{"id":42586,"date":"2015-07-21T15:51:39","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T22:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/?p=42586"},"modified":"2015-07-21T15:51:39","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T22:51:39","slug":"22-things-no-one-tells-you-about-leaving-mississippi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/22-things-no-one-tells-you-about-leaving-mississippi\/","title":{"rendered":"22 Things No One Tells You About Leaving Mississippi"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. You\u2019ll Have To Deal With Some Negative Stereotypes<\/h2>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User jasepielli<\/div>\n

The second you tell someone you\u2019re from Mississippi<\/a>, they\u2019ll immediately assume that you\u2019re a gun-toting, shoeless, redneck that lives in a tiny shack somewhere in the middle of nowhere. While Mississippi definitely has its fair share of rural communities, the stereotypes that come along with them couldn\u2019t be more inaccurate.<\/p>\n

2. Comeback Sauce Isn\u2019t A Typical Condiment<\/h2>\n

\"Deep<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User jeffreyw<\/div>\n

A mixture of mayonnaise, chili sauce, and usually a secret special ingredient, this Mississippi condiment has the magical power to instantly make anything taste better. Unfortunately, if you leave this region, you\u2019ll be stuck making your own to bring with you when you\u2019re headed out to eat.<\/p>\n

3. It\u2019s Called The Bible Belt For A Reason<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Misserion<\/div>\n

Mississippi is literally the most religious state in the country. Nearly 60 percent of their residents consider themselves to be \u201cvery religious.\u201d Compared to Vermont’s<\/a> 22 percent and the median of Minnesota’s<\/a> 40 percent, it doesn\u2019t take a statistical genius to realize that the Magnolia State loves their churches.
\nThe further away from Mississippi you get, the less religious people tend to be. If you consider religion to be an important part of your life, make sure you consider this before leaving.<\/p>\n

4. No One Else Will Know What A Slugburger Is<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Southern Foodways Alliance<\/div>\n

Deep-fried burgers with soybean grits or flour and egg added into the mix, expect people outside of the Mississippi region to find this dish a little off-putting. Bring the doubters home to the Cornith Slugburger Festival and you\u2019ll change their tune in no time.<\/p>\n

5. People Will Question Your Casual Approach Towards Gators<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User CGAphoto<\/div>\n

With some experts putting the number of gators in Mississippi close to 40,000, it\u2019s no surprise that many of the locals have had an encounter with one of these creatures. Whether a Mississippian has seen one in the wild or not, they\u2019ll know how to keep their cool when one pops up, something that will send outsiders high-tailing it for their car.<\/p>\n

6. Everyone Will Expect You To Bring Mississippi Mud Pie To Get-Togethers<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User cyclonebill<\/div>\n

Mississippi is in the name! That means everyone from the state has to be obsessed with it, right?! While this isn\u2019t exactly the case, it is one of the Magnolia State\u2019s namesake dishes and it\u2019s well travelled, meaning out-of-towners will kind of be expecting a family recipe.<\/p>\n

7. Your Comfort Food Will Be The Way To New Neighbors Hearts<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User jeffreyw<\/div>\n

While you might not be able to whip up some Mississippi Mud Pie for your friends, we all know you\u2019ve got the perfect set of generationally tested family recipes that are sure to appease hungry people you meet. Start off with some good ole\u2019 fashioned biscuits and gravy\u2014they\u2019ll love you for it.<\/p>\n

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8. Expect People To Point Out Your Accent\u2014A Lot<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User bark<\/div>\n

While you might not think you have an accent, you do. But don\u2019t be mad when people point it out constantly, it\u2019s just one little reminder of the awesome place you\u2019re from.<\/p>\n

9. They\u2019ll Also Ask What \u201cFixin\u201d Means<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User jasonlam<\/div>\n

In Mississippi, the term \u201cfixin\u2019\u201d gets thrown around quite a bit, whether someone\u2019s talking about \u201call the fixin\u2019s\u201d or \u201cfixin\u2019 to\u201d do something. This term doesn\u2019t really travel much outside the South, so be prepared to explain it every time you use it.<\/p>\n

10. You Might Have To Make A Road Trip For Some Fried Catfish<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User ViNull<\/div>\n

Living near the Mississippi River, the residents of the Magnolia State get spoiled when it comes to catfish. Typically battered in a special rub and deep-fried, no fried fish you get anywhere else will even come close.<\/p>\n

11. No One Will Top Your Crawfish Eating Abilities<\/h2>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Derek Bridges<\/div>\n

Mississippians love chowing down on these little red critters, so much that they\u2019ll even host festivals for crawfish, never complete without a crawfish eating contest. Expect some strange looks if you bring up how delicious their brain juice is to outsiders.<\/p>\n

