I may have mentioned, once or twice, that I am not from around here...…
That things like State Fairs, and crop reports, and weather(tornado) conditions and mid-west life in general are a cultural shift from my earlier years spent living in Massachusetts. It has been a pleasant learning curve to adjust to a life of "Iowa Nice", low cost of living, and a grocery store chain that still has a butcher that will cut your meat to order. I could probably do without the -20 temps in the winter and the 105-heat-index-for two.straight.weeks. temps, but as someone once said....It's not Heaven....it's Iowa.
In my current position as a museum professional, I have the opportunity to interact with guests from all around the world. People from India, Pakistan, China, Japan, France, Germany...….have all meandered their way through 300 years of Iowa's agricultural heritage. We have discussed the similarities and differences of farming and technology in our respective countries. We have enjoyed learning new things about new-to-us cultures. I have become entranced with Iowa life, and feel like I have been here long enough to be able to say "Welcome to Iowa" to those who are newer to the state than I. It's fun greeting people and assuring them that while Iowa may be new and different from the culture they left behind, it is well worth their time to settle in and make this their new home.
I have created a small check list of things to recommend to future Iowegians :)
Even if you don't participate in them, it is nice to know what they are so you can follow along in a conversation with the "locals".
In reverse order...
10) Maid Rites
9) Detasseling Corn
8) how to use a 4-way intersection with stop signs
7) bacon
6) E85
5) Cyclones vs Hawkeyes
4) Caucus season
3) RAGBRAI
2) Dyersville
1) The State Fair
I may or may not geek out over this list when meeting new transplants to the state.
Okay....I do.....geek out....more than a little...…
But that didn't seem to phase the young couple that found themselves in 1875 Iowa this past Saturday. After passing a pleasant few minutes discussing all things medicinal in the Victorian Era, we discovered that we were from the same part of the world...and had experienced some of the same cultural shifts. They had already started on the recommendation list....and had already prepped for the top 3!
After spending a few moments describing all the glorious things that are the Iowa State Fair and why it was so important for them to see the Butter Cow, I was able to leave them with this small bit of wisdom....
Iowa is a great place to work and live.....especially now that we run on Dunkin....
The look of relief on their face was almost comical.
Because while I didn't miss the class on all the things that make this place close to Heaven, I also didn't miss the class on comfort foods and having a small link to your former home.....
Welcome to Iowa, former New Englanders.....relax and have some coffee :)
