1. You’ll See A Lot Less Scarlet And Gray
Nearly the entire state of Ohio goes crazy for the Buckeyes, often opting to wear their gear to any event, whether it’s a night out with their friends or a formal occasion. While there are still Buckeye fans scattered around the country, most people outside of Ohio will never fully understand the craze.
2. Get Used To Explaining Which Big C You’re Closest To
When it comes to Ohio, most out-of-towners know very little. However, one thing that they’ll know is that there are three big cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. It might be annoying at first, but you’ll quickly start adding a “it’s about 45 minutes from Cleveland” clause to the end of your hometown without fail.
3. Don’t Expect A Response When You Yell “O-H!”
Across the Buckeye State, one chant reigns supreme: “O-H…I-O.” However, if you expect this cheer to cross state lines…you’re gonna have a bad time.
4. When People Think Chocolate And Peanut Butter, They Think Of Reese’s
… And how sad for them. Most Americans have never tried, or even heard of, Buckeyes.
5. Everyone Isn’t As Crazy For College Football As You Are
Unless you’re leaving Ohio for the South, college game days will probably be a letdown. While cities across Ohio seemingly shutdown while the Buckeyes are on the gridiron, other states don’t care nearly as much about this sport. They pretty much opt to watch the pros on Sunday.
6. And You’ll Probably Run Into Some Michigan Fans
If there’s one thing Ohioans hate as a whole, it’s the Michigan Wolverines. Unfortunately, the Wolverines have one of the largest, most widespread fan bases in the country. Try not to feel too insulted when you see someone rocking their blue and gold.
7. Some People Actually LIKE The Steelers Out There
Much like the Wolverines, Steelers fans stretch far and wide. It might be hard, but if you’re outside of Ohio, try to hold back on the hate a bit when you see a “terrible towel.”
8. Yuengling Isn’t Sold Nationwide (But Should Be)
While this beer is a regional favorite, most of the country will have no clue what it is, especially out West. If you want to make a few quick friends, bring a case back to your new home every time you visit the Buckeye State.
9. A “Polish Boy” Will Scare Most People Away
The thought of eating a kielbasa that’s topped with fries, coleslaw, and tons of barbecue sauce will sound a little off putting to people in your new home. However, if you can get them to try it, it’s a sure bet they’ll be back for more.
10. People Love Bashing Ohio
For some strange reason, Ohio tends to frequently be the butt of jokes around the country. It might be a little off-putting at first when people from your new home make fun of your old one so much, but know that they’re probably just kidding around (or they have NO idea what they’re talking about).
11. You’ll Love It Every Time You See A Wendy’s Or BDubs
Two famous nationwide restaurants out of the Columbus area, every time a travelling Ohioan sees a Wendy’s or Bdubs, their heart gets filled with state pride.
12. Not Everyone Celebrates Opening Day Like You Do
Opening day is a huge deal in Ohio. Parades flood over the streets, “sick days” are taken, and plenty of beer is sucked down.
Around the rest of the country, people don’t take their sports quite as seriously, often causing many Ohioans to be let down by the start of baseball season if they’re not back in the Buckeye State.
13. Good Rollercoasters Are Hard To Find
Ohioans are spoiled by having two of the best roller coaster destinations in the world right in their back yard. Trips to Cedar Point and Kings Island will definitely be missed.
14. Everyone Will Be Confused By Your Relationship With LeBron
It’s a little hard for the rest of the country to understand how a group of fans can go from adoring an athlete to burning his jersey when he left to welcoming him back with open arms a few years later. This love-hate relationship with LeBron is something non-Ohioans will never really understand…but then again, most of them don’t really care.
15. Chili Will Be Significantly More Boring Out There
Most of the country finds it extremely strange that Cincinnati chili is placed on top of a bed of noodles. To most people, those two foods simply aren’t supposed to go together.
However, after picking up a can of Skyline from the grocery and doing your best to recreate their famous dish for your new friends, they’ll wonder why they haven’t done this before.
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16. Don’t Expect Cinnamon In Your Chili Either
Cincinnati is known for their chili mostly because of how unique their local take on the dish tastes.
