19 Things People From Nebraska Always Have To Explain To Out Of Towners
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Delana Lefevers
Author
When you’ve got non-Nebraskans coming to visit, you’re bound to run into the some of the same questions over and over. We think we’re pretty easy to understand, but it seems that not everyone feels the same. These are some of the most common things you’ll probably end up having to explain to those not fortunate enough to be Nebraskan.
They're not trying to mug you or convert you or sell you a used car. We just really like chatting with people, even if we don't know them.
That's a friendly thing we do, and you can consider it a compliment if you get more than the perfunctory single finger.
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When you live in the country, you need it to get literally anywhere. When you live in a small town you'll probably need one to get to the grocery store a town or two over. And if you live in the city, you can forget about public transportation.
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If you do, pack snacks and water because you'll be moving at about .5 MPH forEVER.
We know there's a good reason for it. That doesn't make it any less annoying.
You'll occasionally have to stop to let some wild turkeys, a family of deer, or maybe even an escaped cow or two cross the road.
Some of the most heartwarming tales to come out of Nebraska have something to do with neighbors caring for each other. Like when a farmer gets sick and can't harvest his own fields, so his neighbors step in and take care of it - and they wouldn't think of taking anything in payment for their services. I'm getting a little misty-eyed just thinking about it.
Apples, too.
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If it's not the blowing snow and paralyzing low temperatures, it's the blinding heat and stifling humidity. Or the wind. Always the wind.
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Don't let anyone tell you they did. That baby is 100% a Nebraska creation.
I mean, we have other lakes to swim in, but Lake Mac is THE beach.
I've seen pickup trucks piled so high with possessions that I'm positive it was illegal...but that's how we do moving here. Unless you're going out of state, you find a couple of friends, load up the pickup, and then reward yourselves with cold beer and hot pizza.
Fairbury hot dogs are heaven on a bun, even if they aren't actually made in Fairbury anymore. And that red beer may look a little odd, but it's a delicious Nebraska specialty.
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I know I've pulled over plenty of times to watch a colorful sunset, and I'm not the only one.
The eastern and western parts of Nebraska may as well be different states, and if you live on the extreme end of either side, you have to make that trek at least once to see - literally - how the other half lives.
Hey, if I'm showing livestock I've got to be there. Sorry, boss, but I'm using that vacation day.
Temperature Tuesdays are a thing of beauty in January and February. Whatever the temperature is at 6 am, that's how much a Runza will cost you all day (when you buy a drink and fries, but still).
I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here, but it seems like we still have to remind people all the time - Nebraska is not nearly as flat as everyone thinks it is.
I could actually go on and on – we’ve got a lot of cute little foibles and customs that out-of-towners find a little baffling. But they’re ultimately endearing, of course. What other things do you find yourself explaining to people who aren’t from here? Tell us about it in the comments!
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