I also pride myself on my life experiences--my travels to different places in the World. I've eaten many different cuisines, heard many languages (I can say "thank you" in nine different languages!), and my child took some of his first steps in the Hermitage museum. He also tried to pull a priceless Henri Rousseau off of the wall.
Since my mom is from western North Carolina, I have lots of experience with the culture there too. I love the language--the older dialect of English. I also love the food and how people can drop by without calling. I used to have fun singing hymns while we'd help our close family friends hang their tobacco after it had dried a little in the fields.
There are things I notice about outsiders. Outsiders do not understand why things are the way they are. They think their way is the best way. And, they always come to bring a little refinement . . . a little civilization. As a result of my observations, I'd like to address the following three issues:
- English should be the national language. Well! Clearly you are not from Texas! I'd like to point out to you that there are families who have been inside of Texas since before it was it's own country and a few generations before it was part of the United States of America; and, that many of these families teach Spanish in their homes and leave it up to the school systems to teach their children English. I have no issue with this. Making these families give up their Spanish-speaking heritage would be no different than the movement that all but wiped out French among the Cajuns in Louisiana. There is a distinction between immigrants who speak Spanish and Americans who speak Spanish. Spanish and French are just as much a part of our heritage as English (but so are a lot of Asian languages--we're just not going there in the interest of time).
- People with southern accents are ignorant hicks. No. Again, this is part of our heritage. Please, ignorant outsiders, educate yourselves. Here are some links to articles about Southern Appalachian English. The dialect is hundreds of years old, and linguists believe it to be similar to Shakespearean English. The dialect needs to be preserved. I love listening to my Mamaw and Papaw speak. It bothers me to think they may not be around long enough for my son to appreciate it. Regional accents, grammar, and vocabulary are beautiful. They need to be preserved.
- The French are rude. Okay, what the heck does this have to do with the South? I speak a little French--enough to get by in France. I've been a few times. My husband and I have both found the French to be extremely hospitable. I never felt they were "correcting" my French, but rather clarifying to ensure they'd heard me correctly. Even if they were "correcting" who the hell cares? How am I going to learn to speak it if no one teaches me the right way? They're French and I'm not. This applies everywhere. Before you make generalizations about the place you're visiting and the people in it, maybe you should take the time to shut up, observe and understand.
So, I've heard a lot of negative about this area of Appalachia and people often relate it to the film "Deliverance." Let me tell you, there are some gems.
The music is incredible. You'll never find such a musically inclined population anywhere else in the World.
The food is incredible. There's a new restaurant called Frog's Leap Public House in Waynesville that I think might be one of the best in the World.
We visited Dollywood. Yep, that's Dolly's own theme park. Take my word for it. It's the best amusement park on the planet.
With that said, what else is better here than anywhere else in the World? I'm not sure if I should tell you. If I caused an influx of anymore damn Yankees my family might string me up and leave me for dead.
The South is great, especially this little corner of the Earth.