12. Everywhere Isn\u2019t Quite So Humid<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User quinn.anya<\/div>\n

After growing up in Mississippi, you\u2019ve pretty much trained yourself for the summers anywhere else in the country. You might find a few desert states that get up to a hotter temperature, but nowhere else will have the same stifling humidity you find in Mississippi.<\/p>\n

13. No One Has A Clue What The \u201cGolden Egg\u201d Is<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User lordsutch<\/div>\n

The trophy that goes to the winner of the annual rivalry game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the entire fan base on the victorious side gets bragging rights throughout the Magnolia State for an entire year.
\nOf course, if someone isn\u2019t a fan of the Rebels or the Bulldogs, they\u2019ll have no clue what the significance of this trophy is and they probably won\u2019t even care.<\/p>\n

14. \u201cHotty Toddy\u201d Doesn\u2019t Travel Far<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Brian Lane Winfield Moore<\/div>\n

If someone isn\u2019t cheering for Ole Miss, they\u2019ll definitely be confused by the phrase \u201chotty toddy.\u201d Similar to Alabama’s<\/a> \u201croll tide\u201d, this phrase really have a specific meaning, typically used as a way of addressing other Rebels fans. If you leave this state, don\u2019t expect to hear many \u201chotty toddys\u201d until you return.<\/p>\n

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15. No One Will Believe You Have Beaches<\/h2>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Editor B<\/div>\n

Just as beautiful as the beaches in other states on the Gulf, Mississippi tends to get overlooked because it\u2019s not as touristy as Florida<\/a> or Louisiana<\/a>. That\u2019s alright though, it just keeps the spring breakers away.<\/p>\n

16. At Least No One Will Ask You How To Spell Your State<\/h2>\n

\"Welcome<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User edgrawes<\/div>\n

\u201cM-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I!\u201d It\u2019s something that\u2019s taught in basically every public school around the country. Most Americans might not know anything else about the great state of Mississippi, but they\u2019ll probably be able to spell the name as fast as any local.<\/p>\n

17. Learn To Drive In The Snow ASAP<\/h2>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User William Brawley (cropped)<\/div>\n

It\u2019s not much of a secret, Mississippi doesn\u2019t get a ton of snow. People there might think it\u2019s a problem on the roads, but that\u2019s just because they haven\u2019t tried driving in the winter weather further north.
\nIf you\u2019re leaving Mississippi for somewhere colder, practice snow driving in a vacant lot before hitting the roads. When you\u2019re not the person stuck in a ditch, you\u2019ll be happy you did.<\/p>\n

18. Tea Doesn\u2019t Always Come Ice Cold And Sweet<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Kanko*<\/div>\n

While the only truly acceptable way to drink tea in Mississippi is loaded with sugar and ice with a slice of lemon, a lot of Americans prefer to sip it sugarless and hot. Make sure you specify which type you want if you\u2019re ordering it out.<\/p>\n

19. People Won\u2019t Be Quite So Friendly<\/h2>\n

\"Women<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User e3000<\/div>\n

Heck, one of the nicknames for Mississippi is \u201cthe Hospitality State.\u201d Anywhere else you go just won\u2019t have that same \u201cshirt off my back\u201d mentality that gives Mississippi the sense of community you\u2019ve grown to love.<\/p>\n

20. You Won\u2019t Have To Budget For Tons Of Bug Spray<\/h2>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Lee Cannon<\/div>\n

It doesn\u2019t take long in Mississippi to realize that the bugs are absolutely horrible, especially the mosquitos, thanks to the hot, humid climate. Once you\u2019ve survived a night outside in Mississippi, you\u2019ll be capable of tolerating the bugs basically anywhere else.<\/p>\n

21. Gas Station Food Is A Little Riskier<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User kouk<\/div>\n

Be warned, while Mississippi gas stations tend to be home to mom and pop restaurants featuring meat plus three platters and homemade pies, most of the country isn\u2019t quite so blessed. People will definitely look at your strangely if you mention how you consider gas station food a great meal\u2014outsiders will immediately assume you mean the hot dogs that have been on the roller heater for several days.<\/p>\n

22. You\u2019ll Miss Mississippi More Than You Thought You Would<\/h2>\n

\"Conversation<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User smkybear<\/div>\n

To outsiders, Mississippi might not seem like much, but that\u2019s this state\u2019s charm. Life is simple in the Magnolia State, slow moving and stress free. The food is awesome, the people are friendly, and its home to a beautiful and diverse landscape. If you\u2019re planning on leaving Mississippi soon, soak up as much of it as possible before you say goodbye.
\nLike This Post? You\u2019ll Definitely Love These:<\/b><\/p>\n