Things I Have Learned…

Alright, I’m spending my summer in Atlanta, HOTlanta, the dirty south, etc. and to capture a meager portion of my experience thus far I have a list to share, appropriately titled…

The Things I Have Learned About Atlanta

1. Brunch is a big deal. Everybody loves brunch and if you’re in Atlanta, everyone goes to brunch. It is said to be the very best way to cure ones Sunday morning hangover. I have yet to test this claim, but I won’t leave you hanging for long.

2. McDonald’s stole the McChicken from Chick-fil-A. This, apparently, is a touchy subject and leads to cursing McD’s, something I tend to enjoy throughly. What else do I enjoy you may be wondering? The two, yes, always TWO, pickle slices on a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. (And yes, I have been eating meat as of late, including this Chick-fil-A sandwich, which is quite scrumptious and cheap! Insert comments from the Fur about my flippant vegetarian diet)

3. Don’t talk about Pepsi. Ever. Coca Cola is king in its hometown and it seems that in order to fit in, one must drink Coke. I can’t stress this enough.

4. Bicyclists should fear for their lives because Atlanta drivers hate them, vehemently. I’ve been riding my bike for a week here and have already had a few too many close calls involving cars following dangerously close. Bike lanes are also a rare luxury on city streets.

5. Not enough people who live here know about Paste Magazine, which is a crying shame. However, Paste can be used as a great conversation starter to test if people are cool. Yes, I’m biased.

6. Ninety degrees is not hot. My entire Oregonian life I have been mislead to believe that anything above eighty is scorching. One week in Atlanta has shown me that, actually, ninety is just the beginning. Oh dear.

7. Working a 9-5 is tiring, like, really tiring. I’ve been in bed by 11:30pm this entire week and if you ask anybody that has lived with me that is simply unheard of!

8. Neighborhoods go from good to sketchy to sketchier to you really shouldn’t be here. This isn’t entirely true, but this is what I have been told from various sources and I am working on disproving this by the safest means possible.

9. Food is expensive. This doesn’t particularly pertain to Atlanta, but now that I’m buying my own groceries I’ve come to appreciate the fridge at my parent’s house and all the free goodness enclosed within it.

10. Southern accents are adorable. I’m talking pinch the cheek, hug worthy, puppy dog adorable. Seriously, talk to anyone with a southern accent and they are instantly likable.

The grandma inside of me is begging for sleep so until next time, more lists to come, y’all!