Because You Don't Want to Mess with Texas

This week I'm traveling up and down my beloved state Texas to promote Boston University. So far I'm having a wonderful time, spending some time at home with my family and working with Bobby and Zoe who both are assistant directors on the Board of Admissions. As a student speaker, I feel pretty privileged to be here.

As I'm traveling around Texas but missing Boston quite a bit, it is pretty inevitable that I always notice some differences between the two states. Texas is one of more notoriously republican state while Massachusetts is quite liberal. Texas produces southern gentlemen (supposedly) while Massachusetts apparently has "massholes." Texans yield and open doors for you while "Massholes" just slam the door in your face. So I decided to write about some survival tips in the state of Texas. After all, everyone says, don't mess with Texas.

1. Learn how to use the word "Ya'll." I understand, it sounds unnatural at first, but it will come flawlessly after a couple times. Texans don't believe in wasting a word by saying you all or you guys. It's simple, ya'll.

2. Please be considerate and open doors for other people. It usually earns to brownie points, but really, in TX, people will give you the dirtiest looks ever if you slam the door in others' faces. This goes to not just the guys, but also the girls as well.

3. Accept and welcome southern hospitality. If someone's being nice to you - say, let you go first, open the door, give up the seat, it's not weird. Just thank them and smile. Not hard at all. If southern hospitality is offered, it is expected that you accept it politely.

4. Cowboys = Life. Football = Life.

5. Trucks are perfectly okay. Why drive mini coopers when F350's are available?

I think that's about it. Very very basic tips. If you keep all these in mind, you will have no problem blending in with a bunch of Texans.

Peace, Love, TX ;)