1. No One Will Really Know Where Kansas Is
To most people in the country, Kansas is just some flat, square state somewhere in the middle of America.
It can get pretty annoying to a Kansan when people they encounter elsewhere in the country don’t appreciate the Sunflower State for how awesome it really is (or if they can’t even point to it on a map).
2. It Will Get Old Explaining That Kansas City Is Mostly In Missouri
Despite popular belief across the country, the larger half of Kansas City isn’t in Kansas at all. If a Kansan is away from home, this is something they’ll have to constantly explain.
3. You’ll Have To Justify Why You Cheer For Missouri Sports Teams
After an out-of-stater discovers that Kansas City sports are actually headquartered in Missouri, they’ll probably wonder why you still cheer for Kansas City professional teams. But you’ll explain it to them. That’s just how it goes in Kansas.
4. No Barbecue Will Ever Compare
At this point, barbecue can be found in every corner of the country, but no barbecue will be as delicious as the stuff found in the Kansas City region. When a Kansan leaves the state, this is one thing they’re sure to crave the most.
5. No One Knows The Difference Between A Bison And A Buffalo
If you’re looking for buffalo in Kansas, you’re gonna have a bad time. The giant animals that roam the plains here are bison, with buffalo only found in Asia and Africa. It’s a common mistake that most Americans outside of the Sunflower State make.
6. People Will Always Ask “So What Do You Do For Fun In Kansas?”
Kansas has a reputation around the country for being… slow-paced. While it might not have a ton of people or textured terrains like some states, Kansans know how to have a good time.
But, still, expect this to be one of the first questions out of an out-of-stater’s lips.
7. Expect A Lot Of Wizard Of Oz Jokes
The second a Kansan admits where they’re from, there’s a good chance the person they’re telling will mention something about the Wizard of Oz.
Whether someone is asking if they’ve seen the movie or making a bad joke like “well, you’re not in Kansas anymore,” most Kansans have heard it all before and at this point just wish the Oz references would stop.
8. There Will Be Tons Of Questions About Tornadoes
While tornadoes are a part of life in Kansas, for most areas of the country they’re not. As a result, many Americans are fascinated with these storms and will have a seemingly endless stream of questions about what they’re really like.
9. There’s This Little Thing Called Traffic
A side effect of Kansas having one of the lowest population densities in the country is that there’s hardly any traffic. Anywhere else a Kansan drives, they’ll become instantly frustrated with the crowded roads and the bad drivers that fill them.
10. And, Despite That, Drives Will Seem Super Short
Towns aren’t exactly close to each other in Kansas, thus training every Kansan to tolerate long times spent in the car travelling from place to place.
Most other states don’t require quite as much time spent on the road, making that 30 minute drive from one town to another seem like a breeze.
11. Seeing A Pizza Hut Will Make You Homesick
Now a worldwide success, Pizza Hut got its start in Wichita. Whenever a Kansan is far from home and sees this familiar sign, it’s a sure bet their heart is filled with Kansas pride.
12. You’ll Miss All The Stars
One thing that Kansans often take for granted is the starry night sky. Coming from a place with so few city lights, the stars in Kansas seem to shine brighter than anywhere else in the country.
When a Kansas leaves the state for the first time, they’re usually shocked that there are some places in the country where you can’t even see the stars at all.
13. There’s This Thing Called The Ocean And Everyone Will Want To Take You There
It’s well-known around America that Kansas is landlocked. Most out-of-staters that a travelling Kansan talks to will assume that their new friend has never seen the beach before.
If you’re moving to a place close to the water, expect to get dragged to the coast at some point shortly after your arrival.
14. College Basketball Isn’t A Huge Deal Everywhere
While college basketball seems to be larger than life in the Sunflower State, a lot of places around the country don’t care nearly as much. It can be quite the letdown when a hardcore Jayhawks fan heads to a bar out-of-town for the big game only to realize it’s not even on TV.
So make your game day plans well ahead of time.
15. You’ll Learn The Definition Of Bandwagoners
The Kansas Jayhawks basketball program has seen plenty of success in recent years. As a result, there are plenty of Jayhawks “fans” around the nation. Of course, most of these fans have no connection to the university or the state, instead simply preferring to cheer for a winning team.
