It's the last night here in Alabama. I had a wonderful time down here. My family has done a great job of showing me around, and I hope those who tuned in to the vacation blog enjoyed this little adventure with me.
I suppose I should take a moment to reflect here on the fact that we're all different in our viewpoints and our lifestyles and that recognizing those differences is important. We all come from different backgrounds and look at life differently. It's tough coming from the North to see the South when you're loaded with stereotypes. I'm certain it's just as rough dealing with a Yankee in the South. Let's be honest, we're generally not friendly people... I don't mean to be rude, but waving at strangers on the street corner is odd to me. I'm sure that makes me a snobby bitch for not waving to people down here, but luckily it seems like my Yankee tendencies were tolerated if certainly odd. That's hospitality.
Anyway, I will be returning to my nature blog now that the trip is over. (http://naturewritingjournal.blogspot.com/) There may be a chance that some of my outdoors experiences around here could crop up in the future in the nature blog since I'm compiling this info for my Master's and I certainly have no published everything here.
Great trip, good food, wonderful people.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A little religion for the soul...
Let's be frank, Alabama is part of "The Bible Belt." This label has, in the past, had a lot of negative connotation attached to it for me. Honestly, I'm not keen on 'Bible-Beaters' or anyone who feels they should tell me I'm going to hell for not following their religion. Honestly, I dislike being told I'm damned by Christians as much as I dislike Muslims telling me I'm an infidel. "Enjoy your religion and keep it to yourself. Leave me out of it." - That's pretty much my motto these days.
Anyhow, I discovered some endearing religious qualities while down here this time. While ignoring anyone saying, "they're just gonna go to hell," I realized that death down here has more meaning.
To put this in perspective, Southern funerals (especially black ones, but not only black ones from what I understand) are all-day 'events' (and I do not mean that term lightly). Funerals are busy to the point of lines extending outside and past the parking lots. EVERYONE stops for a funeral procession line of cars... it does not matter what side of the road you're on. Often times, the family involved spends the entire morning and afternoon dealing with the funeral to come home and find that other family members have prepared an entire feast. All mourners return from the funeral and burial service to the house to eat. This incredible amount of support astounds me. It's something I think, as a Yankee, we could sorely use in the North. We're often too busy being polite and letting everyone 'have alone time' that we're not there to support people in a time of loss... when they need others the most.
Also of note, the cemeteries down here are amazing. Nearly every tombstone or grave markers has a bouquet of silk flowers on it -and not faded ones from last year. Families often take turns bringing fresh unfaded flowers to put on the graves here. I think about the tombstones at home that often have nothing on them. I think of my northern relatives who have died and I don't even see their tombs yearly... some not since they were buried. Is it because we're in a hurry that we never stop to take care of our dead or is it some religious difference? It just makes me wonder.
Call this the "Bible Belt" and take whichever connotation you prefer, there is something to be said for religion that brings people closer together.
Anyhow, I discovered some endearing religious qualities while down here this time. While ignoring anyone saying, "they're just gonna go to hell," I realized that death down here has more meaning.
To put this in perspective, Southern funerals (especially black ones, but not only black ones from what I understand) are all-day 'events' (and I do not mean that term lightly). Funerals are busy to the point of lines extending outside and past the parking lots. EVERYONE stops for a funeral procession line of cars... it does not matter what side of the road you're on. Often times, the family involved spends the entire morning and afternoon dealing with the funeral to come home and find that other family members have prepared an entire feast. All mourners return from the funeral and burial service to the house to eat. This incredible amount of support astounds me. It's something I think, as a Yankee, we could sorely use in the North. We're often too busy being polite and letting everyone 'have alone time' that we're not there to support people in a time of loss... when they need others the most.
Also of note, the cemeteries down here are amazing. Nearly every tombstone or grave markers has a bouquet of silk flowers on it -and not faded ones from last year. Families often take turns bringing fresh unfaded flowers to put on the graves here. I think about the tombstones at home that often have nothing on them. I think of my northern relatives who have died and I don't even see their tombs yearly... some not since they were buried. Is it because we're in a hurry that we never stop to take care of our dead or is it some religious difference? It just makes me wonder.
