Alabama Atmosphere

Bear Disciple · October 28th, 2009, 09:47 PM

Hi everybody,
I have a question for all of you and I would love to get some responses.

I live in California(unfortunately) and I am a freshman in high school. College football is the thing I love most, except family and friends, and I'm not quite sure how, but I fell into Alabama football because of the tradition(mainly Bear Bryant) and have loved it ever since.

Now here's my problem: I think Alabama would be a great place for me, being a NASCAR loving, country music listening, barbecue person, I think I would fit in. But my dad is afraid that it will be a big culture shock and things will be very different. And I'm sure that it will be, but in a good way

A little more background, my older brother is now a junior at Nebraska. Before he made his decision, my dad criticized him as well, but he loves it there more than anything and he really fits in.

What I am wondering is if you think that I would be able to fit in with everyone out there? I am certainly not a typical California boy and once met an Alabama man(too bad he was an Auburn man) who told me I was a southern boy born in the wrong place. Thanks for all the answers, or at least reading me rambling for a while.

ROLL TIDE!

swoop10 · October 28th, 2009, 10:06 PM

	Quote:	Bear Disciple
	Hi everybody, I have a question for all of you and I would love to get some responses. I live in California(unfortunately) and I am a freshman in high school. College football is the thing I love most, except family and friends, and I'm not quite sure how, but I fell into Alabama football because of the tradition(mainly Bear Bryant) and have loved it ever since. Now here's my problem: I think Alabama would be a great place for me, being a NASCAR loving, country music listening, barbecue person, I think I would fit in. But my dad is afraid that it will be a big culture shock and things will be very different. And I'm sure that it will be, but in a good way A little more background, my older brother is now a junior at Nebraska. Before he made his decision, my dad criticized him as well, but he loves it there more than anything and he really fits in. What I am wondering is if you think that I would be able to fit in with everyone out there? I am certainly not a typical California boy and once met an Alabama man(too bad he was an Auburn man) who told me I was a southern boy born in the wrong place. Thanks for all the answers, or at least reading me rambling for a while. ROLL TIDE!

I think you will love it. I grewup in Alabama and joined the Marines. I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. It took some time but I got used to CA and I'm sure you can do the same in AL.

Islander · October 28th, 2009, 10:22 PM

If you love Alabama football, barbecue, country music and Nascar, you were born in the wrong place-you will fit in just fine

Bear Disciple · October 28th, 2009, 10:30 PM

That's great to hear guys. I certainly want to make it work. One other thing that my dad is concerned about is he thinks that the African-American population won't get along with me. Now I'm not prejudiced at all and think it will work out fine, and he isn't prejudiced either, but he thinks they are so different because of some of the ones he knows here, making rap music and seeing the murder stories on the news. Now the man I knew from Alabama said that everyone acts the same, can everyone agree with that? As long as that's true, then I know I'll be okay.
Again, thanks for everything guys!

NYBamaFan · October 28th, 2009, 10:51 PM

Bama is a great place to live, but the culture is very, very different. Do you go to church? Expect to be judged if you answer no to that question at some point in your life in Alabama. But go where your heart leads you. If it doesn't work out, try someplace else...

DiamondDust · October 28th, 2009, 11:45 PM

	Quote:	Bear Disciple
	That's great to hear guys. I certainly want to make it work. One other thing that my dad is concerned about is he thinks that the African-American population won't get along with me. Now I'm not prejudiced at all and think it will work out fine, and he isn't prejudiced either, but he thinks they are so different because of some of the ones he knows here, making rap music and seeing the murder stories on the news. Now the man I knew from Alabama said that everyone acts the same, can everyone agree with that? As long as that's true, then I know I'll be okay. Again, thanks for everything guys!

You should be fine... I honestly think your dad needs to relax a bit. Yeah, California is a different animal than Alabama, but honestly... Tuscaloosa would be ok for you since it is a college town. Sure, you have a predominantly southern population that goes to school here, but you also have a significant number of students from across the country and around the world.

For instance, I participate in a bowling league in town that caters to college students, grad students, and locals. Along with your homegrown Alabama people, you have people from Ohio, New Zealand, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and who knows where else. Heck, my two teammates... one is from Wisconsin and has a very thick accent, and the other is the one from Hawaii.

I've lived in Alabama all my life, but there are times where people would definitely see me as having to be from somewhere else. The funniest is when I tell them I'm a die-hard Detroit Red Wings fan (and a hockey fan in general). The usual first line is... "Were you born up north?".

CrimsonNan · October 29th, 2009, 12:35 AM

And, although I'm a big Bama fan, I also love pro football. Plus I was a figure skater for 25 years here in Birmingham as an adult, b/c we had no rink when I was a kid, so you see, we're diversified in many things. A lot of my skating buddies had come here from somewhere up North. I don't think we're so different from any other people.

dayhiker · October 29th, 2009, 06:38 AM

I have a cousin that lives in LA. She got married in her 30's. All her friends came to AL for the wedding. They were honestly shocked that we didn't all sit on the front porch in overalls listening to country music. If you're expecting it to look like a country music video, you'll be disappointed, although in certain situations, well, stereotypes come from somewhere.

Bear Disciple · October 29th, 2009, 10:04 AM

Thanks everybody, this has all been really helpful. Makes me feel a lot better about the transition. Glad to hear it's such a great place!

Cape Tide · October 29th, 2009, 10:13 AM

You and your dad should come out for a game one weekend... he will go back a believer.

I went to college with several CA students, and some that were your 'typical' CA guys. They ended up loving it, and now live in Montgomery, with the thickest southern accent that I know. His parents bought a place on Lake Martin and spend a large amount of time out here now.

I think the university is big enough that anyone can find a group where they can fit in, and if you are as open minded as you seem, you should not have a problem at all.

Bear Disciple · October 29th, 2009, 10:28 AM

Yeah, that's a great idea Cape Tide. My dad actually went back to Nebraska last Saturday to see their game(he must be bad luck!) and now he loves it too. I bet once he sees that it's a normal place, he'll love it too.

Cape Tide · October 29th, 2009, 11:29 AM

	Quote:	Bear Disciple
	Yeah, that's a great idea Cape Tide. My dad actually went back to Nebraska last Saturday to see their game(he must be bad luck!) and now he loves it too. I bet once he sees that it's a normal place, he'll love it too.

Ehhh.... well you don't have to bring him to a game. Maybe just come after football season?

Boclive · October 29th, 2009, 11:31 AM

It will take months if not years to adjust to the atmosphere, and by atmosphere I mean humidity.

In my case, I moved from Alabama to California and had to adjust to the lack of humidity. It took me eighteen months.

Maybe it's easier coming east.

Best southern accent I ever heard belonged to a girl born and raised in Northern California that had never even been to the South. She could really lay it on.