was nice at all, ever... and that doesn't even touch on the fact that I went from a very white town to a very diverse city and had to learn so many more cultural norms for engaging with individuals and groups. Ultimately though, I'm grateful because now my accent is very ambiguous, almost like a received American accent if we're making a British comparison and I can fairly seamlessly transition to most locals between the upper Midwest and the midatlantic and northward on the east coast considering I now live in PA.

[@Castilda0311]

I spent my early childhood in Philadelphia with my NY parents but moved to Minnesota, where I spent my formative years. Then it was on to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, and now Connecticut. Linguistically, life has been challenging. In Pittsburgh the words collar, color, and caller sound identical. In Boston carkey, khaki, and cocky are indistinguishable. No one can tell my origins, including myself. But if I spend 10 minutes in the Minneapolis airport I sound as if I never left.

[@brendagrimm2964]

I have been through the Midwest many times. On my way from here to there and vice versa. I have been to/in Ohio many times, as it is right next door. In fact, I live about 20 miles from the Pennsylvania/Ohio border.

[@elizabethw.6154]

As an Ohioan, I understand all of it! We have a saying, "that if you don't like the weather, just wait 4 minutes and it'll change." 😆. My town has a bus... But it's actually a large taxi bus you have to call for.

[@user-jv5pp8pv9l]

We had one of these in the town I grew up in in Southern California. It was called Dial - A - Ride although often referred to as DollarRide because it cost a dollar per person per ride back then. That town is now more of a city and has actual busses.

[@terryhiggins5077]

Same, and the "bus" was a minivan with handicap ramp thing in the back

[@xo2quilt]

You definitely live in a bigger city!! No bus, taxi, Uber or anything in my little town in eastern Washington. There are no traffic lights in the entire county...a few blinking yellow where two highways meet, but that's it. I think the largest town in the county has 1,500 people, so you know it is really rural.

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

I've heard that with different times in literally every state I've lived lol.

[@lynntaylor9681]

I'm a Wisconsinite and we have the same saying. Pretty sure the entire Midwest says that. It's what we have in common besides ope and possibly complaining about the weather.

[@UrbanAves]

Aw man, i moved to Texas from Iowa last year and i miss the intense rainstorms so much. My favorite part of summertime was drifting off to sleep as the thunderstorms rattled away

[@jenniferjensen8538]

Lol! I'm a native of Maryland (Washington DC area) and moved to Ohio 10 years ago. I was SO confused by the term "sweeper"! I took a job as a home health aide for a couple of years. The seniors I helped would say, "Run the sweeper" or "Sweep the carpet." I thought, "You want me to use a broom on the carpet?!" Hahaha! Also here in the Midwest they call a lollipop a sucker. That threw me for a loop too! 🤣

[@jonc4403]

I'm used to a carpet sweeper being an entirely different device from a vacuum cleaner. A carpet sweeper is a non-motorized device that operates a brush by utilizing the device's wheels to spin it. They're lightweight and mostly ineffective. Also, suckers are a thing here in the South too. Saying lollipop means you're puttin' on airs.

[@JamesPotts]

I think "sweeper" has been mainly relegated to "older person" use. It's the term my parents used, but I can't recall hearing it in years. Mind you, we also sat on a "davenport" when I was growing up, and I never heard that term used by anyone but my parents.

[@corinnepmorrison1854]

Davenport is a word some of my family used... Davenport...sofa...couch...

[@wendymccourt9979]

Mr Potts: A davenport is a small chesterfield which usually clicks down and becomes a second bed. We had these at home used when there were sleepovers. Wendy/Canada

[@JamesPotts]

@@corinnepmorrison1854 I just looked it up, and it appears to be Great Lakes, especially Upper Midwest.

[@JamesPotts]

@@wendymccourt9979 , here (when it's used) it refers to a couch/sofa. A genericized trademark from a prominent manufacturer.

