Originally a Carolina girl, I moved up to Boston from Charlotte when I started working with Silverscape. The move definitely shed some light on some interesting differences in northern and southern culture (some of which proved to be opposite the stereotypes too I might add!) and although I don’t find the people up here much different, apparently they don’t think the same of me. For example, one of my first days in the city I was sitting on the train with only a few other people when a woman got on the train and walked over to sit across from me. Naturally, I smiled and said hi in greeting. The woman, offended and horrifed, looked at me in disbelief and moved to a further seat. And I won’t even mention what people do when I accidentally let a ‘y’all’ slip out.

Since becoming one of the very few Southern New Englanders, I’ve noticed that this not only affects my day to day interactions but also plays into some interesting exchanges with clients. Several times when a client is meeting me for the first time, they’re astonished to realize that I have a southern accent. Then the next part is what surprises me. People seem to get excited to work with someone from North Carolina – they always bring up how refreshing it is to get a taste of southern hospitality and say that it makes them feel like they’re getting the special treatment. Personally I’ve found the stereotype of mean Northerners to be entirely inaccurate, but apparently for Northerners there’s a real difference. So how to fake southern hospitality: Smile a lot, be friendly (as opposed to merely courteous) and be open – talk to your clients often, even if it’s just to check in. Part of the southern charm is being personable and relaxed – even if it’s work-related, you don’t always have to jump right into business and even when you do that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun.