Is this true about Northern People? (Boston, Somerville: transplants, credit card, high school)

[readymade]

Hey AandD, I'm moving to Boston from Austin as well! Only, I'm from Boston (born & raised) orginally. I think it's hysterical that you mentioned that the names of things are pronounced differently than they're spelled! What about Manchaca? (pronounced "Manchak") or San Jacinto (San Yasinto) or, heck, Pflugersville! (Floogerville).

This is good-natured ribbing, fyi. I had to get used to pronouncing everything correctly here and was blown away about how nothing was pronounced as it was spelled. I still call the H.E.B. "heb," heh.

Anyway, Amy, I think most people will find your accent charming. I've certainly never thought of the south as KKK-loving or anything like that. Maybe out in the boonies... but you're going to get your un-educated, ignorant idiots out in the boonies ANYwhere you go. In Massachuetts, too. You'll probably encounter people who make fun of your accent on ocassion but these are not people who would want to associate with ANYway. Just like the idiots, there will be a$$holes anywhere you go, too. And if they didn't make fun of your accent, it would be something else.

You'll probably have to get used to the reservedness (is that a word) of the people. The south is so much friendlier than the Boston area. The natural aloofness can be taken as being unfriendly or icy or mean... but remember, it's really not (usually, anyway). Good luck!

[holden125]

Originally Posted by AandD

The town of READING (yes, as in the word from the dictionary) is pronounced REDDING for some unknown reason.

Let the reason be unknown no longer. It's because that's how the town in England of the same name is pronounced. Reading, Pennsylvania is also REDDING.

What about WOO-bin, Lemminstah, PEE-bidy, Quinzee, LESS-ta, SITCH-oo-it, Glaw-sta, and the ever-popular Wiss-tah?

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by holden125

Let the reason be unknown no longer. It's because that's how the town in England of the same name is pronounced. Reading, Pennsylvania is also REDDING.

What about WOO-bin, Lemminstah, PEE-bidy, Quinzee, LESS-ta, SITCH-oo-it, Glaw-sta, and the ever-popular Wiss-tah?

You left out Ayah, Medfid, and Conkid.

[professorsenator]

I'm sure your accent will be found amusing, perhaps curious. But people aren't going to hate you for it! And there will some who will likely find it especially charming. Unless you look, act, and sound like Elly Mae Clampett, you should have no problems.

There are plenty of students from all over here in The Hub, so it won't be a big deal. You're over-thinking it -- come to Boston and enjoy this great city. Keep in mind that many southerners think (incorrectly, of course) of the northeast as being one giant Bronx circa 1974, just too many northerners think (again, incorrectly) that the south is one giant Tupelo, Mississippi, cotton plantation circa 1844.

[AmyVanDutch]

ct4life,


I'm out of High School, yes, and sorry for spelling "guess" wrong, now that I know I have editors.

[ct4life]

Originally Posted by AmyVanDutch

ct4life,


I'm out of High School, yes, and sorry for spelling "guess" wrong, now that I know I have editors.

Please don't take it personally...it's me, really!

[Bostonian08]

Have you looked at my Boston photos Amy?

http://www.city-data.com/forum/bosto...-downtown.html
http://www.city-data.com/forum/4396172-post9.html

[AmyVanDutch]

Yup!

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by AmyVanDutch

Yup!

I think you might fit in okay, don't you?

[ogre]

Wow! Sixteen, and you're ready to strike out on your own with this kind of ambitious plan of putting yourself through school. I'm curious about which state it is where you're emancipated at sixteen. In the South, and I think you said earlier your state went for Obama, so that seems like VA or NC. I've heard that seventeen is the age for emancipation in Texas, but I never knew of a state that went younger than that. Anyway, it sounds to me as if you, young lady, should do just fine. Anyone with the gumption, to use an old Suhthuhn term, to pursue a plan like this at your age is likely to have people totally charmed and impressed. If it looks to you as if Boston is the most appealing place for college . . . come on up!

By the way, if you enjoy and are amused in a good way by the accents around here, then it seems to me as if you're all set to have your own "foreign" accent be an asset that's likely to lead to some good-natured joshing back and forth that will enhance friendships. You might notice in the samples on that website that there is not one Boston or MA accent, but instead there are a number of variants. I've got to have a friendly disagreement with MrJosh when he told you that you had it wrong with "Baahston." As I just observed, there will be variants of the basic accent, but I think that the "ah" sound in the first syllable is closer than "Bwoston" in most variants. To me, "Bwoston" sounds more like the way they pronounce "Boston" in Noo Yohwk. Anyway, I'm glad you posted that link. I'm interested in language and accents, and I'm sure I'll be spending some time checking out some of the information there about various regions of the country.

Now, there is still some advice and info I can offer here. First of all, if you end up coming here, be aware that many students working their way through school as you are planning will cut expenses by sharing that "cardboard box" with a roommate, or roommates. In fact, most young adults in their first few years after college will do that around here. Give that some serious consideration. It will stretch your $ further in this expensive city, and hey, it's part of the Bahstin experience, ya know.

Also, if you do move up this way, you'll have an advantage with the plan you have in mind, because the community colleges here have a transfer compact with the state colleges and universities, and I believe with certain private schools as well. I'm guessing that a number of states have this arrangement, but maybe not all of them, so this is an advantage of college in MA that you might not find everywhere. There are certain requirements you have to meet with the curriculum you pursue in community college, and then your credits all automatically transfer if you are admitted to one of the participating universities and four-year colleges. This link goes to a page that gives a brief overview of the arrangement:

Transfer to a Four-Year College- Massachusetts Community Colleges.

One more thing: I agree with others on the thing about people in this area being reserved out in public. However, that is only what is generally true, kind of the general vibe. I find many people here to be very friendly one-on-one. I also notice a tendency for people here to be more laid back in situations where they're not in a hurry, and in more intimate settings like getting friendly with the staff at a restaurant where you become a regular customer. Yes, it might take some getting used to when you find that not every stranger standing next to you in line somewhere wants to get into a lot of chit-chat, but I think you'll adjust fine once you get used to the local vibe.

So if you're finding yourself drawn to this area, why y'all come right on up heayuh t' Bahstin, now, y' heayuh?