13 Things Everyone Who's Moved Away From Louisiana Has Thought At Least Once
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Jackie Ann
Author
From boudin to the bayous, there are so many things that make Louisiana special. The food, the scenery, the people, everything about Louisiana is magical. It’s a place that so many of us call home, even if we’ve moved away. Once you move away, you’ll begin to notice how unique Louisiana really is, and why no matter how far away you moved, Louisiana will always be home. Here are just some of the things you’ll notice when you move outside Louisiana.
Sure, chances are wherever you moved to has some great food, but nothing compares to good ole’ Louisiana cooking. Jambalaya, Gumbo, Etoufee… You’ll end up learning to cook just so you can have your favorite dishes anytime you want (and share them with your friends who have never eaten good Cajun/Creole cuisine!)
If you stayed in the South, then this one doesn’t really apply, but if you moved anywhere else, you’ll notice this. There’s a reason they call it "Southern Charm". The culture in the South is simply something you have to experience to understand. Smiling to strangers on the street, holding doors open for people, and saying sir/ma’am are little things we do without thinking will become a rare find anywhere else.
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You may have never thought you had an accent, but the moment you go anywhere outside of the South, someone will inevitably ask you where you are from. You’ll notice how often you say "y’all" (probably because it will be pointed out to you by everyone else) and then you’ll get into a great debate about how saying "y’all" is better than saying "you guys".
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Sure, we may not have mountain views, but our bayous, swamps, cypress trees, and Spanish moss are such a quintessential part of Louisiana you’ll definitely miss them when you’re gone.
You’ll get really good at spotting Saints/LSU shirts, or anything fleur-dis-lis when you’re living in another state. And if you meet anyone also from Louisiana, it’s an instant friendship.
Sure, our summers can be brutal, but if you moved to a winter wonderland, you’ll be missing that Louisiana climate when you have to wake up at 5AM to shovel out your car.
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Legally drinking on the street will make you miss New Orleans. Turns out asking for a to-go cup is frowned upon just about everywhere.
…But not where you are. When Mardi Gras comes around, you’ll definitely be yearning for a king cake from your favorite bakery. And you’ll probably shell out the money to get one shipped to you. And then you’ll have to explain to your coworkers the history of this amazing desert. And you may have to refrain from screaming when they say it’s just a cinnamon roll with colored icing.
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Louisianans love a festival, and we will find just about any reason to have one. Just about every weekend you can find a festival happening somewhere in Louisiana. While other states, in fairness, do have festivals, none have as many as we do.
Most places in Louisiana have at least one place you can grab a bite or a drink in the late hours. You can quickly forget how the norm in one place is completely foreign in another.
Not just Zydeco and Jazz, but also street performers and second lines. There’s something about experiencing live music in Louisiana that just doesn't compare anywhere else.
You’ll almost be able to smell the crab boil from all of your friend’s Facebook posts and it’ll make you question why you left in the first place.
Not specific to Louisiana, but certainly a staple of the South. Going to a restaurant and asking for an iced tea and hearing "sweet or un?" is like music to your ears if you’ve lived outside of the South for any period of time. And no, I can’t just make sweet tea at the table. It’s a process!
No matter how far away you’ve moved, Louisiana will always be home. What do you miss about Louisiana? Tell us in the comments below!
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