13 Weird Side Effects Everyone Experiences From Growing Up In Ohio
By April Dray|Updated on July 06, 2020(Originally published June 21, 2020)
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April Dray
Author
April is the Ohio staff writer for Only in Your State. She is an Ohio native with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. With more than 10 years of writing experience and a background in news reporting for Ohio newspapers, she's published pieces in multiple print and online publications. When she's not on deadline or chasing after her toddler, she's hunting for hidden gems in Ohio or getting lost in a good book.
Growing up in Ohio inevitably produces some strange side effects that not everyone’s going to understand — unless you grew up here too, of course. How do out-of-state visitors think YOU have an accent? What does it matter if you don’t know how many miles you live from Columbus if you just know how long it takes to get there? Do people actually stay home if it snows? The following are 13 weird side effects, thoughts and questions everyone experiences at one point or another from growing up in Ohio. See how many you can relate to:
1. You stopped believing in the "four seasons" sham a long time ago.
Four designated seasons are a whimsical, "Alice in Wonderland" type of concept we’d like to think we know about. In reality, we know that any one of them can occur at any given moment because Mother Nature knows no boundaries in Ohio. Snow can come in any month, and even wintertime thunderstorms aren't unheard of in The Buckeye State.
2. You know the reality of the Ohio State/Michigan rivalry that can tear family and friends apart and it’s perfectly acceptable.
In fact, you've likely lost a fickle friend or two... but that's alright. You're a Buckeye and you're proud, and you truly don't need that kind of Michigan-loving negativity in your life.
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3. While driving (anywhere in the world really) your eyes scan surrounding woods and the road ahead for deer.
Highways are no exceptions. These critters are abundant even in well-populated places. The deer population is somewhere between 600,000 and 700,000 four-legged Ohio residents, so expect to see a few during your travels.
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4. You give directions based on a location’s proximity to a major city and you give them in time increments, not miles.
"It’s an hour outside of Cincinnati" will be the sort of answers you get from us and you really can’t expect anything else. We can try to guess on physical distance, but we're admittedly not used to doing that.
5. You'll forever use the term "pop" instead of "soda."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE MEAN SO STOP ACTING LIKE WE’RE ALIENS. Legend actually asserts that pop gets its nickname from the sound the fizzy beverage makes when you open it, so it's kind of an onomatopoeia.
6. You are 100 percent convinced that you don’t have an accent.
Because you don't, of course. (However, if you live near Lake Erie... you might want to Google something called the Northern Cities Vowel Shift. You might have just a teensy weensy accent.)
It’s "Meijer’s," "Kroger’s," and "JC Penney’s" here and we don’t care if that’s wrong because it just feels right to us. For some, this fact also bleeds into restaurant names... anyone up for "Chipotle's?"
8. You've given up the fight and frustration that comes with constant street construction.
What's the use? It will just be there again tomorrow with an additional orange barrel or two. Nothing left to do but go with the flow and roll with the punches. If all goes well, the sweet, welcome arrival of winter will bring a sudden stop to all the construction.
Because if you let that stop you, you wouldn't leave your house from circa November to late-April. Snow is a fact of life in The Buckeye State, and anyone growing up in Ohio will learn this as a fact of life.
Thanks to places like the Roller Coaster Capital of the World, aka Cedar Point Amusement Park, Ohio is actually a fantastic vacation destination. It's even kinder to locals, as we have constant access to fine and fun attractions.
12. And you know how to have a real adventure.
April Dray/Only In Your State
Thanks to places like Old Man's Cave and our amazing state park selection, Ohioans come with a healthy sense of adventure. No case of the blues can't be cured by a good hike.
Because, honestly, what's not to love? Ohio is a magnificent place to call home, thanks to its features and its people. Home is where the heart is, and if there's one thing Ohio has, it's heart.
Can you relate to these? What side effects do you experience from growing up in Ohio? Let us know!
Can’t get enough of life in Ohio… except for those snowy days where you can’t help but complain that you’ve “had enough”? You’ll relate to these common complaints about life in Ohio.
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Growing Up In Ohio
Nikki Rhoades|July 05, 2020
Is Ohio a great place to live?
Are you kidding me? Ohio is a fantastic place to live! There is so much to see and do here, from the rolling hills of Amish Country to the colorful streets of our big cities. Whether you're hiking through the only national park in Ohio or exploring our cultural foodie scene and indulging in pierogies, you'll feel right at home in The Buckeye State.
What unique words and phrases do people in Ohio say?
We're a talkative bunch in Ohio! Don't be surprised if you hear unique words and phrases like "warsh," "tennis shoes," or "scooch over."
Do Ohioans have any strange habits?
We sure do! Strange habits in Ohio include traditions like celebrating the annual OSU vs. Michigan game like a holiday and breaking out cornhole for any family gathering.
