I don't know about you, but I don't have an accent.
I don't know about you, but I consider myself polite when dealing with strangers/customers/clients.
I don't know about you, but I try to limit my use of "slang" words.
I don't know about you, but lately I have been paying attention to what people around me are saying, and I feel like the country cousin who has that crazy accent, no manners whatsoever, and speaks some almost uninteligible words.
Before I came down to Summerville, I told myself that I would not allow myself to slip into a Southern accent. Not that I had a problem with an accent- I truly enjoy listening to individuals native to the coastal South and how they pronounce different words, I find the accent fairly soothing. No, I wanted to steer clear of an accent because I like my Midwest accent and figure that some day I might move back, so why lose what I've spent 23 years perfecting? (Also, I have family and friends who would pounce on an accent and tease me mercilessly!!) Day 3 on the job I almost gained my Southern accent. I had been training with my co-worker all day, a lady who is from Summerville and has lived here her entire life. After I was done working with her for the day, I was set up in my office reading my training manual when I suddenly realized that the way I was pronouncing the words in my head was exactly how my co-worker had been saying them all day. It was quite amusing. What was even more funny was me practicing that accent while I was driving home that day. It didn't sound anything like the voice that was in my head! I regressed after that, partially out of natural habit and partially out of spending almost two weeks at home during Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, the other day at church I found myself drawling out a few words and sounds while I was talking with a few people...maybe I am taking on an accent! At the very least I will hopefully start entertaining people with my bad mix of Southern and Midwest accents.
I work in an office that has mostly Southern natives. They might not all be from the Charleston area, but all but two of my co-workers are from Southern states. Everyone in my office is very polite to one another (which I am thankful for every day!), but I noticed a little difference between myself and my Michigan co-worker and everyone else. While we said "please, and thank you." like everyone else, I couldn't help but notice that we seemed a little more "cold" (if that's even the right word) than the other. I paid close attention one day when it was slow in the clinic. (Slow in the clinic means no one is there. There is no middle ground in between crazy busy and completely dead!) The biggest difference I noticed was the fact that everyone referred to one another by the term "Miss" or "Mister" before using the person's name. Whether longtime coworker or new client, older individual or younger, everyone received this treatment. Even clients who come in with bouncing-off-the-walls-throwing-toys-at-your-head children will immediately pounce upon children who don't respond with a "Ma'am" or "Sir" when addressing an adult, and the kids almost always listen! For awhile I just laughed at my discovery. Imagine addressing your co-workers by titles. I mean, at my old job I would just call my boss, "Ted" and the co-workers I liked were addressed by names like Truck, Keri Berry, Craig (Not his real name!), The Einstein Brothers, The Prince of Darkness, The Bluebird of Happiness, Sunshine, Eskimo, James Allen, and Big Head. And remember, those were names for the co-workers I liked! So like I said, at first I kind of laughed at calling my boss "Miss Kristi" in front of clients, but as I became more aware of how people were addressing one another, it became more and more like calling my best friend's mom "Sarah" instead of "Mrs. Everhard" if I didn't call her "Miss" Kristi. Maybe I could be a little more polite...
Like I said, I really try to avoid the use of most slang words. Most of the time I feel like my IQ drops anytime I have to use a slang word, especially the word "like" when used in Valley Girl context (which is something I do ALL the time!). However, it is getting more and more difficult to avoid them. I have a co-worker who "fixes" to do things all the time. I want to look at her and say, "No, you aren't fixing to go to the doctor's office. You are getting ready or preparing to go to the doctor's office." I could give a few more examples of regional slang here in SC, but I would rather just end this section on a big note. My least favorite slang word is "ya'll." Also, "ya'll's" or the very best: "all(s) ya'll's." I understand this is regional slang, but I definitely cannot bring myself to say it. That being said, this is not a "bash Southerners" section. As I mentioned before, I say "like" much to often, and I can state as fact that I am the only one in the office using that particular slang. I would venture to guess that I do not always come across as professional when I say things such as, "The doctor was like, well, we could give the baby this formula but like, what if he needs a different one?" Also, my standard greeting of "How are you guys doing?" during class times or when I have a family visiting the clinic is met with veiled amused disdain. I have resorted to an even more neutral greeting of, "How is everyone doing today?" As a result of my dislike of slang words, I have tried to use more correct grammar when speaking. However, that makes me sound like a robot, so now I am trying to walk the line between being relateable and speaking my primary language in a grammatically acceptable fashion. Oh the difficulties in my life...
Well, I have set as a goal for myself the monumental task of preparing my lunch meals and clothing for the next day on the evening before, so I am off to pull everything together before I retire to my bed to read (or fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow!) Sleep tight and don't hate me for bragging about my 60 degrees and sunshine for the upcoming weekend!
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