[@jimwilcox2964]

Sounds like a sleeper sofa or a pull out bed. But you also have a futon, which is different

[@toolittletoolate3917]

After living in coastal California for just about my entire life, I moved to Japan 7 years ago. I made many fascinating discoveries, among which was the fact that Japan has a highly variable climate with more than 4 seasons. The weather is in an almost constant state of flux, moving from one season into another in unceasing progression. Not only that, but Japanese people make a sharp distinction between indoor clothes (AKA “room wear”) and outdoor clothes. The former are loose-fitting comfortable garments for lying around on the floor while you read, watch TV, or whatever. When you go out, you change into outdoor clothes, and then back into indoor clothes when you return. Combine this with the ever-shifting weather and it’s easy to see why I now own roughly 11 times the clothing I had ever before had when living in the world’s most temperate climate. The Japanese invented the layering concept, and I realized that it was a necessity for dealing with their climate.

[@mariateresamondragon5850]

Interesting observations. Thank you for sharing them.

[@fookinaye8277]

The weather sounds like maryland. The clothing part seems pretty normal too

[@kaldogorath]

I'm pretty sure the Eskimos, Yupik, and Inuits would have died if they didn't do layering. And I have a sneaking suspicion that they were doing it long before Japan was Japan.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

@@NecessaryTruths 🤣this is true

[@pamelabennett9057]

Our family went to Japan in 2009 for a major event. Our elderly parents were to accompany us, but were unable to go at the last minute. In retrospect it was good that they didn't go, as we took for granted that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accommodations prevalent everywhere here would also be there. Instead, access to ramps and elevators were minimal, and different levels were common - even the bathroom in the hotel was at a different level than the room due to feng shui - a potential danger for those with mobility and balance issues.

[@rachelutterback405]

I'm from the Midwest. I would call a sudden, intense, short-lived rain shower a downpour.

[@aaronburdon221]

We just say it's pissing rain

[@gallifreyantauri]

If doing that zig-zag to get out of someone's way, I usually ask, "Can I have this dance?" That sometimes get a smile.

[@danhogan4093]

Thanks for clearing something up for me, was born in chicago in 1945, never heard "ope" but after this I realized we say oops. Lived in Hermosa and Humboldt Park, now in New Mexico. Very interesting vids,keep up the good work!

[@mikesandate3222]

I love a Midwestern deluge!

[@justathought88]

Ooh, Laurence, I just heard that you and Shaun are meeting up soon! Have been following both of your channels for a while now and love both. Can't wait!

[@pigpjs]

Visited the Midwest from the West Coast and random rain is crazy to me. Felt the same in FL. I am used to a prediction on the news I can count on and generally, at least an hour of rain.

[@kkarllwt]

A thunderstorm can develop to 30,000 feet in minutes from a clear sky on a hot summer day. Strong updrafts carry moist air up to condense into a down pour.

[@NSLivefree]

I’m a born and bred Wisconsinite. The cheese thing is definitely a real thing. Also, I grew up in small town on west side, we said “pop”, but when I moved to Eau Claire (bigger city) they said “soda”.

[@falcon664]

"MOVE" is what my Mom would yell at me when I purposely walked very slowly down the hall, blocking her path. Sweet memories.

[@GothVampiress]

if i recall correctly, sunshowers are when the sun is still shining when it rains, not sudden storms. we've always referred to what you're describing as just a summer thunderstorm. i grew up in the midatlantic in a family of midwesterners. i didn't know "sweeper" was regional until very, very recently.

[@maryhenderson1529]

I now live in Texas, but I lived in Ohio until 2013. I recognize most of the things you talk about. When I don’t give a care, my mom would call it not giving a pididdle. Have you gone to any farm machinery shows yet? There is a nice one in Georgetown, Ohio. The old timers say if it rains while the sun is shining, it will rain the same time the following day.

[@kkarllwt]

within 300 miles of Lawrence will be a Farm Progress show each year 100,000s of thousands of people. we need to get him to one.

[@erics607]

I live about 2 hours north of you up in Wisconsin. The cheese part is highly accurate, as it's basically a sin if you don't have any cheese in your household. Most people have 1-2 sections of the refrigerator dedicated to just cheese. I've also lived here so long, that I don't even realize that I say ope. If you haven't checked him out, I highly recommend checking out Charlie Berens. He's a comedian from Wisconsin who makes fun of all the Wisconsin/Midwestern sayings and actions.