And what better team could they choose?
var googletag = googletag || {};
googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || [];
(function() {
var gads = document.createElement(‘script’);
gads.async = true;
gads.type = ‘text/javascript’;
var useSSL = ‘https:’ == document.location.protocol;
gads.src = (useSSL ? ‘https:’ : ‘http:’) +
‘//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js’;
var node = document.getElementsByTagName(‘script’)[0];
node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node);
})();
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
googletag.defineSlot(‘/1014900/M_Blog_300x250_Inline’, [300, 250], ‘div-gpt-ad-1424368364801-0’).addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest();
googletag.enableServices();
});
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1424368364801-0’); });
16. You Won’t Encounter Many K-State Fans
While the Wildcats have a fair share of loyal followers across the Sunflower State, their fans don’t seem to get out of town much. If you’re rocking the royal purple on game day outside of Kansas, there’s a good chance you’ll be alone.
17. People Might Find It Odd You’re Walking Around In Camo
While clothes with a camo pattern aren’t restricted to just hunters in Kansas, most out-of-staters might find it a bit strange if they spot someone running errands around town dressed as if they’re about to go out and shoot something.
18. No One Will Have A Truck You Can Borrow
One perk of living in Kansas is that everyone has a truck or SUV come moving day. However, in most parts of America, especially in larger cities, truck owners can be hard to come by. If you find a friend with a truck, hang onto them. You never know when they might come in handy.
19. The Whole Country Isn’t Quite So Gun Friendly
In Kansas, it can seem like everyone owns a gun of some sort. It’s not uncommon to spot them in town strapped to someone’s hip or sitting in the back of someone’s car. It’s not like this around the entire country.
Some cities have even gone so far to ban carrying firearms of any sort. If you’re a Kansas gun owner leaving the state, make sure you’re familiar with new gun laws.
20. You’ll Miss Thunderstorms
It’s hard to argue pro-storm, but sometimes the lightning in Kansas can be downright spectacular. While thunderstorms might be a little scary at times, there’s a good chance a Kansan that moves away will find themselves missing the loud clap and flash.
21. No Waterslide Will Ever Compare To The Verrückt
The tallest and fastest water slide in the world, the Verrückt can’t be beat. Before a Kansan leaves the Kansas City area, they should make sure they get their fill at Schlitterbahn.
22. Coke Doesn’t Always Mean Coca-Cola
If someone says they want a “coke” in Kansas, there’s a good chance they want a Coca-Cola. However, in some parts of the country, people use the word “coke” like Kansans use “pop,” describing any type of soda.
If a travelling Kansan asks for a “coke” in a place like Atlanta, they shouldn’t be too surprised when the follow-up question is “what type of coke would you like?”
23. Liberals, Liberals Everywhere
One of the reddest states around, most Kansans aren’t used to conversing with too many left-wingers. It can always be a little awkward when red and blue clash for the first time.
24. You Can’t Find ICEEs Everywhere
Originally invented by Omar Knedlik in Coffeyville, Kansas, the ICEE quickly became a warm weather favorite across the state. However, ICEEs can be hard to come by in some parts of America.
There’s a good chance a Kansan will start craving one if they move to part of the country where they can’t get their fix occasionally.
25. Wide Open Spaces Will Have Never Seemed So Exciting
At times, even a hardcore Kansan might wish they lived somewhere with more people, bigger cities, and less flatness. However, after leaving the Sunflower State, every Kansan will long for the calming peacefulness that only their home state can bring them at some point.
26. You’ll Miss Kansas Friendliness
If you’re leaving Kansas, be prepared. Nowhere else in the country that can compete with Kansan friendliness. A state full of kind, down-to-earth people, Kansas truly is one of a kind.
27. The Sunsets Won’t Be Quite So Amazing
Sure, there are good places to see a sunset around the country, but nothing can beat the way colors fill the sky in Kansas. Every night, Kansans witness one of the greatest shows on Earth, something every Kansan will long for when they’re far from home.
What do you miss about Kansas? Tell us in the comments below!
