Now that I’ve moved away, I’ve been reflecting on the years I spent living in the South — first in Louisiana for college, and later in Texas. It was a time full of flavor, tradition, and celebration. Some of the experiences I had there are truly unique to the region, and they’ve shaped who I am and how I see the world.
The Food
Before moving to Louisiana for college, my idea of “Southern food” was pretty limited. But stepping into the culinary scene of the South — especially Louisiana — was like opening the door to an entirely new world of flavors, history, and community.
Louisiana cuisine is rooted in a mix of cultures: French, Spanish, African, and Native American influences all come together to create Creole and Cajun cooking. Crawfish boils, for example, are a social event as much as they are a meal, with steaming piles of seasoned crawfish poured out onto long tables for everyone to share. I also tried boiled peanuts for the first time — a snack with deep roots in Southern agriculture, going back to the 19th century when peanuts were widely grown and sold fresh at roadside stands.
And then there was the day I went to an LSU football game and ordered nachos. My sorority sister piled hers high with pickled jalapeños — something I’d never even thought to try. One bite and I was hooked. Now, I can’t imagine eating nachos without them.
In Texas, I fell in love with breakfast tacos and kolaches. Breakfast tacos — a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine — are typically filled with scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and sometimes chorizo, all wrapped in a warm tortilla. Kolaches, on the other hand, are a sweet nod to the Czech immigrants who settled in Texas in the 1800s. These pillowy pastries are filled with fruit, cream cheese, or sausage, and they’re as common in small-town bakeries as they are at gas stations.
Food in the South isn’t just about taste — it’s about hospitality, tradition, and bringing people together. Every meal has a story.
The Traditions of Southern Sororities
When I was accepted to LSU, one of the things I was most excited about was joining a sorority. Sororities exist all over the country, but in the South, they often hold to traditions that make the experience feel especially rooted and storied.
Greek life in the South is a big deal — recruitment is often a week-long, highly organized event, and many chapters have deep ties to the university, going back generations. At LSU, my chapter’s history was woven into the campus itself.
I had the privilege of living in the sorority house for two years, and it felt like being part of one big, slightly chaotic family. Meals were shared together, events were a constant, and there was always someone to talk to (or borrow an outfit from). One of my favorite traditions was making personalized party cups — colorful, reusable cups decorated with our names, which we’d use for events or just around the house. I still have some, and they always make me smile.
Living in a Southern sorority taught me about sisterhood, leadership, and the balance between honoring tradition and making space for change.
A Culture of Celebration
One of my absolute favorite things about the South is the way celebrations are embraced as part of everyday life. Whether it was a small-town parade, a festival, or a football game, there always seemed to be an event on the horizon.
Mardi Gras, of course, is the ultimate example — a weeks-long celebration with parades, costumes, music, and food that dates back to the French Catholic settlers of the 18th century. But it’s not just Mardi Gras. In the South, football games feel like holidays, complete with tailgating feasts, marching bands, and entire communities turning out in school colors.
Even outside of big events, there’s a sense of togetherness. Block parties, crawfish boils, and Friday night football games all bring people together. In the South, hospitality isn’t a chore — it’s a way of life.
Other Things I Loved
While food, traditions, and celebrations are the big three for me, there are a few other Southern experiences worth mentioning:
- The architecture — From the French Quarter’s colorful balconies draped in ironwork to the wide, wraparound porches of historic homes, Southern architecture tells its own story. In Louisiana, the influence of French, Spanish, and Caribbean styles blends into something entirely unique. In Texas, you’ll find a mix of rustic ranch houses, mid-century gems, and grand courthouses anchoring small-town squares. Walking through these neighborhoods often felt like stepping back in time.
- The music — Jazz, blues, country, zydeco — live music is everywhere, from dive bars to big festivals.
- The landscapes — From the bayous of Louisiana to the Hill Country of Texas, the South’s natural beauty is incredibly diverse.
If you’ve ever lived in the South — or even visited — you know it’s a place where food, tradition, and celebration come together in a way that makes you feel welcome. I’ll always carry a little bit of that Southern spirit with me, no matter where I go.
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