Wisconsin People (Milwaukee, Racine, Appleton: job, house, business)

[Trabbz]

I came to Wisconsin (Eau Claire/Lake Hallie/Chippewa/Lake Wissota) from Florida for a few days around Christmas. It had been over a year since I was back. These are a few of my observations that set Wisconsin apart for those of you who may not be aware. Some of these things annoyed me, but these are also the very things that make me LOVE Wisconsin.

1. The Wisconsin Accents. I could not help but to laugh when even my own mother talks. I never realized how thick the accent is until I moved away a few years ago. No matter if you are in a restaurant, a bar, the store, or the street, this accent follows you everywhere!

2. Speed Limits are TOO SLOW! The speed limits on every road are so slow it felt like it took forever to get anywhere!

3. Everyone follows the rules on the road. I could not stand how everyone goes no more than 5 MPH over. Everyone uses their turn signals, and nobody does U-Turns. What's the deal Wisconsinites? Rules are meant to be broken.

4. The food! Had to eat at Taco Johns, Culvers and get some fried Wisconsin Cheese curds and some Leinenkugels. Most of these things you cannot find in the south.

5. Friendly Wisconsin people. Everyone is so nice in Wisconsin that I wanted to slap someone just to make someone angry!!!!!

6. The crappy roads. I realize that it was winter when I came back and that it is pothole season but was surprised the suspension didn't bust off the car while I was there.

7. Cheap drinks!!!! I have never been anywhere where $10 will get you drunk. Have people in Wisconsin even heard of a cover charge? For a good night of fun and partying in Tampa Bay, I spend at least $50/night for cover and parking and then overpriced drinks.

I am not sure if this post will actually be of interest to anyone but I wanted to share my observations.

[KateDaum]

Nice post. We have found the WI accent interesting. We noticed it does vary by area. But we were out east and I am from the lower midwest so the WI accent isn't quite as noticable to me. The roads are par for any state that has cold and snow in winter.
We have also found the people more then friendly. Yesterday I was walking in the store and someone held the door for me. When I thanked him he said.... my pleasure. Just those 2 words made my day.
My kids love cheese curds and pizza fries.

[DaBears]

I took my hubby to the Milwaukee area in fall of 96 and he was scared..but then I think it is all the stories that he/I have been reading about people up there. I had moved from Milwaukee to Tampa in 97 and this was my first (& only) visit back so far...

[Hntr]

I HAVE complained at several bars. I absolutely refused to pay the low prices they have for their drinks. After much eye rolling and head shaking they finally agreed to take the extra money for the drinks. That'll teach them. Now whenever I order a drink they ask me what I think would be a fair price for that drink. And added benefit is that the beer tastes so much better after I paid twice their price.

I haven't quiet figure out how to handle those "nice" Wisconsin people yet. I know they are up to something.

[UW Badgers]

The Wisconsin Accents. I could not help but to laugh when even my own mother talks. I never realized how thick the accent is until I moved away a few years ago. No matter if you are in a restaurant, a bar, the store, or the street, this accent follows you everywhere!

Hubby and I grew up in Wisconsin(Milwaukee area). We moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a job promotion for him(big mistake, this city SUCKS)4 years ago. When my husband was at the doctor not long after we moved here, the nurse instantly asked if we were from Wisconsin. She knew it from our accents. A guy that works from my husband thought we might be from Canada. The lady I work for says that when my parents are here visiting she notices our accents get stronger.

He and I never really thought about our accents. A radio station in Milwaukee started streaming online shortly after we moved here. I noticed our accent for the first time when callers would call in, I heard it instantly. It's not something you think about until you are gone. It's really funny.

I take pride in my accent and pride that I'm from Wisconsin. I make sure to let the people here know how proud I am to be from Wisconsin. If we had this move to do all over again, it would have never happened. We are desperately working our way to moving HOME(Iowa will never be home)and can't wait to get there.

Everyone follows the rules on the road. I could not stand how everyone goes no more than 5 MPH over. Everyone uses their turn signals, and nobody does U-Turns. What's the deal Wisconsinites? Rules are meant to be broken.

This I find funny. I always found people in Wisconsin to be crazy drivers. I know I drive more then 5 over when back in town. Here in Cedar Rapids, no one goes 1 mile over the limit. They probably think I'm a maniac. I know a guy that works with my husband has ridden with me and tells me I'm a crazy driver. I just tell him this is how it's done in Wisconsin. If Iowans drove like they do here in Wisconsin, they would get run over. I find when driving the freeway in Wisconsin that going 65 in a 55 is too slow, I'm always getting passed. I guess it varies on different days..lol

Friendly Wisconsin people. Everyone is so nice in Wisconsin that I wanted to slap someone just to make someone angry!!!!!

I find that Wisconsinites have attitude. That's not saying we aren't nice or friendly. When we moved here, they were a little more tamed and I had to change the attitude a bit. But as time went on here, I said "screw that" and kept to being my Wisconsin self. Wisconsin people are more fast paced. I was unloading my grocery cart here not long ago and the checker asked what my hurry was. I told her I was from Wisconsin and we are fast paced people. When we moved here we heard Iowans were nice. Notsomuch, if you aren't part of group no one will talk to you. We live in a nice house, in a nice neighborhood. Not one neighbor came over to welcome us. Have I mentioned how much we hate it here? LOL..

We miss so many restaurants. When we come back to visit my family(which is as much as possible)we hit every restaurant that we can. We miss the shopping too, so we do a lot of that when we are back as well. We are coming back to the Appleton area for business at the end of the month and I can't wait! Any chance to get out of this hell hole I take.

[MediaDoggie]

SPEED LIMITS: You are also expected to drive very close to the speed limit. Five miles over will get you stopped and probably a ticket, sometimes a warning, especially if you have Minnesotata plates.
TRAFFIC RULES: In many areas I've seen people who don't use a signal. I thought the problem was epidemic.
FRIENDLY PEOPLE: Yes, and this is controversial I know, as long as you look like the locals, as in white and dressed in similar fashion. I found going to a town where you are not known, this is in the smaller towns, when entering a bar or restaurant there is a mutual stare. I am white but have entered restaurants with mixed race people and have seen continous stares and even over heard comments.
FOOD: Culvers is just weird. Try ordering the chicken dinner. I've tried twice and get some excuse as to why they can't produce the dinner thats on the menu. Sausage and beer are the best and of course the cheese.

[dreamhunter65]

You forgot Pizza burgers..When I was in Myrtle Beach people asked if ship some down as missed em and people born there looked at me crazy when asked for 1.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by KateDaum

Yesterday I was walking in the store and someone held the door for me. When I thanked him he said.... my pleasure. Just those 2 words made my day.

This man was obviously not a native of Wisconsin. Otherwise he'd have said "you betcha" instead of "my pleasure."

[yo vanilla]

Originally Posted by KateDaum

Yesterday I was walking in the store and someone held the door for me. When I thanked him he said.... my pleasure. Just those 2 words made my day.

you must have went to a bergstrom dealership?

[pirate_lafitte]

Another Wisconsin institution to love and I want to go to Racine for it: O and H Bakery.