9 Surefire Ways To Spot Someone Who Just Moved To Detroit
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Sophie Boudreau
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We Detroiters are a welcoming bunch. One of our city’s main points of pride is its diversity, which only adds to the unique and beautiful atmosphere that permeates Detroit. Despite our welcoming attitude, though, we’re still able to spot newcomers from a mile away. For better or for worse, here are nine undeniable ways to spot someone who has just relocated to the Motor City.
Every longtime Detroiter knows that "South Detroit," as referenced in the hit song "Don’t Stop Believing," isn’t an actual place. Newcomers to the city, though, might not yet understand that they’ve been conned while listening to Journey. If someone asks you for directions to South Detroit, they must be new in town.
There’s one rule to follow when it comes to preparing yourself properly for weather in the Motor City: dress in layers! Our weather is fairly unpredictable, and we’ve been known to experience balmy temperatures one day and snowstorms the next. Anyone in Detroit who seems woefully underdressed for a sudden arctic blast is likely a newcomer.
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Oh, new Detroiters. We know you haven’t grown up with coney dogs, but please don’t embarrass yourself by covering your delicious dog with ketchup. There’s something almost sacrilegious about dousing these classic Detroit treats in bright red tomato sauce - and only a new Detroiter would dare to try it.
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Longtime Detroiters love the Lions, but that doesn’t mean we have a whole lot of faith in their ability to win games. After all, we’ve been disappointed time and time again by our boys in blue. A new Detroiter, though, might have a look of pure optimism as football season rolls around. What a terrible wakeup call they’re in for.
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There’s nothing more frustrating than meeting someone who claims to be from Detroit, only to realize that they’re actually from Farmington Hills or West Bloomfield. In the eyes of a longtime Detroiter, the suburbs aren’t included as part of the "true" Motor City, but a newcomer might not yet understand the distinction.
"But you can’t REALLY see Canada from here, right?" If you’ve heard this uttered by a Detroit resident, they’re certainly new in town! Our city is fantastically close to our Canadian neighbors in Windsor, Ontario. Yes, we can see Canada from many of our downtown office or apartment buildings - and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
The quickest way to give away your status as a newcomer to the Motor City is to order "soda" instead of "pop" during an evening out with friends. We Detroiters are pretty strict about our word choice when it comes to these fantastic fizzy beverages, and we’ll never call it anything other than "pop."
Learning how to play euchre is a rite of passage in Detroit and the surrounding areas, but new residents might not have encountered this card game prior to relocating. If you’re at a gathering and you spot someone who clearly has no idea what euchre is, they might just be a brand new Detroiter.
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Anyone who speaks ill of Detroit has clearly allowed themselves to be manipulated by negative media, stereotypes, and all sorts of bad press about the Motor City. Sure, we’ve had plenty of struggles throughout the years and we are far from perfect, but we’re also a city on the mend. Longtime Detroiters are proud of where they’re from, and they’re eager to play a role in helping our city grow.
Tell us, fellow Detroiters: do you have any easy tips and tricks for spotting someone who has just moved to the Motor City? We would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section below!
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