Although I’ve lived in the D.C. area for exactly a month now, I still don’t know where I am. Am I in the North? Or am I still in the South?
Well after a month’s worth of observations, I’ve concluded that I’m still in a Southern city where most people prefer Coke over Pepsi and politely open doors for you. (That being said, most drivers will rudely honk, yell and cut you off on the streets of D.C. If you think you’re a skilled driver because you drove through the heart of Atlanta, you’ll be eaten alive in D.C.)
Even though I am the only intern at USA Today who goes to the University of Georgia, I don’t feel like an outsider. Yes, there are Chick-fil-A restaurants here, and yes, people love that delicious chicken sandwich just as much. And if that doesn’t convince you that D.C. has a strong Southern flair, then just look at how much Southern food you can find in the city.
At a restaurant called Georgia Brown’s located in the heart of D.C. you can find Southern Fried Chicken and Carolina Shrimp & Grits. At Southern Hospitality you can get classic Mac & Cheese and sweet potato fries.
As far as country music goes, I haven’t heard much. Well, unless you count the man in traffic who was blasting Luke Bryan in his car with the windows down. However, American Idol winner and Georgia native Phillip Phillips is scheduled to perform in D.C. for the Fourth of July celebration at the National Mall. Country music star Josh Turner will also be part of the show on Wednesday. So I would say the South is well represented in the nation’s capitol.
But if you still think that D.C. is the North, don’t pack your winter coats just yet. It was 104 degrees on Friday.