[@Phil.C1]

I remember my 1st summer over here (just west of Boston), it was mid June or July, looked out the office window, sunny, looked out again a few minutes later, black clouds, then it hailed like I'd never seen before, then the sun came out again. Went to get lunch, in shorts / t-shirt, walking through 2" hail on the ground while hot air and sun scorched my English skin. I also remember seeing daily UPS deliveries (big push cart stacked with boxes, going from office to office) and later in the afternoon pick-up, this was such a strange sight.

[@richardsbrandon5027]

hahahahaha!!!

[@jonc4403]

So when does UPS deliver and pick up in England?

[@gstlb]

Here in Texas, the term “snowbird “ refers to people from northern states who migrate to the southern states in the winter and then return back home for the summer.

[@karenk2409]

It's fun to have a country so big you can chase the seasons around!

[@AzraelThanatos]

The Hoover thing is one of the examples of trademark genericization, much like kleenex is for tissues. The term sweeper came from one of the ways they were marketed, for making the sweeping easier as a mechanical broom...

[@kaycox19]

Lawrence...you made me laugh out loud!! Thanks for the great video!

[@DFX2KX]

The town I live in has a pretty comprihensive bus system for a yankee city. Some of the routes are even free to ride. However 10-15 minute service only applies to the major routes. the little feeder lines are once every half hour during the school year, and once per hour during summer. Now that I have an Ebike, I don't bother, since if there's any traffic at all, I'll get there fastar then I would have on the bus anyway.

[@nrrork]

Well, they used to make these things that WERE just... sweepers. My grandparents had one, and I remember my church had one. It was like the bottom part of a vacuum cleaner with the rotating sweepers, and... that's it. You'd move it back and forth, the rotating sweepers would kick up any dirt up into a little compartment up above that you emptied. Good for small cleanups that you didn't want to break out the vacuum for. I don't think they make them anymore. I haven't seen one of those since the late 80s. But I also have really been looking.

[@kathleencraine7335]

Hey Laurence, I read recently that Chicago is expected to get a larger than normal influx of gnats this year. My fashion culture shock when I went to Britain and Italy is that EVERYBODY wears some sort of scarf, no matter what the weather. Why?

[@frankmitchell3594]

Apparently, in Italy, 'Cold Neck' is a well recognised complaint. Whereas in Britain it's just cold.

[@Sailor376also]

Born and raised in Michigan. All that you say is true. Of those winter required three layers? Cotton next to the skin,, or anything soft,, THEN a layer of wool. Merino wool, lambs wool, bison wool, cashmere,,,, good old granny scratchy wool.. Wool for the second layer. Then wear your fleece,, or trench coat of a good tight weave wind shirt,,, but YES,, all loose,, all comfy. Chicago does have one special consideration,, If it is an east wind and the temps are less than -10F,, or especially -20F and you need to walk to the Field Museum. Don't. Call a cab.

[@loragray1571]

I am from Indiana, but I experienced culture shock when I moved to Florida. The ants and gnats here are not so tranquil as the Midwestern ones. They both bite. The gnats, or some call "noseeums" are incredibly tiny, you don't see them until after they have made a snack of you.

[@LindaC616]

I experience it here still after 23 years on the East Coast. I'm from Michigan. My 1st sign that I was probably in trouble was when I went to the local fishmongers and I said "may I please have a pound of...?" And one woman looked at the other and said "she said please".

[@ANNEWHETSTONE]

In Alberta Canada 🇨🇦 we also call them 'noseeums' small and nasty out in the country. Maybe in other places to

[@salyluz6535]

@Linda C: So on the East Coast, no one says please?

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

We have “noseeums” in NC too

[@ange76prkr]

As much as it rains in Scotland, I rarely carry an umbrella. Today I found out I can borrow from the umbrella stand at work and it was lowkey the best moment of my week.

[@scotty3114]

I lived in Ohio a couple of years in corporate training and it was a different world compared to NM where I grew up and still live. Enjoy your videos.

