The InterviewSitting in one of the blue swivel chairs, on the ground floor of my dorm building, I anxiously peered out the window, waiting for my cousin, Sherry, to arrive. As her car turned the corner in front of my dorm, I ran outside and jumped into the car, not giving the breaks a chance to completely come to a full halt. My cousin greeted me with a big hug, and we made our way to Panera, to start the interview. Sherry, like me is from New England and came to Emory for college nearly twenty years ago. I sat down at the table across from her, with my big bowl of mac and cheese to my right, and my computer to my left.
Kate: What did you expect living in Atlanta would be like, when you decided to go to Emory? Sherry: "Sunny, big city, warmer weather...what I really got was a big city at a slower pace" I agreed with what she said but I was trying to get at the culture aspect a little bit more, so I added in another question. Kate: Growing up in New England and then moving to Atlanta for college, did you notice a change in culture, the people who live there etc? Sherry: " Yes. For example, New York is more of a bustling city. People cross the street in masses. Atlanta is like New York on island time. We have little city bubbles like Buckhead, Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points, and so on. I like the bubbles. It allows a different bubble, for a different night out. Living in Atlanta, I have met some people from the area, but a lot of the people I meet here are from so many different places. Atlanta is a melting pot. I have also noticed how, etiquette is different... less f bombs floating around". Kate: Do you believe southern culture holds true to Atlanta at all? How so? Sherry: "It does, but you have to dig for it or be with certain groups of people. I am not going to necessarily get that "southern culture vibe" by walking into any bar. It is a melting pot. I will add football..." I cut her off. Sherry is the biggest UGA Bulldog fan I know. I told her I would get to the football question soon. She laughed. I continued. Kate: What would you say the "southerner stereotype" is and how accurate or not accurate do you think it is? Sherry: " They are more polite, quieter, more humble... rather than an attitude of "let me just regurgitate everything I want to say"...but don't get my wrong, I find people from the north kind of endearing. Food is another big difference in the south." Kate: Where would you send me to experience southern culture in and around Atlanta? Sherry: "Mary Mac's. You could go to the Nascar track. It is about an hour south of here.... I have never been though. OH! Sports. GO BULLDOGS". Kate: My final question. I know you love college football. Does that feel like a big part of southern culture here? Sherry: "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. SEC (the south eastern conference) is a big part of the social scene in the south. Football is huge, especially if you tailgate or go to the games". I think this is one reason Emory does not fit into the "typical southern school vibe" , you might expect. No football. Talking to Sherry, I confirmed a lot of what I had already been told. Atlanta is a slower paced city and a big melting pot, but southern culture does exist if you look for it. |
Atlanta is like New York on island time. |
Photos used under Creative Commons from seanmorgan, Nrbelex, Georgia Peanut Commission, Darryl W. Moran Photography, joshcherian, Nrbelex, techsavvyed