Basics

• A Yankee's survival in (thus enjoyment of) his new surroundings depends largely on his acceptance of the cultural differences that exist. From food and drink to social etiquette, observance and respect of these differences will make your transition a smooth one. For starters, while Yankees have a tendency to speak rapidly, Southerners slow things down quite a bit, whether from fear of being misunderstood or from the heat and humidity. Speak slower. Depending on how intimate you are with the company you keep, resist the temptation to poke fun, even good naturedly, at Southern accents. Yanks have accents, too, so fun attempts at imitation may backfire. In certain social situations though, feel free to casually use common Southern slang like "y'all" (which means any group of two or more), "ain't" (it's a real word in the South) and "yonder" (refers to a distance in a certain direction). Also, realize when asking for directions (and feel free to), distance is measured in the time it takes to travel, not in actual miles. When discussing money that in the South, you'll see that dollars and cents are referred to in the singular (e.g.: "How much does that cost?" "'Bout 5 dollar, 40 cent.").
  
  

Food

• Fast-food and home-cooking restaurants are abundant in the South, so you'll have no shortage of places to eat. One of the biggest culinary differences in South is iced tea (called "ice tea"). The addition of sugar is paramount in ice tea preparation, which may initially shock your Northern taste buds, but the taste is easily acclimated to. Ask for health-conscious fare in restaurants, but not in those that specialize in home cooking, where fat and sodium reign supreme.
  
  

Climate

• Southern summers are notorious for being both hot and humid, so if you're moving or visiting in the middle of summer, allow yourself ample time to get used to the change in climate. Conversely, winters will seem mild in comparison to what you're used to. In the case of snow, which isn't uncommon but significant accumulation is, many schools and businesses close. Take this into account if you have a long commute to work or you have school-age children.