[malamute]

Michigan people not only have nice accents -- they use different words and phrases.

In some parts of the country, people don't know what "pop" is -- they really don't know what to call it -- so they say "I'm going for a coke, does anyone want one" and you say sure and they ask "what kind?" and you say "I though you said coke" and they'll ask again -- yes but what kind? coke, sprite, root beer? Or they call it soda which is really the bubbly water that doesn't taste good.

Also Michigan people tend to talk very fast -- not wanting to waste time.

[Maxine3]

My brother and his kids were visiting from Mass., and I asked if they wanted some "pop". My brother translated it to "soda". Then they understood
My sister and I were in Georgia, and as we were talking, a woman came up to us and said she recognized our "yankee accents" as she was a transplant from "up North". We know Southerns have accents, but didn't think we did

[debbieomi]

I was born and raised in Kalkaska, lived in the Ypsi/Wayne area for ten years and now back home in Kasky.
I've been a few other places in this grand state and here is a partial list of my favorite things:
*The energy and excitement in Ann Arbor on football Saturdays.
*Having SO many lakes to choose from for swimming.
*The people in my town having HUGE hearts and rallying around people who need a hand.
*Cherry Festival's Special Kids Day. The only fest of its size that devotes a day to kids who may not ever get the experience.
*Schools in the TBAISD. You will find no better programs for autistic kids than here.
*The drive up US131 from Kalkaska through Petoskey. Anytime of the year, but especially when the "colors" are blooming on the trees.
*Seven Bridges Natural Area
*Tha GrassLakes Natural Area
*Little dive restaurants and bars where you can usually find damn good food at a damn good price with damn good people running the joint.
*Faygo Rock n Rye and Cream Soda
*Heritage Festival in Ypsilanti
*The ethnic food stores in Dearborn.
*Meijer's Thrifty Acres...been years since I even thought about that store by that name, always hear it as plain ole Meijer.
*The active and thriving downtowns in Ann Arbor and Traverse City, really cool little shops.
*My most favorite thing is that with the exception of one sister, my entire immediate family lives in Kalkaska.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by malamute

Michigan people not only have nice accents -- they use different words and phrases.

In some parts of the country, people don't know what "pop" is -- they really don't know what to call it -- so they say "I'm going for a coke, does anyone want one" and you say sure and they ask "what kind?" and you say "I though you said coke" and they'll ask again -- yes but what kind? coke, sprite, root beer? Or they call it soda which is really the bubbly water that doesn't taste good.

Also Michigan people tend to talk very fast -- not wanting to waste time.

I lived in Michigan for 25 years and moved to Indiana 20 years ago. I had to change three words in order to survived in the Hoosier state.

I dropped pop and say soda (not intentionally and it was a sad day when I realized I wasn't saying pop anymore.)

I had to stop saying "party store" because people thought I was looking for the place you buy paper products for kid's birthday parties.

and finally, being in public safety, I had to stop saying "expressway" because NO ONE could figure out I meant highway or interstate.

They are a goofy bunch down here.

Can't wait to move back to Michigan!

And you are right about talking fast...I was told I talked fast when I first moved down here. I've since slowed WAY down, lol.

[MainStreet]

Originally Posted by debbieomi

I was born and raised in Kalkaska, lived in the Ypsi/Wayne area for ten years and now back home in Kasky.
I've been a few other places in this grand state and here is a partial list of my favorite things:
*The energy and excitement in Ann Arbor on football Saturdays.
*Having SO many lakes to choose from for swimming.
*The people in my town having HUGE hearts and rallying around people who need a hand.
*Cherry Festival's Special Kids Day. The only fest of its size that devotes a day to kids who may not ever get the experience.
*Schools in the TBAISD. You will find no better programs for autistic kids than here.
*The drive up US131 from Kalkaska through Petoskey. Anytime of the year, but especially when the "colors" are blooming on the trees.
*Seven Bridges Natural Area
*Tha GrassLakes Natural Area
*Little dive restaurants and bars where you can usually find damn good food at a damn good price with damn good people running the joint.
*Faygo Rock n Rye and Cream Soda
*Heritage Festival in Ypsilanti
*The ethnic food stores in Dearborn.
*Meijer's Thrifty Acres...been years since I even thought about that store by that name, always hear it as plain ole Meijer.
*The active and thriving downtowns in Ann Arbor and Traverse City, really cool little shops.
*My most favorite thing is that with the exception of one sister, my entire immediate family lives in Kalkaska.

