Blending In

We have found that when we move to a new area, even within the United States, we feel like foreigners. The differences are abundant - the accent in our speech, our fashion, our hairstyles, our sports teams, our eating habits and even our recycling practices! We just plain don't fit in - we are definitely foreigners here in Alabama.


Here are a few stories of our struggles to make the transition and blend in...


1. When P started school two weeks ago, her new classmates wanted her to say the word pen over and over again because it sounded so funny to them. Here in Alabama, "pen" is pronounced "pin". She was able to add some comic relief to the lunchroom with her accent!


2. We noticed this one right away - girls of all ages wear bows in their ponytails! Big ones too! Coming from NJ, where girls wear their hair long and straight, with very few accessories - this was a shocker. At first our girls resisted; however, this past weekend P did an Alabama ponytail and bow on D. The bow didn't last long, but they are making the transition slowly but surely.


3. As for me, I've realized that the ladies down here wear knee length skirts ALL the time. I'm guessing it helps with dealing with the heat by allowing air circulation - but who know. The majority of ladies at church, the ballet studio, the mall, and at P's school are all wearing skirts. Well this chickabiddy loves her capri's, so I'm not sure when the transition will happen, but I bet after three years I'll be wearing knee-length skirts and feeling like a foreigner in our next assignment!


4. Here is a pic of P in her school rally shirt featuring the school mascot (football is HUGE down here). Any Penn State fans out there will recognize the Nittany Lion immediately; however, in this case it is a panther in Alabama. Guess the natives are only concerned with Auburn and Alabama football teams and don't realized there are actually Penn State fans among them! Still having trouble fitting in on the subject of football.


5. Food, glorious food! This past Sunday while attending a church potluck luncheon, I helped myself to a spoonful of fried okra. I then made sure the girls tried a bite each, in order for them to experience something new. Our fellow table mates were astounded that the girls had never eaten okra before. So for the next 10 minutes, the conversation was dedicated to okra! We definitely did a poor job of fitting in that day - everybody at church now knows our lack of experience with okra. BTW, both girls like fried okra. Be prepared to have some when you come visit us!


6. And the pièce de résistance is our local recycling center. There is no curb-side pick up. There is only this tractor trailer in a run down lot that you throw your paper, plastic and aluminum into. No glass, the whole state of Alabama does not recycle glass. Then they haul away the recycling to the local penitentiary and the inmates separate it into categories. I had a good cry the day I discovered the recycling center because it is not what I am accustom to. Definitely not blending in well on the recycling issue either. But one can only hope that things will change.