Charlotte Journal: the South 06/10/2013

Charlotte Journal 06/10/2013

It is early summer. It is hot enough to get sweaty when you walk outside. There are many squirrels in the trees in the US, and I see more of them these days. They play in a group cheerfully chasing each other. For the first time, I saw a baby squirrel coming out of the trees for the nice weather. I wanted to share a photo of those squirrels, but they are very cautious and move quickly. It is hard to take their photos. Instead, I send you a photo of Chimney Rock State Park I went the other day.  It felt very good to go out hiking in early summer.

Today, I would like to talk about the State of North Carolina where I live. For Japanese, it is not easy to tell from the name “North Carolina” where it is located.  It is in the southeast of the US and bordering the Atlantic Ocean. North Carolina is geographically grouped in the South. Historically, the economy developed based on the plantation style of agriculture, and it was a part of the southern Confederation during the American Civil War. I am told that there is a Southern accent in the language. As I am not very proficient in English, I do not know how it is different from the other accents. I talk to the researchers from all over the world every day. I notice their French accent and Chinese accent more than the Southern accent.  

The Americans say that the South has a unique distinct culture. When you order iced tea in a restaurant in the South, you are likely to be asked, “sweet or unsweet?” – that is one of the Southern features. The Southerners like sweet foods and beverages, and they like the sweet tea with a lot of sugar in it. So, we get this question when we order one. I tried that sweet tea once, and experienced the sweetness that I had never had in Japan. I heard sweet foods are the special treats in the hot areas like Africa because people need more calories to live in the heat. I thought it might be true in the South.  By the way, when you order a coffee at Starbucks, you will be asked if you want to add any sugar, any flavor or any milk. If you say you would like to add some milk, they will keep a little room in a cup for milk. The Americans customize their coffee a lot. I have not ordered anything outside the menu or customized my order, as I had a bitter experience of getting a cold cappuccino on a cold winter day although I ordered a hot café latte. This photo is my favorite Mocha Cookie Frappuccino. This is one of those I had never had in Japan. I am already poisoned a bit with the sugar culture in the South.

The people in the US are generally friendly, and I think it is especially notable in the South. When I am walking, it is quite common that I get greeted by a passer-by. If a supermarket of a coffee shop is not crowded, customers often chat with a cashier over the counter.  I went to some big cities like NY or Boston for work and for holiday. I frowned at the store clerks busy talking to each other and neglecting the customers, but I do not remember seeing them having a chat with the customers. I was surprised at the sight. This friendly attitude of the people is a distinctive feature of the South. When I first came here, I was puzzled when some small talk started out of nowhere. But once I got used to it, I came to think that it is a good custom.  When you are with someone in the elevator, you make small talk. A sales clerk puts her work aside and tells you proudly about her daughter. When you buy doughnuts at Dunkin Donuts and have the box, people will naturally ask you if you like doughnuts, if there is a doughnut shop in Japan, or tell you that Krispy Kreme is better. It may be the Southern camaraderie you cannot have in the metropolis. The Americans focus on the use of language and words as a vital tool to communicate with and understand each other. I think the Southerners focus more on the importance of verbal communication. I want to find out where this cultural characteristic comes from. I will share this with you when I find out.

Even in the US, there are regional differences which I have not been aware of. I want to learn and get better understanding about the American culture little by little.