My parents live in Fife Lake and have volunteered for the Cherry Fest special kids day for years. My mother, particularly, gets so much from helping these sweet souls play games and win prizes. They look forward to it every year.

[justicesings]

Thanks for an encouraging thread!
My husband and I are planning on moving to (in or around) Manastee county.
My husband lived there 50 years ago as a child and goes on for hours about those being the best years of his life. We have been working and living in the historic tourist area of Baltimore city and want out.
We long for seclusion, wildlife, snow, water and old fashioned community.
I am a singer, songwriter, entertainer and more profitably a semi retired RN with ER an CC experience. Any suggestions, resources that might aid us in our return to the woods.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by MainStreet

I lived in Michigan for 25 years and moved to Indiana 20 years ago. I had to change three words in order to survived in the Hoosier state.

I dropped pop and say soda (not intentionally and it was a sad day when I realized I wasn't saying pop anymore.)

I had to stop saying "party store" because people thought I was looking for the place you buy paper products for kid's birthday parties.

and finally, being in public safety, I had to stop saying "expressway" because NO ONE could figure out I meant highway or interstate.

They are a goofy bunch down here.

Can't wait to move back to Michigan!

And you are right about talking fast...I was told I talked fast when I first moved down here. I've since slowed WAY down, lol.

You should not have changed your words or fast way of talking.

What's very unusual about Michigan people though -- is when someone asks them where in Michigan they're from and they quickly hold up their hand and point to some part of their hand. Sometimes moving their finger carefully and holding their hand up to the confused person who asked and say "see -- right there, that's where I'm from".

This confuses people from other states who think the Michigan people are weird -- trying to say they're from their own hand.

[M TYPE X]

I definitely talk too fast for these mid-state Illinois people. They all talk slower than Homer Simpson. When they don't understand the hand-map thing, I just smack 'em with the hand. I have no patience for these Illinois/Indiana/Ohio types.

"Expressway" is an urban thing. Indiana might have a number of cities, but the rural culture dominates. Detroit started the whole freeway thing, along with Los Angeles, so you are more apt to hear "freeway" than "expressway" in Detroit.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by M TYPE X

I definitely talk too fast for these mid-state Illinois people. They all talk slower than Homer Simpson. When they don't understand the hand-map thing, I just smack 'em with the hand. I have no patience for these Illinois/Indiana/Ohio types.

"Expressway" is an urban thing. Indiana might have a number of cities, but the rural culture dominates. Detroit started the whole freeway thing, along with Los Angeles, so you are more apt to hear "freeway" than "expressway" in Detroit.

It gets really weird when someone holds up their left hand -- and then twists their right hand up and over the left to indicate the UP and then uses the left hand to show where in the UP they're talking about. That can almost look like some gang symbol in some parts of the country.

[AncientCoins]

Traverse City and Grand Traverse County, Traverse Bay areas, Glen Arbor, Crystal River, Leland-Fishtown and Lelanau County. Big and Little Glen Lakes, Bar Lakes, Sleeping Bear, Tahquamenon Falls, Great Lakes, Detroit, Woodward, Casinos, Ford Field, The Palace, Comerica, Riverwalk, Lofts, Ontario, Windsor and Toronto, Lake St. Claire, Jobbie Nooner, Muscamoot, DIA, Detroit Theatres, Science Center, MOCAD, CCS, Albert Kahn, Joe Louis, Cobo, Detroit Fireworks, Auto Show, Book Cadillac when it's renovated, Campus Martius, WinterBlast, Greektown, Ren-Cen, UofM, MSU, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Dearborn, Detroit Historical Museum, Cadillac Square, Greenfield Village - Henry Ford Museum, Detroit Zoo, TechTown, Ambassador Bridge.

Central Woodward

Corktown

Downtown Detroit

East Riverfront

Eastern Market

Grandmont Rosedale

Hamtramck

Jefferson East

Lafayette Park

Mexicantown

Midtown

New Center

Southwest Detroit
University Commons - Palmer Park

The Villages

Woodbridge