1. No One Knows What A Yooper Is
If you grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, there’s no doubt you’re filled with Yooper pride. Unfortunately, this term doesn’t travel much. You’ll have to explain what a Yooper is to everyone you meet.
2. People Assume All Of Michigan Is The Same
While Michigan might as well be two different states, no one outside of Michigan realizes this. They’ll group both areas together all the time. It can get pretty annoying.
3. Don’t Forget About This Thing Called Traffic
After spending your entire life driving mostly in the UP, you probably don’t have much tolerance for overcrowding on the roads. When you consider anything more than a 5 minute delay to be heavy traffic, you’ll be shocked to see what most Americans put up with daily.
4. Get Used To Pointing To Your Hand
Every Michigander knows that the easiest way to tell someone where you’re from is by pointing to a spot on your hand. At least it gives new people you meet likely to have zero knowledge about Michigan’s geography an idea of where you’re from.
5. People Will Be Shocked That You’re A Cheesehead
While most Americans would expect all Michiganders to be cheering on the Lions, the Packers are actually the more popular team in Yooperland. It’s probably because their sweet yellow hats help keep people’s heads warm.
6. Expect A Few Detroit Jokes
When people discover you’re from Michigan, you’ll probably hear at least one worn-out Detroit joke. Really though, the jokes on them…Detroit is basically a world away from the UP.
7. “That’s Basically Canada, Right?”
Because the UP is far north and cold, it tends to get lumped in with Canada by outsiders. They’ll make sure to point it out every time you do something that they think a Canadian might do, too.
8. You’ll Have To Make Your Own Pasties
Flaky and full of meat, the pasty is one dish that Yoopers do better than anyone else in the world. If you’re looking for a quality pasty far from home, you’ll probably have to make it yourself.
9. You New Home Might Not Be So Gun Friendly
Thanks to a huge hunting culture in the Upper Peninsula, there are tons of people that prefer to stay locked and loaded. If you’re headed to a new place, make sure you’re up to date on all the local gun laws before you strap up for a quick trip into town.
10. Driving In Flurries Will Get Pretty Frustrating
Even though Yoopers have no problem getting on with their normal lives come the first snow of the season, most Americans don’t share this skill. If you’re moving somewhere that isn’t used to much snowfall, expect panic the second a few flurries start to fall from the sky.
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11. Your Yooper Scooper Won’t Be A Necessity
While the Yooper Scooper was basically created for the special purpose of handling all the powder in the UP, most people down South stick to normal shovels. If you’re looking to save room while packing, the Yooper Scooper probably don’t be essential to life in your new hometown.
12. You Can Stop Fearing Mosquitoes
At times, it can seem as if the mosquitoes might as well be the state bird in the Upper Peninsula. Fortunately, most places around the country don’t have the same bug problem. Mosquitoes aren’t typically quite as huge and vicious elsewhere.
13. You’ll Start To Consider The Trolls Your Allies
While Yoopers might try to distance themselves from the Lower Peninsula trolls while at home, once you leave you’ll be happy to meet anyone from the Great Lake State. They might use a different hand to tell you where they’re from, but they’ll still share your love for Michigan.
14. Most People Are Afraid Of A Little Ice
Don’t expect to find too many people to play hockey with when you leave. This sport isn’t nearly as popular elsewhere in the country, especially the backyard pond pickup-game variant.
15. Pannukakku Has Ruined You For All Other Pancakes
Rich and custardy, no other pancake you encounter during your travels will even hold a light to this Yooper favorite.
16. Get Your Game Meats Before You Say Goodbye
Most Americans aren’t quite so crazy about eating animals like deer and elk. If you’re a big fan of game meats, you’ll probably have to either pack some along for the ride or get it shipped out to your new home.
17. You’ll Have A Hard Time Finding Someone To Play Cards With
Home to unique card games like cribbage and euchre, hardly anyone you meet outside of the UP will know how to play these games. Unless you want to spend a long time explaining, you might have to wait awhile until you can get your card game fix.
18. Good Beer WILL Be Hard To Find
In a state that’s home to so many awesome craft breweries, delicious beer is never far in Michigan. Unfortunately, this craft beer movement has yet to catch on everywhere else in the country. You might have to drink boring beer from the big macrobreweries for a while.
19. Your Snowmobile Might Get Rusty
A common means of transportation in the UP, most Americans have never even seen a snowmobile. Unless you’re moving to a select few snowy places around the country, this is another toy you might consider leaving behind.
20. Animal Skin Hats Are No Longer Acceptable Public Wear
While that coonskin hat might keep your dome warm, it’s one fashion statement that the rest of the country won’t be so fond of. Best case scenario, a bunch of people laugh at you. Worst case scenario, an animal-rights protester pours fake blood on your head.
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21. You’ll Realize How Much You Say “Eh”
You might not think that being so close to Canada affects you, but it does. You’ll quickly realize this as new friends keep laughing at you every time an “eh?” slips out at the end of your sentence.
22. There Are These Things Called Neighbors
Long gone are the days of living several miles away from anyone else. You’ll probably be stuck living in a neighborhood if you move…or even worse, an apartment building!
23. It’s Assumed You Know Everyone In The UP
There’s a slim chance that someone you meet will know someone else from the UP. When this happens, the first question out of their mouth will be “Do you know [insert random Yooper here]?”
Embarrassingly, the answer is yes more often than it should be. Just chalk it down to the perks of living a small town lifestyle.
24. You’ll Be Tougher Than Almost Everyone You Meet
Life in the UP isn’t as soft and cushy as life in the rest of the country. Crazy winters and isolation toughen up the residents here fast. To new friends, you’ll basically be Bear Grylls.
25. Everyone Will Say You’ve Got An Accent
You might not think you talk differently, but other people will find it easy to tell that you’re from the UP. Be happy though, it’s just one more constant reminder you come from such a special place.
26. No One Will Know What A Thimbleberry Is
Commonly found in jams all across the UP, the thimbleberry is one fruit that most people you meet probably haven’t even heard of. Grow some in your backyard for them to try. They’ll thank you in the end.
27. No Syrup Will Compare
Once you’ve had fresh sugar bush syrup, your sweet tooth will refuse to settle for less. At least this is something that will be pretty easy to ship to a new location.
28. Quit Making “Party Store” Runs
No one else calls the liquor store the “party store.” If you say “party store” outside of the UP, you’ll probably get taken to a costume shop.
If you want booze, just ask a local where you can buy some beer at and they’ll let you know what these great places are called where they’re from.
29. Nowhere Will Be Quite As Beautiful
People might knock the UP for getting so much snow and having so few residents, but one major perk of calling this place home is the scenery. Once you’ve spent a summer basking in the UP sun lakeside, no other place will be quite so grand.
30. You Miss The UP More Than You Thought You Would
With deliciously hearty food, landscapes that can take your breath away, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, the Upper Peninsula can’t be beat.
You’ll definitely long to come back for a visit after saying goodbye and luckily you’ll always be welcomed back with open arms. Once you become a Yooper, you’re a Yooper for life.
What do you miss about Upper Peninsula? Tell us in the comments below!