[@AnnPMadera]

Wild rain we used to call 'liquid sunshine' when I lived in Florida. I was raised in Ireland, but my mother (God rest her) was from Louisiana, and I spent summers often in Florida with her in Jacksonville, Florida. Liquid sunshine was heavy rain that occurred in the middle of the day, the sun was out, skies were clear, and just, bang, water. The way it worked was that high winds came off the coast, which would carry water vapor very high into the air. It condenses and then falls, sometimes hundreds of kilometers of where the storm actually is. Though I also strapped myself to a palm tree during a hurricane in Key Largo. It was my vacation. Up yours, weather.

[@jmcg6189]

I lived one summer in Jax, where my parents had moved (from Chicago and then Baltimore) and it rained every day at almost exactly the same time, 12:15-12:40. Then the sun would come back out and there was no evidence that it had ever rained.

[@AnnPMadera]

@@jmcg6189 Right? What the hell was that? Seriously, where else can you get a damn sunburn in the middle of a rain shower?

[@Lovetocamp]

I am born and raised in Ohio, specifically northeast. We live about 500 ft from Lake Erie. Every year we get muffleheads and mayflies from the lake. As you come walk out of the house, keep your mouth closed because as you walk by the house they fly off, then return to the side of the house with in seconds. Then at night you hear a low buzz above your head as they all go up in the sky to mate, all of them. The muffleheads and mayflies don't last long.

[@lynntaylor9681]

I've always lived in the Midwest. Born in Indianapolis and my parents moved to Wisconsin in 1981 when I was one and a half. For almost all of my lifetime, I've lived in a suburb in the metro area of Milwaukee and I can't imagine living anywhere else. When I was a kid, I visited a lot of other states with my parents while traveling but I would never want to move there. I'm one of the few who likes the cold and happily wears a t-shirt all year even during the Winter. I'm just glad I live in a part of the Midwest that says soda.

[@hectorsmommy1717]

Head a little west (like the Dells area) and you will be hearing pop more. SE Wisconsin is the only part of the state that says soda.

[@MPMcDonald]

@@hectorsmommy1717 I moved ten miles from Northern IL to SE Wisconsin and went from everyone saying pop to everyone saying soda. lol. My daughter, who was 10 when we moved, now says soda because that's what she hears away from home.

[@hectorsmommy1717]

@@MPMcDonald I grew up near the Dells saying pop. In college in Oshkosh it was a mixed bag (probably because of students from all over) and moving to Milwaukee for my first job it was soda all the time.

[@sallycormier1383]

Having lived in Spain and the island of Guam (as well as all over the USA)culture shock is definitely real! I’ve enjoyed it though, after some unusual experiences. Spain is my favorite place on earth and now that I understand their queuing system( ask who is la ultima de la linea, they may not even be in the building, watch that person and once they are served it’s your turn to go up to the counter) I would love to go back for a visit!

[@caroldeking1050]

Liked trip down memory lane. Midwest was a fabulous place to growup....I miss it badly. Keep up the informative vids. Love, 2 Cavies in Sarasota

[@joermnyc]

We adopted from Bulgaria, about half the people we met that spoke (pretty good) English (probably because of British tourism, all the English menus had the Union Jack on them) and heard we were from America said, “Oh, I’ve been to Wisconsin.” What is it about Wisconsin that attracts Bulgarians? I have no idea, I’m from here (NY) and I’ve never been there.

[@Mad69Russian]

Good fresh cheese. Bulgarians live on cheese.

[@kimberlyholt2241]

"Complementary umbrellas" 🤣 You are SO right!!!! You always lift my spirits! 🌻

[@TheDellaniOakes]

I've lived in 7 states and visited many others. Though I had a Southern father (TN), I had a Northern mother (PA/OH). I've lived in both northern and southern states. I don't remember noticing big differences when I was a kid, but we moved to Mississippi from Nebraska when I was a teenager. It was a huge culture shock, because it was the first time I'd lived in a good sized Southern city. Nebraska is (according to some) Midwestern - though others will say it's Western. There is a lot of regional confusion in Nebraska. The bumper sticker slogan would have us believe that it's "Where the West Begins" but that's claimed by other places, too. As I watch your videos, I find it interesting that what you describe as "American" is mostly isolated to IN/IL - which is completely understandable, that's where you live. However, what you may not realize is that these videos also point out differences between the North and South, as well as West (adjacent). I now live on the east coast of Florida. As the crow flies, about a mile from the ocean. We're a mixing pot here - folks from all over the country have come to roost. I think you'd have a great time staying here for a while, exploring and discovering even more new and interesting differences. If you ever get a chance, head down to Florida and spend a month or two - become a snowbird and join us for the winter. Don't come in the summer - mosquitoes are terrible AND here - gnats bite.

