My Southern Summer
Five years ago I moved to the South. And though I’ve lived here for half a decade already, my understanding of the region and its culture haven’t deepened much. So, this summer, I have decided to immerse myself in southern culture–meet the people, eat the food, dance to the music, learn the plant names, partake in the pastimes, read the literature, etc.–as much as I am able. My hope is to compile a list of possible experiences I might have that would give me a comprehensive experience of the South without playing to stereotype or caricature. In my mind, this summer must include a range of experience from the rural life of farmers to the lifestyle of the so-called old money aristocracy. I plan to record my experiences and thoughts, together with photos, and produce a meaningful essay or memoir of some kind.
So, my southern friends, what should make the list?
May 27th, 2008 at 9:38 am
You should definitely come tubing with us on the 4th of July! :) Southern river tubing, redneck clothes, and PBR? That sounds pretty southern to me… of course, that plays into your whole stereotype thing.
-chris
May 27th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
This is definitely a must…
http://www.everettbrothers.com/
There’s the barn with traveling acts coming through and then the bluegrass house where anyone can bring their instrument and play together in any room of the house… it’s great fun!
May 27th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
How about some sacred harp singing? It’s definitely unique to the south.
http://www.atlantasacredharp.org/
Also, here is a great documentary on the history and life of the music.
http://www.awakemysoul.com/
May 28th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Crawdaddy’s and frog legs. Catch em and cook em up yerself. Yeehaa.
July 5th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
You may have already done this, but one can’t fully experience the South until he attends an oyster roast on a really cold day (so much for summer)…learn to shuck them and eat at least one raw. You can put a Mexican twist on it by adding lime juice and hot sauce before slurping it down. As for playing to stereotype, you can look at it just like the rest of the world…be in it, not of it. Stand your Western ground by taking along some home made salsa or Aunt K’s special hot crab dip and just-fried tortilla chips to wow your friends with your culinary skills and so you’ll feel right at home…
In my experience, Cam, every really cool Southern experience I encountered during my years in South Carolina and Georgia included lots of food, and storytelling by family members, friends and acquaintances.
xo
August 26th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
most often, summer doesn’t end till november in the south. with two months left you still have time to find corner stores with broken bricks in the facade and peeling letter paint on the windows to discover how onions and pork can make green beans near other worldly. there is also time for mockingbird excursions* into the hidden homes of the latest poets found scattering, smothering, and covering all things warm.** the south is often dreamy in the summer, with many lingering moments that seem to carry on well into what the northern states may call autumn. there isn’t much time for the leaves to get undressed in georgia so I find that choosing between getting my hopes up for latte sipping afternoons in the crisp air vs. second chance swimming at your friends pool, the choice often lands in the water.
*mocking birds often start there roll call around 3 am
**i’ve found that when you are alone at waffle house late in the evening the cooks and waiters often smothering, scattering and covering not just the hash browns but also their thoughts, ideas and opinions to any warm body