On the six-month anniversary of my permanent move to Beantown, I’ve decided to compile a shortlist of things-I-didn’t-know-I-would-need-to-know-but-kind-of-wish-I-had upon relocating up here from Alabama.

1. There is no Chickfila. So this is number one for a reason. Mucho importante and very serious. There are really no Chickfilas in the city of Boston and most Southerners cannot fathom this. The closest one is about 30 minutes away. This means that trips South often involve racing through the Atlanta airport searching for chicken mecca like junkies in between flights for just one taste of a waffle fry. If any other chicken sandwich lovers up this way want to go in on a franchise, there are quite a few Chickfila sauce addicts who would be more than willing to chip in or start a support group.

2. There is A LOT of good food up here

Even though you might get waffle fry withdrawals, you will have no shortage of other excellent sustenance options. It’s hard to walk down any street here without finding something delicious. Thai, ramen, Italian, burgers, seafood, Irish, and even some good grits if you know where to look! I will definitely be placing copious reviews of all of our favorites here in the near future.

3. So there’s this thing called snow…

I was “lucky” enough to move to Boston THE day it started for-real snowing in January…and then the snow just didn’t really stop until April. APRIL, PEOPLE.  There was snow on the ground in one form or another until mid-May. And by ‘in one form or another,’ I mean that the snow doesn’t fall and then immediately melt. It just builds on top of itself until you get large, brownish ice piles on every corner.

However, even with all the snow {that my poor husband had to shovel off our car and sidewalk 15+ times}, the more shocking occurrence was the lack of anxiety over the snow. Now, Boston did set a new snowfall record and there was more anxiousness as we got into March and the city ran out of places to put snow* {WHAT}, but for the majority of the blizzards {this word being plural makes me weep}, businesses and schools stayed open, cars remained on the road, and people seemed to ignore what, to me, should be classified as a state of emergency. I ended up having a job interview in the middle of one blizzard, and when I called inquiring whether or not the interview would proceed as planned, my worry about driving 30 minutes through said snowstorm was met with nervous laughter and confusion. And that’s the story of how my plan to avoid driving in the snow came to a screeching halt. Surprisingly not as scary as driving in Boston when it is not snowing, but I’ll get to that shortly.

New snowfall records are no joke and I want an ‘I survived’ shirt and bumper sticker please.

*I got to learn new terms like ‘snow farm,’ which is not a farm that grows snow for ski resorts {as I first thought}, but instead means an empty parking lot not being used in the winter where the government decides to pile up snow when they run out of other places to put it. (ALSO: IT IS JULY. THERE IS STILL SNOW.)

4. Driving here is terrifying

As someone who has driven through Atlanta at the height of rush hour, I can genuinely report that you will be asking Jesus to take the wheel at any hour of any day you try driving in Boston. Besides parallel parking {which you should learn how to do before you move here}, there are a number of reasons for this.

A) This city is not built on a grid. At all. You think you remember how you got somewhere? Well throw out what you know about life so far because even if you wanted to, you will not be able to drive anywhere close to that way back. For example: On days when it is raining and I drive my husband to the gym, it will take 10-15 minutes longer to get home than the time it takes to get there, just because of one place near our house where you can’t turn left. So: when you move here, bring a GPS.

B) Drivers here are like no other type of driver I have ever encountered. I like to describe them as lethargically aggressive. They will cut you off aggressively, but somehow accomplish the cutting-off in the slowest manner possible. The same thing occurs with changing lanes and even turning. All very angrily, but simultaneously leisurely. At the same time, if you do not start moving the second a light turns green, you will be berated by serious hornage. Boston drivers are a rarity, to say the least.

C) There are no rules. It’s basically ‘Nam. Ooo there’s a red light**. DOESN’T MATTER EVERYONE RUN IT. Stop sign? NO DON’T YOU DARE STOP. I should turn on my signal since I’m planning on turning here. NOPE NO SIGNALS FOR ANYONE IT’S MORE FUN THIS WAY. It’s similar for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s like everyone has a death wish. RUN INTO THE STREET ANYWHERE EVEN IF YOU HAVE A STROLLER, IT DOESN’T MATTER. Actually no, STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND STARE AT THE CLOSEST DRIVER. That’s way more fun. It’s almost as if the streets themselves started this ‘no rule’ policy. There are minimal left-turn only arrows. Lanes magically appear and disappear at will. Sometimes the lane markers just decide to take a break and don’t appear on some busy roads. Intersections compete to see which can simultaneously make the least sense and be the most dangerous. I know I said a GPS is useful, but even Siri gets confused about the way Boston roads work, so better advice may be to look up how to get somewhere before you get in a car, and then be patient with your GPS when it starts smoking.

Examples of Boston Road ‘Nam-ness: **More useful tidbits: The majority of the time, red lights won’t be above you. They will, however, be standing on street corners, so if you’re used to hanging lights, you’ll have to adjust to looking a little lower. Mostly in your car’s blind spots. Right on red is also not a thing here, but roundabouts most certainly are.