[@deborahharris9111]

I grew up in Scotland and now live in Midwest, USA. I find myself translating for Scottish family when they visit! Xoxo

[@timeflysintheshop]

Just like we think it is weird for southerners to call all fizzy drinks coke, it's weird for you to call all vacuum cleaners hoovers since that is a specific brand of vacuum cleaner here in the USofA.

[@margefoyle6796]

Yes, but... Kleenex. Crescent wrench. Xerox. Etc.

[@codymoe4986]

@MargeFoyle...Tissue, locking pliers, copy....

[@codymoe4986]

@MargeFoyle...As is, how many other tissue, locking pliers, or copy machine companies can you think of that have trademarked a popular, everyday item? As opposed to Coke, Mt Dew, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, 7Up , etc etc etc

[@simsandsurgery1]

I’m a midwesterner at heart, and I love cheese. I grew up in Chicago and we had family in Minnesota so we drove through Wisconsin all the time (and even did vacation in the Dells a couple times). The best part of that drive was the big cheese store with the giant mouse statue next to the highway. We’d stop and get a literal pound bag of raw cheese curds and just snack on that for the drive… It would only be more American if we dipped them in ranch… Which incidentally we also do, but only with the deep fried version… 😂

[@madmommy]

As for insects, the trick with gnats that all Midwestern children learn, is to raise one hand above your head, and they will flock to the hand and not your face. Also, beware of dive-bombing June bugs. And I still hear the term "sweeper" used in Kansas, but there it's not the vacuum cleaner but a non-powered floor cleaner with rollers and a long handle. Not the best description, so Google it for a picture.

[@corinnepmorrison1854]

Doesn’t Swifter make floor sweepers?

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

This is what my Grandma called a sweeper as well. She was from North Central WV. In Ohio, a sweeper is what most adults who are elderly now call a vacuum cleaner.

[@missdarque]

@@corinnepmorrison1854 The brand is Swiffer, and yes they do. But, there are ones like @madmommy is describing which are used on carpet.

[@AzraelThanatos]

Those sweepers were what vacuum cleaners were advertised as replacements for...along with brooms.

[@lorirarich1875]

A Hoky is a non power sweeper thats the brand name since no one knows what to call it. s It's not a paper thing but heavy plastic with a stick. You can empty it but few ppl know how to take apart/put back together. Cheaper than Swiffers imo.

[@JohnCBurzynski]

I live a few miles from Cheeseville. Ironically there are no cheese factories there. It’s really just an intersection of a couple county roads with a building that used to be a small public school. There are some large dairy farms nearby, and you get plenty “dairy air”, if you know what I mean.

[@rclaughlin]

If the gnats and mosquitos are getting you down, Laurence, move to the Southwest. No flying bugs to speak of there, but the scorpions may prove bothersome.

[@robertc.9503]

Tarantula Hawk: Allow me to introduce myself...

[@kkarllwt]

The mosquitos in the forests of Linclon county NM are terrible.

[@MaryLMeyer]

I’m from Indiana. Love to hear your fresh perspectives on how you experience things as a Brit.

[@JoshColletta]

I grew up in Miami, but when my parents divorced, my mother moved to the small town in Michigan where I spent each school break from 5th grade onward, and where I now live permanently. I had visited before, as we had family up here already, so I already knew about the whole pop vs. soda debate. But some other things surprised me, such as the civil defense siren systems, now mostly used for tornado watches and warnings. We didn't have those in South Florida, at least not by the time I came into this world. There's also the distinct pronunciation of "melk" as opposed to "milk," similar to the wash/warsh pronunciation. One of my mentors in the radio business also quickly noted that I fully pronounce the T in the word "county," whereas most everyone else around here says "cown-dee" or even just "cow-nee." And the mayflies... dear God, the mayflies!

