So, I’ve been in Minnesota for about three months now, and I have realized several differences in Midwesterners and New Englanders. I’ve decided to come up with a list of “Connecticut-isms,” or words and sayings that are used back in New England that seem to leave Minnesotans quite puzzled.
1. WICKED: I use this word about 50 times per day. (That’s wicked awesome… It’s wicked cold… I have a wicked bad hangover…) This doesn’t necessarily confuse Minnesotans but most of them think it’s a pretty sweet word and think it’s funny when I say it. Rather than “wicked,” Minnesotans use a variety of words… such as “totally” or “extremely” or “really.” I think that’s wicked lame. The word “wicked” makes the sentence!
2. PACKY/PACKAGE STORE: People really don’t get this one – when I say I need to go to the Packy, I get blank stares and have to explain myself. Even after the explanation, Minnesotans say, “Well, why can’t you just say liquor store?” The answer: In Connecticut, the sign on the packy does not say ‘Liquor Store’ – it says ‘Package Store.’ I grew up referring to it as a Packy and I will die referring to it as a Packy. (I also have had the response… ‘Well it doesn’t sell packages, it sells alcohol.’) Eff that, all this reference to the liquor reminds me that I need to make a stop at the Packy for some more wine.
3. JIMMIES: I actually don’t use this word in every day life, but I have tried it out a few times in order to see the response. Jimmies are sprinkles. Minnesotans definitely don’t get that. It’s okay, I think that’s a lame word anyway – although I do want to go to an Ice Cream Parlour and order jimmies on my sundae – and see what I get. (Most likely, I will get a blank stare and NOT jimmies.)
4. MASSHOLES: Yup, we call them Massholes in Connecticut. They’ve earned this nickname for a variety of reasons: they don’t know how to drive (they’re by far the worst drivers in New England), they are all jerks and they never stop talking about their Red Sox. Most Massholes don’t really care about other sports teams from Boston/New England – their lives revolve around the Sox, annoyingly enough. I also would like to mention that Massholes have embraced this nickname with open arms – most of them refer to themselves as Massholes as well. Minnesotans would refer to them as ‘people who reside in MA’ – mostly because they have never come across a Masshole driver… The day they do, they, too, will hate MA.
5. COASTIES: This is just a difference between New England and the Midwest. Coasties are Coast Guard Cadets. For example… Mary was in the Miss Ledyard Fair pageant and won Miss Congeniality – and was serenaded by a group of Coasties when she was crowned. I was in the same pageant years later and my escort was a Coastie, whose name was none other than Aaron Holler (yes, yes it was – I could never forget that because when I introduced my escort to the crowd, I wanted to shout HOLLLLLAAAAAAA! – Oh, and he had a twin). Anyway… Minnesotans have mentioned that “Coasties” are girls from the East Coast that go to school in the Midwest and have a distinct way about them.
Okay, that’s actually all I have for now – even though I’m pretty sure that there are many more distinctions between New England and the Midwest. Funnnn.
xoxo
S.