5. You can get anywhere by taking public transit/walking.

Wonderful news for those who don’t want to risk their lives on the roads here. Boston has the nickname “Walking City” for a reason, and your feet plus the T (Boston’s public transit system) can get you almost anywhere you would wish to roam. My husband walks to work, the grocery store is only a few blocks away {LOVE}, and we have a library branch right across the street {BIGGER LOVE}. The T is also super easy to use, and we use it copiously. Church, restaurants, brewery tours, the Common, movie theaters, the Symphony, and more all become much more convenient when parking a car is not involved. Cheap and efficient. Definitely a plus.

6. People here love outdoor activities. 

I have never seen someone as committed to being outside as when I witnessed someone running their afternoon run on top of five-feet-tall snowbanks next to the Charles River in February. It is no coincidence that one of the most famous marathons in the world is run in this city. People love exercising outdoors here, and for good reason! Boston is beautiful {even when it’s under six feet of snow} and there is no shortage of activities available to outside-exercise enthusiasts. You can bike, run, jog or walk on either side of the riverfront, which is gorgeous, or you can get in the river {when it’s not frozen} for sailing, canoeing or kayaking***. If you want to get away from the river, there are too many parks to count {including the always lovely Boston Common} where there will be plenty of other joggers/walkers to keep you company. ***Swimming in the Charles, however, is probably not the best idea.

7. Professional sports, not college, are king

Bostonians love them some Tom Brady and David Ortiz, and locals will probably question your sanity if you think more highly of a non-Boston team or player. I’ve even been questioned on multiple occasions as to why I have not changed my sporting allegiance to the Red Sox, Bruins or Patriots upon moving here. Yes, college sports certainly do exist up here, but they are just not as big a deal as they are in the South {especially football}. I still follow my college team through the magics of the Internet, but it’s been a lot of fun going to games at Fenway and seeing what the pro-sports scene here has to offer.

8. Liquor is cheaper, but drink specials are illegal

Confusing, I know, but definitely worth knowing. Especially if you’re coming from a Southern college town and are used to drinking ‘out.’ You’ll want to be rethinking that lifestyle rather quickly upon a move here.

9. Get used to comments on your ‘cute’ accent People will notice your accent and sometimes comment on it. Some may even make assumptions about it (and by assumptions I mean mostly of the negative fashion). That’s fine. Southerners are not what the media and writers of history often make us out to be, but unfortunately many living north of the Mason Dixon are unaware that we are not all redneck hicks that wander around barefoot wearing overalls and marrying our cousins.

By the same token, not everyone that comments on your accent thinks this way and probably just wants to make conversation about an accent that is new to them! The worst responses to my accent usually involve something about surprise at my shoe-owning abilities. The best was a friend of my husband’s asking me if I sit on a front porch drinking mint juleps all day. (I wish!)

10. The people up here are wonderful.

A lot of the time, I think Bostonians get a bad rap for being impatient and grumpy. I mean, even if this were true, they have some pretty good excuses {roads that don’t make sense, it’s cold for most of the year, no Chickfila, etc.}. But for the most part, I’ve found this stereotype to be untrue.

Now, my mother did make the correct observation on her visit up here, that there were a lot of scowly people walking down the street. I really do think this is because it’s too darn cold outside. I imagine that I wear the same scowl when I have to go out in a winter coat in the middle of May. When it finally warmed up a little bit, there was a visible change in the attitudes and facial expressions of my fellow sidewalk-walkers. My attitude probably changed a lot too! I didn’t have to wear a ski jacket anymore, there was no more disgusting brown snow on the ground, and I could actually see the sun. Who wouldn’t look happier when you have all that going for you?

However, even with the sun out and temperatures hovering above 65 degrees, Bostonians interact with strangers much differently than most Southerners, which I think can cause a little culture shock. City locals do not make eye contact with strangers walking by on the street, on the bus, on the T, or anywhere else strangers can be encountered. Smiling at strangers is also not a welcome practice. You will get some funny looks. Just a warning.

This being said, it does not mean that Bostonians are unfriendly. Quite the opposite is true. All of our neighbors love saying hello and having conversations if we meet on the street. Servers, bartenders and cashiers are all extremely helpful and personable. You can bond with fellow pedestrians about crazy drivers and bond with fellow drivers about crazy pedestrians. And you can bond with everyone over crazy cyclists! Whether at a pub, in the store or just waiting for a bus, you’ll find no shortage of people who love a good conversation and are also happy to help if you need directions. Some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet live here, and honestly they’re not difficult to find because they’re everywhere!

So there you have it. After living here for six months I can confidently say that Boston is one of the best places I’ve ever lived {and I’ve lived in quite a few}. It may not be the South, but once you get the hang of it, Beantown is a pretty wicked place to be.