[@Cricket2731]

If it weren't for Mayflies, fishing would diminish. Seriously, tho--I used to work in a truckstop that had a marsh on the property. Us at the fuel desk were greatly amused by the foreigners who commented on the huge size of our Mosquitos. (They were referring to Mayflies/Fish Flies.)

[@xoxxobob61]

@Josh That's funny & I grew up in Miami too but had a friend from Minnesota and their pronunciations were funny! She would tell me about her Dad's hobby which was "Melk Cotton Bot Raycees" or basically "Milk Carton Boat Races" ! 🤣

[@jclements7361]

You mention the term "snowbird" and said that is someone who moves from the colder areas to the sunny south. That is only partially true, being born and raised in South East Florida (Miami/Fort Lauderdale) I should know... The term "snowbird" referrers to people who live down here during the "season" , generally owning a condominium that they live in part-time during the winter months (roughly Thanksgiving through Easter) and return home for the remainder of the year. It is never used to describe someone who has moved down here full time.

[@Irisarc1]

Here in Oklahoma, at least in OKC, we tend to use some Midwestern terms and some Southern ones. Funnily enough, many people here call soft drinks "soda pop", kind of a combination of Western and Midwestern slang.

[@davidkindred2440]

Born in NJ, lived there for over 40 years. Now in IL. So many differences. Like "Empty Space" between towns. You can basicallly go from DC to Boston and never not be n a town. Here, it's just a mile two and you're in open farmland. And the whole Pop/Soda thing. And "Sneakers" vs "kicks" vs "gym shoes". And tornados. Those are scary. We had hurricanes, but you knew they were coming for days. And the lack of family owned ethnic food restaurants. Everything is a mediocre chain. Love your show, keep up the Good Work!

[@lucyashens3522]

I live in Missouri. A few days ago my mom wanted me to vacuum the stairs and she said "will you please sweep the stairs?" And I was like "MOM.. IT'S WILL YOU VAUUM THE STAIRS" and then we had a whole conversation about how her and her brother said "sweep" and "sweeper" but nobody else says it lol😂

[@SalyLuz-hc6he]

Why are you so persnickety to your mother? There’s not only one correct way; it totally depends upon where you live.

[@pXnTilde]

7:20 I don't know why this is so funny to me. I definitely say "ope"

[@suzieseabee]

As a kid, I told my mom that the gnats we're biting me and she didn't believe me. When I came in the house for dinner I had blood running down my face and then she believed me. I ended up with a scab that covered my forehead and sideburns area in one piece. Nasty little creatures.

[@davidcosta2244]

I'm originally from New England, and now live in FL, and the sun showers are still messing me up. The sun is bright enough to show one's shadow, and yet it's pouring down rain. It's definitely a Caribbean thing

[@janethays3408]

@@davidcosta2244 I am in Missouri, and we frequently get sunshowers here, too. I have also seen it snowing and sunny out. This is not uncommon around here.

[@joycejarrard6958]

I grew up in Griffith, Indiana, in Northwest Indiana, not far from Chicago. Then I moved to North Carolina about 40 years ago. Part of the reason for the gnats and mosquitoes in that area is that much of the land was formerly swampland.

[@OldMan_PJ]

Lived in Lake County Illinois for 12 years, there was a bus that went to the local city college and that was it. Seemed useless. I lived a block away from a Metra station so I could at least get to Union Station downtown to catch Amtrak and get out of the state.

[@runnyhunny786]

Yes. Culture shock is what would worry me about moving to another place so far away. Think I would miss hearing my home country's accent ( Australian ) a lot too. But I guess time would make one get over the culture shock thing ( ? ).

[@AnotherMike2]

Another wonderful video! Thanks Lawrence!

[@LeandroFTW]

I grew up in St Louis. You need to try gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli and emo's Pizza!

[@PJEmbree]

What does gooey butter cake taste like? I tried some from a fast food place and wasn’t impressed. I wondered if the real thing might taste better.

[@tracyhughes8524]

I live in Indianapolis, IN and I love your videos. I have some very good friends that live in Liverpool that I usually visit every year and your comparisons between England and the Midwest are hilarious and very true.