We asked 50 people, one from each state in the U.S., to educate us on how best to fit in with the locals back home.
A working knowledge of good barbecue?
Perhaps an emphasis on proper manners in the south?
Watch and learn the best ways to blend in wherever you are in the country on this episode of Culturally Speaking.
- The best thing to doto fit in with the localsis say, "Yes ma'am, noma'am, yes sir, no sir,"no matter how old the person is.It'll save you from a lotof confusion and disrespect.[upbeat music]- Get over your healthy eatingand just dive into the fried stuff.- Invite someone to go get a Jucy Lucywhich is a hamburger filled with cheeserather than topped with cheese.- You should go to the IndianaState Fair on $2 Tuesdaysso you can eat everything.- It's best to be drinking iced teaand to be eating southern food.- Know a lot about barbecue.- Have some key lime pie.- Drink lots of kombucha.- Someone visiting the stateto fit in with the localslike just shouldn't actso surprised all the timeand like shouldn't throw trash everywhere.- Be cool.
Be chill.- Don't stare at people too long.- Don't be too cool orpretentious, you know?Just be a normal dude or gal.- [Both] Be yourself.- Never look like you're lost.You can actually, like, app the map.The craziest thing iswhen you see a personlooking at the map likethey're intelligent.If a person wanted to robyou, they know you're lost.You're looking at the map.- Little pro tip to fit in with the localsis to not wear a cowboyhat or cowboy bootsunless they are custom made cowboy boots.- Wear flannel for sure.- And Wrangler jeans.- Just don't wear any touristy stuff.- You would wear a t-shirt witha Iowa Hawkeyes logo on it.- Oh, wear camo.- Wear Carhartt.- Get a tattoo.- Put on a pair of bib overalls.- Look nice but not too nice.Don't appear too urban elite.- I suggest taking atrip to Brooks Brothers.- You must wear a VinyardVines shirt and you willautomatically be a personfrom Connecticut to fit in.- Don't use an umbrella if it's rainingand get some fish scales,put a little on your pants andnot notice that it's there.- Talk to everybody that you meet.- Say, "Hey, y'all."- Be open to meet new people.- That includes, you know,the cashier at Walmart.That includes the personat the gas station.- Go into any dive bar,sit next to any groupof old looking veterans andask them how their day was.- When you pass some people on the streetyou should say, "Hi," and thenimmediate ask, "How are you?"You don't actually wanna know how they arebut it's just the run ofhow you greet people in South Carolina.- If you can work in some faith talkthat'll really get you right in.- Hang out in Jersey City or Newarkto get the real feel of North Jersey.- If you go to a regular joe bar,you need to order a MillerLite or a Coors Litejust from the can.- Don't go to the Cheers barbecause that's not the real one.- Don't try to fake likeyou are from Hawaii.Just be there.Be there and have an open spirit.You're not gonna dupe any localsinto thinking you're local.We got a keen nose for it.We can [sniffing]We can smell them.- If you're visiting Nevada,you should probably do more nature.Common misconception hereis to stay on the strip.- Go hiking or surfing.- Snowboard, skiing, go on the lake.- Go to the park to go hikeor to Culver's to get cheese curds.- They'll probably hit the local spots,the bars, the downtown scene.- Go on trips to Walmart tojust walk around the isles.- Go to the little coffee shops.- Get a cup of coffee,sit down and drink that cup of coffee.- Complain about how cold it is.We do that a lot.- No matter like what year it is,you should drive like a Subaru around.That'll, like, get you in.- Don't be on time.It seems like everyone says five o'clock,they show up at 5:30.- Fish.Go to Waffle House.Go to church.If you aren't anywherenear a church on Sunday,you're a heathen.Those would be the way tofit in with the locals.Church for sure.[laughing]
