11 Things You’ll Only Understand After Living in South Dakota
11 Things You’ll Only Understand After Living in South Dakota
What Did South Dakota's License Plate Look Like the Year You Were Born?
Have You Ever Explored the 'War Eagle Monument' on the South Dakota/Iowa Border?
From soda to pop to sloppy Joes, different parts of of the country have their own local quirks and language. Simple phrases can have totally different means, local events may seem weird, and food may go by a unique name.
If you're new to South Dakota here is a sort of translation guide for some odd things you may see or hear.
The Difference Between East and West River
The Missouri River splits the state in half, giving us the east/west river nicknames.
The Cities
If your new co-workers keep talking about the trip they made to 'The Cities' they're just talking about the Twin Cities, Minnealpious, and St Paul. Maybe they went to a Vikings game or wanted to live a real-life Big Bang Theory and visit The Cheesecake Factory.
Scotcheroos
Growing up in Nebraska we just called them peanut butter rice Krispy treats. Then I moved to Sioux Falls and found that they have a fancier name 'round these parts.
Shorts in Winter
The South Dakota flag should have a picture of Elsa, becue the cold doesn't bother us all that much. Oh, don't be fooled, we hate just as much as the latest Texan transplant, but it has to get really cold for the long pants to come out.
Distances in Time
How far is Rapid City from Sioux Falls? If you want to sound like a local answer like this, 'It's about five hours." It's not 372 miles.
Everything in SD is so spread out, miles mean little. How long I'll have to be in the car is more important.
Wide Open Spaces
South Dakota's wide-open empty spaces can freak some people out, but it's a part of SD's DNA. Just miles and miles of plains devoid of people. Wonderful.
Farm Life
Planting in the spring, harvesting in the fall, the rhythms of the farm still drive life in South Dakota. Even if you're a lifelong city kid, you probably know what a combine is. And you know they own the road when they must be out on them.
The Hills
If you hear someone saying they went out to the hills for the weekend, they weren't at Heidi and Spencer-Con, they were just west-river in the Black Hills. Be careful, 'The Hills' can mean anywhere from Belle Fourche to Hot Springs, and they're two hours apart.
Corn Palace
Yeah, it's a building covered in corn, and we love it. We don't know why, we just do. Plus it's a good excuse for a parade.
Rodeo
Rodeo life is the real deal in SD. It's like football in Texas or basketball in Indiana, it's serious business, especially west-river.