What it means to be a Hoosier
A microculture I am apart of is being a Hoosier since birth, more specifically a central Indiana Hoosier. The exact definition according to Dictionary.com is “Hoosier [ hoo-zher ] noun a native or inhabitant of Indiana (used as a nickname). The origin of how this nickname was created and mainstreamed is a little bit more difficult and historians have not been able to conclusively agree upon one answer. I didn’t realize how I valued or realized my membership to this microculture until coming to the UK and living here. Most people when I tell them where I am from they have no clue where Indiana is, to begin with, or if they know where it is they know nothing about it. I have grown up in central Indiana my entire life, so have my both my parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents. Hoosier values are deeply rooted into my family’s values and cultures.
Often times, Hoosiers can be stereotyped as obese, uneducated, farm folk, or improper I mean watch the show Parks & Recreation where they highlight all of these things about Hoosiers. These things yes do exist in Indiana I will not deny that, but not every Indiana resident has all those traits. We are more than the stereotypes and the values we have are well said by John Gregg, a Democratic candidate,“To hold ‘Hoosier values’ means to respect hard work, personal responsibility and faith. These values draw the Indiana community together, from church on Sunday morning until the basketball court on Friday night”. This is the essence of the local people: Hoosiers. This definition does not sum up all Hoosier values because although we belong to the same Microculture doesn’t mean we are the exact same. We do have some common phrases and characteristics such as:
To you, a tenderloin is not an expensive cut of beef, but a big, salty, breaded, & fried piece of pork served on a bun with a pickle.
You say things like catty-corner and know what it means.
You have no problem spelling or pronouncing Terre Haute …
You know what the phrases “this is May” and “the greatest spectacle in racing” mean
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
You end your sentences with prepositions, as in 'Where's it at?' or 'Where's he going to?'
I would expect if I found a Hoosier in England today we would connect significantly more than if we were at home on a day to day basis. We have a commonality that binds us together in a sometimes scary and unfamiliar place. We could talk about the major differences that England holds compared to the “Big City” of Indianapolis. We may not become best pals right off the bat but we would have an instant bond and connection to one another. I think the biggest miscommunication with my English counterparts is explaining the vast size of the US. It is hard to explain barely any Hoosiers uses public transportation and on average their commute to work is over 15 miles. Hoosier microculture and the Londoner microcultures are very different but both hold values that are important and should be appreciated for what they are.