Call this the "Bible Belt" and take whichever connotation you prefer, there is something to be said for religion that brings people closer together.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
From Yesterday
Here are some of the pictures that I took yesterday while we were floating down the Chipola River.
Obviously, it was beautiful.
Obviously, it was beautiful.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
River Trip
Just a quick post.
Today I went out with my Uncle and youngest cousin and floated down the river. We had a wonderful time today. We must have floated for three hours down a creek and into a river. It was really relaxing, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it.
I will post a few images of some of the really great trees which were overhanging the creek and perhaps a short video of the great time we had.
Tomorrow, we're heading up to the lake, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know if I'll have internet access, so the rest of my posts may be posted belatedly after I return.
I should probably take a second here to note that I'm really enjoying my Aunt and Uncle's hospitality. It's been great spending time with them, and I'm honestly relaxing here. It has been pointed out to me that this blog could be taken wrongly on their part, so I want to take a second to clear that up - I'm not mocking them or their lifestyle down here. I'm honestly just blogging to remark on the funny and unexpected differences between the north, where I've been raised, and the south. They're very different places and because of this, northerners and southerners lead different lifestyles and have different values. They're also sometimes very similar places... and that's comforting too.
You can't choose family, but if I could, I'd still choose this one.
Today I went out with my Uncle and youngest cousin and floated down the river. We had a wonderful time today. We must have floated for three hours down a creek and into a river. It was really relaxing, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it.
I will post a few images of some of the really great trees which were overhanging the creek and perhaps a short video of the great time we had.
Tomorrow, we're heading up to the lake, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know if I'll have internet access, so the rest of my posts may be posted belatedly after I return.
I should probably take a second here to note that I'm really enjoying my Aunt and Uncle's hospitality. It's been great spending time with them, and I'm honestly relaxing here. It has been pointed out to me that this blog could be taken wrongly on their part, so I want to take a second to clear that up - I'm not mocking them or their lifestyle down here. I'm honestly just blogging to remark on the funny and unexpected differences between the north, where I've been raised, and the south. They're very different places and because of this, northerners and southerners lead different lifestyles and have different values. They're also sometimes very similar places... and that's comforting too.
You can't choose family, but if I could, I'd still choose this one.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Getting Lost
Mom wanted to visit old friends from high school which she hasn't seen in 34 years. She also managed to find the house of her old math teacher. HE RECOGNIZED HER! I kind of hope in 34 years, however, I don't have to worry about old students showing up at my house unexpectedly.
Anyway, we managed to get lost at one point. There are A LOT of dirt roads here. In fact, I'd venture to wager that probably every 4th or 5th road one passes down here is simply an old clay dirt road. This is fairly alarming for someone like me who really appreciates pavement.
The following are the peanut fields we encountered along our dirt road.
Here's an idea of what the roads look like.
And here's us discovering pavement.
Anyway, we managed to get lost at one point. There are A LOT of dirt roads here. In fact, I'd venture to wager that probably every 4th or 5th road one passes down here is simply an old clay dirt road. This is fairly alarming for someone like me who really appreciates pavement.
The following are the peanut fields we encountered along our dirt road.
Here's an idea of what the roads look like.
And here's us discovering pavement.
Boiled Peanuts
Just a quick entry this morning.
Yesterday, we went and bought boiled peanuts. You can't get these up north. In fact, if I mentioned to most people up north that I ate boiled peanuts, they'd probably just look at me strangely and make a universal disgusted face. I suppose I should mention that Dothan, AL is the peanut capital of the U.S.
Anyway, they take green peanuts, before they ripen and harden in the ground, and boil them in a vat of salty water. When you eat them, they're soft, you bite the end of the peanut shell, sucking the salty water and juice out. After you pry it own, you eat the peanuts out, but they're soft too... not like a hard nut. The best way to describe them is like a salty type of bean. They still taste like peanuts, but without the richness of the roasted varieties. I find them a lot easier to eat, actually.
Of course, after you eat two quarts of them, you get a little thirsty, but take my word for it, they're good. You also can't get these babies up north... and if I could, I'd probably have some serious blood pressure issues due to the salt.
