By: Marissa Holt
When you move to a new place, it is assumed that opportunities for adventure and new experiences will abound. People talk of the positives, but no one ever warns you about the culture shock or explains how to handle it. It is incredible how much you learn about yourself when dealing with the process of moving to a place with an entirely different culture than the one you’re used to. When I moved here from Dallas, Texas, I felt as if navigating my way through the social norms and elements of Boston was almost as difficult as trying to drive through it.
Initially, people in Boston seem almost as cold as the Northeastern winters. Nobody seems likely to go out of their way to make new friends or diversify the group they are already in. I made the mistake of walking around and occasionally saying hello to people. The reaction I received was a look of shock and awe, as if something was in my teeth. But, there is a plus side to all this. Although Bostonians seem to be made out of ice, I learned that it is possible to melt down their walls. And when you really get to know someone here, they don’t pretend to be your friend, they truly are. Down South, people are known for their friendliness. However, it’s not genuine. Even though it’s harder to make friends up here, at least you always know where you stand. You either get the finger or a new friend.
Texas is George W. Bush country, and not being surrounded by Republicans and crazy Southern Baptists is something I was really looking forward to. People down South have a tendency to comment that everything happens because “…it was God’s will” or “…it was the Lord’s calling.” You could drop a pair of scissors, have them impale your foot, be bleeding profusely, and yet, the Lord must have a plan for you.
Boston, however, is a very liberal city, quite the contrast to Texas. I haven’t had the experience of having someone push their religion or views on me here, which I enjoy. I’m down with the Democrats, but there’s another side to everything. Some seem so liberal that it turns into a new type of close-mindedness, a type I have never come across before.
Lifestyle and image between Boston and Dallas also varies immensely. Growing up during high school, girls were expected to be blonde, tan to the point of being orange, and involved in cheerleading or some sort of dance team. The male populace expected you to look this way, which resulted in everyone looking absolutely identical. In Boston there’s more room for diversity, growth, and self discovery. I don’t feel expected to look like everyone else. It’s also pleasing to find that come winter, guys acknowledge the fact that their girlfriends might gain a couple pounds, be paler, and let themselves go a little bit.
If you ever have the opportunity to move to a different place, do it! You never know what you might find or experience. Being immersed in a different culture helps you learn who you are, what you like, what you want to be, and not just what society tells you to be.
