14 Things Everyone Who's Moved Away From Kentucky Has Thought At Least Once

Sweet iced tea is a favorite in the South, and is much loved by Kentuckians. However, if you travel up north or out west, it isn't as common. The worst is when you try to order it at a restaurant and the server has no idea what you mean by "sweet tea."

The Kentucky Oaks is held the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, and attracts hundreds of thousands of people to Churchill Downs. At this point, the entire city of Louisville has been partying for nearly two weeks straight, and many schools and businesses are closed for the day. The Oaks is treated like a holiday, so it can be a rude awakening when you move elsewhere and find out it's just a regular Friday anywhere else.

"My Old Kentucky Home" is Kentucky's heart-wrenching state song. One of the best moments of the year is when it is played as the horses make their way to the gate to run the Derby. Everyone in the crowd stands, removes their hats, and sings along. Many people cry. Obviously, non-Kentuckians aren't familiar with this ritual, so if you're watching the Derby with people in another state and stand up while this equine procession is happening on the TV, you'll probably get some weird looks.

There is no piece of clothing more important on the first Saturday in May than your hat. The bigger and more outlandish, the better.

Kentucky bourbon is meant to be sipped slowly and enjoyed, like a fine French wine, not polluted with coke and chugged like some cheap foreign whiskey.

Burgoo is a thick and spicy stew that was traditionally made with what meats and vegetables were available at the time. Venison, game birds, squirrel, and rabbit used to be common meats used in burgoo, but now it's typically made with chicken, pork, or mutton.

Red River Gorge is one of Kentucky's favorite playgrounds. It's a world-renowned destination for rock climbing, but there's also great hiking, kayaking, camping, and even zip lining.

The longest cave system known in the world is located in western Kentucky. Mammoth Cave National Park is one of Kentucky's favorite places to visit.

These two huge lakes in western Kentucky will make you feel like you're on vacation in your own state. Moving away will make you long for the good ole summer days spent at the lake.

Sure, other places love their sports, but to Kentuckians, there is nothing more sacred than their allegiance to either the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville. Oh, and they hate each other's guts, which makes things interesting.

Sometimes it can be hard to explain to outsiders either the love or disdain you have for this man. Kentucky fans hate him because even though he won them a National Championship in 1996, he then left for a brief stint as an NBA head coach, and then returned to college basketball to be the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals. Obviously, Kentucky fans felt betrayed to see their hero move over to the side of their arch rival, but Louisville fans love him. He took the Cardinals to the Final Four in 2005 and 2012, and won a National Championship in 2013.

The absolute worst is when people ask "How do you pronounce Kentucky's capital city? Lewisville or Looeyville?" and you have to look them dead in the eye and say "The capital city is pronounced Frankfort, but Louisville is pronounced Loo-a-vull."

We don't know.

If you've returned home to Kentucky after being away for a long time, we're sure you've had this thought. We're glad to have you back.