Anyway, we're doing a lot of visiting and seeing the sights around here. Dothan must have like 8 Waffle Houses... an IHop, several Sonics, two WalMarts, a mall, and various other signs of civilization. I can easily say that this area is larger than the home town. I can also easily say that pretty much every family owns at least one truck. Not sure why... since 4 wheel drive isn't necessary around here due to lack of snow, but I figure they must do a lot of hauling of something around here... so I keep my eyes peeled. Haven't heard any banjos yet.
Yesterday, we went and bought boiled peanuts. You can't get these up north. In fact, if I mentioned to most people up north that I ate boiled peanuts, they'd probably just look at me strangely and make a universal disgusted face. I suppose I should mention that Dothan, AL is the peanut capital of the U.S.
Anyway, they take green peanuts, before they ripen and harden in the ground, and boil them in a vat of salty water. When you eat them, they're soft, you bite the end of the peanut shell, sucking the salty water and juice out. After you pry it own, you eat the peanuts out, but they're soft too... not like a hard nut. The best way to describe them is like a salty type of bean. They still taste like peanuts, but without the richness of the roasted varieties. I find them a lot easier to eat, actually.
Of course, after you eat two quarts of them, you get a little thirsty, but take my word for it, they're good. You also can't get these babies up north... and if I could, I'd probably have some serious blood pressure issues due to the salt.
Anyway, we're doing a lot of visiting and seeing the sights around here. Dothan must have like 8 Waffle Houses... an IHop, several Sonics, two WalMarts, a mall, and various other signs of civilization. I can easily say that this area is larger than the home town. I can also easily say that pretty much every family owns at least one truck. Not sure why... since 4 wheel drive isn't necessary around here due to lack of snow, but I figure they must do a lot of hauling of something around here... so I keep my eyes peeled. Haven't heard any banjos yet.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Hands Free Cell Service
Another day spent at the house with family.
Today I went on a little shopping trip with my middle cousin. He's going to be a senior in high school, is pretty easy to talk to and laid back. We went shopping at an outdoor's store and walmart - he got some shirts and a fishing rod.
I realized today on the trip with him that Alabama probably doesn't have any cell phone laws requiring hands-free cell phones while driving. This isn't because of the lack of cell phone service, surprisingly. It's actually because these people have no problem driving side by side down the highway with their windows open, just yelling in conversation with each other going 60 miles an hour. Yeah, I was in the car with my cousin on a particularly busy stretch of the highway and he's talking to some guy through his rolled down window:
"Hey! How you doin?"
"Where you headed?"
"When you going to the lake next?"
"This is my cousin, Nicole."
"See ya, around!"
No blue tooth earpiece required.
I was just disappointed that I didn't get the opportunity yet to meet his one friend who I only know as "Turd." This kid is apparently so proud of his nickname, that he got it put on the front of his truck, up at the top of his windshield. I cannot promise pictures, but if he EVER stops by, I will be going covert ops if I must to snag a picture of this. The attempt will be made.
Other than this little 'nugget' today involved eating a lot of great food and seeing my Uncle Larry. I got a chance to try to fish out at the pond, but had no success. I will be trying again when we go to the lake.
Today I went on a little shopping trip with my middle cousin. He's going to be a senior in high school, is pretty easy to talk to and laid back. We went shopping at an outdoor's store and walmart - he got some shirts and a fishing rod.
I realized today on the trip with him that Alabama probably doesn't have any cell phone laws requiring hands-free cell phones while driving. This isn't because of the lack of cell phone service, surprisingly. It's actually because these people have no problem driving side by side down the highway with their windows open, just yelling in conversation with each other going 60 miles an hour. Yeah, I was in the car with my cousin on a particularly busy stretch of the highway and he's talking to some guy through his rolled down window:
"Hey! How you doin?"
"Where you headed?"
"When you going to the lake next?"
"This is my cousin, Nicole."
"See ya, around!"
No blue tooth earpiece required.
I was just disappointed that I didn't get the opportunity yet to meet his one friend who I only know as "Turd." This kid is apparently so proud of his nickname, that he got it put on the front of his truck, up at the top of his windshield. I cannot promise pictures, but if he EVER stops by, I will be going covert ops if I must to snag a picture of this. The attempt will be made.
Other than this little 'nugget' today involved eating a lot of great food and seeing my Uncle Larry. I got a chance to try to fish out at the pond, but had no success. I will be trying again when we go to the lake.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)