While most chili around the country has a similar taste and feel, special ingredients like chocolate and cinnamon make Ohio stand out among the rest. Don’t expect to find these flavors elsewhere.
17. People Will Always Ask Why You’re A Cleveland Browns Fan
If you happen to be a Browns fan, be prepared to justify why. Most non-Ohioans aren’t capable of understanding how so many people can be a fan of a team so notorious for making their fans cry.
Whatever your reason is for being part of the Dawg Pound, have it ready and take comfort in the fact that at least they can’t call you a bandwagoner.
18. You’ll Still Run Into Other Browns Fans
While the Browns have had a few rough decades recently, somehow they still have the largest fan base in the nation among NFL teams.
No matter where you move to from Ohio, there’s a good chance there are a few Browns fans sneaking around in the shadows willing to watch games with you.
19. No One Really Cares About The Bengals
While the Bengals are a big deal in the Cincinnati area, most people outside of Ohio rarely talk about them, simply chalking them up to be just another mid-level team that probably won’t threaten anyone’s run at the Super Bowl.
20. Amish People Aren’t Everywhere
While some parts of Ohio can make Amish buggies seem like a fact of life on the roadways, Ohio is actually one of the only places in the country where this is the case. If you’re headed away from the Midwest, you probably won’t encounter many horses while driving.
21. Coke Doesn’t Always Mean Coca-Cola So Be Careful What You Order
While people in Ohio might call carbonated, sugary, flavored water “pop”, the rest of the country doesn’t follow suit.
Some places simply refer to any type of pop as “coke”, forcing servers to ask the odd question, “What type of coke would you like?” Who knew ordering a drink could be so difficult?
22. You’ll Get Tired Of Explaining The Difference Between Ohio University And OSU
If you went to school in Athens, expect non-Ohioans to be a little confused when you say you went to Ohio University.
While almost every other state has multiple universities utilizing the state name, people always seem to struggle at acknowledging the difference between The Ohio State University and Ohio University if they aren’t from the Buckeye State.
23. People Will Be Shocked That Miami University Isn’t In Florida
If you think it’s rough being an out-of-state Ohio University alumni, just be thankful you didn’t go to Miami University.
Even though this is the original “Miami University,” non-Ohioans will struggle wrapping their mind around the fact that’s it’s not in Florida. Expect every out-of-stater to get it wrong the first time around.
24. People Won’t Understand Why You Say Please So Much
A regional trend, people in Ohio tend to use the word “please” a lot, often in place of “excuse me.” No one else does this and they won’t understand why it keeps slipping out of your mouth.
25. No One Knows What Goetta Is
Made with pork, oats, onions, celery, and spices and deliciously perfect on anything, many Ohioans are obsessed with goetta.
Unfortunately, the rest of the country won’t understand this craving, as non-Ohioans are more likely to be confused by what’s in it rather than actually wanting to dive in for a taste.
26. Weather Predictions Can Actually Be Accurate
Weather gets a bit wacky in Ohio, but it’s not like that everywhere in the country. When Ohioans get out of the Midwest, many are shocked to find out that the daily forecast is actually pretty reliable.
No longer will packing for several different types of weather every time you leave the house be a necessity.
27. Some Places Actually Have Four Complete Seasons
While Ohio tends to operate on an “almost winter, winter, still winter, construction” seasonal schedule, other parts of the country have four complete seasons, each with their own unique temperament. It’s actually pretty nice to get equal parts of snow, rain, leaves, and sun throughout the year.
28. A Lot Of People Don’t Know Where Ohio Is
To people outside of the Midwest, Ohio is simply a flyover state.
While they might know it’s somewhere by Kentucky and Indiana, they probably won’t be 100% sure which squarish blob it is on the map. For some reason, people always confuse it with Iowa.
29. You’ll Miss Ohio Friendliness
While Ohio might get some flak for being “boring” or “too rural,” there’s no state that can compete with Ohio friendliness. This is what makes Ohio home and this is what makes it very easy to miss.
What do you miss about Ohio? Tell us in the comments below!
