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DEL.ICIO.USIt’s North vs. South in good-natured culture clash
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq — Georgia’s soldiers are learning the art of “cawfee� talk in Iraq.
Yes, “cawfee.� As in how the Yankees in their unit pronounce coffee. Add “dawgs� for dogs and “bettuh� for better. Then throw in some Northern phrases like “wicked bad,� which means really good, and that is enough to make the Georgians’ heads spin.
National Guard soldiers from across Georgia are serving in the 48th Brigade Combat Team with scores of Northerners from the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment of Rhode Island. The 172nd pulls troops from all over the Northeast, including New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut.
After fighting alongside the Northerners for months in Iraq, some Georgians find the culture clash has become a source of much good-natured bantering. Some of the Southerners have started dropping their r’s like New Yorkers. Others do it just to tease each other.
Sgt. Jesse Bowling of Lumber City smiled when he spotted one of his Rhode Island buddies, Spc. Gregory Carter, wandering around piles of auto parts at the motor pool recently.
“Cawter!� Bowling shouted. “Did you find some pawts?�
“When he first said ‘pawts,’ â€? Bowling said, “we said, ‘Are you going to do some cooking?’ â€?
The Northerners also say they have trouble understanding their counterparts from the South. The Georgians greet them with “y’all� and pronounce “pens� as “pins.� Carter laughed as he talked about how he heard a Georgian use a made-up word.
“I learned a new word from these guys, ‘The onliest thing you got to worry about.’ â€? Carter said, imitating his friend.
Despite their occasional communication problems, the soldiers appear to get along well — even when they talk about the Civil War. On the night before Thanksgiving, a few of them were excitedly discussing the war at Camp Korean Village, a small U.S. military outpost near the Jordanian border.
First Lt. Jeff Ahern of Johnston, R.I., proudly talked about how he plays a Union soldier in Civil War battle re-enactments. Sitting across from Ahern, Capt. William Bailey of Milledgeville said he played a Confederate soldier once.
There was a touch of tension in the air when 1st Lt. Alan Dufresne of Warwick, R.I., walked into the room and rolled his eyes.
“The only thing you have to know about the Civil War is who won,� Dufresne joked.
As if to rub it in, Dufresne imitated a Southern drawl. Bailey immediately saw an opening and jumped in.
“What was funny was your attempt at a Southern accent. Because it was really quite pathetic,� Bailey said.
Dufresne shot back: “That wasn’t a Southern accent. That was a Capt. Bailey accent.�
Comments
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By The Grinch
December 21, 2005 10:02 AM | Link to this
I worked year in New Jersey one week. I hugged the first southern redneck I seen when I got off the plane in Atlanta and thanked God for the south. Rudest A holes I have ever seen in my life.
By Kat Orr in Loganville GA
December 21, 2005 11:03 AM | Link to this
HAHAHAHAHA! Oh boy can I EVER relate with this article… I was born and raised here in Georgia, but had to live in New Jersey for six years… I CAN ABSOLUTLEY RELATE to the communication/culture differences!!!!
By Trevor
December 22, 2005 02:59 AM | Link to this
I want to wish my fellow Guardsmen a very meaningful and safe Christmas day.
Thank you all for your service.
Regards,
Another Georgian soldier in Baghdad
By Terri Harris
December 22, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this
Just want to say merry CHRISTmas and Happy Birthday JESUS to all of our brave, wonderful soldiers and especially to my little brother SPEC MICHAEL S RICHARDS in the Charlie First Foot TF/2-22 still in a combat zone in baghdad for over 8 months now. Hang in there and May God be with all of you. Love You Mike, sis
By julie
December 22, 2005 11:35 AM | Link to this
Hey 48th!!!
Ya’ll have a Merry and SAFE Christmas !!
Thanks for standing between us and the enemy. The true patriots are very proud of ya’ll.
Love and prayers, Julie Griffin, Georgia
By Georgia Native
December 22, 2005 04:13 PM | Link to this
As a native Southerner, who married a New Jersey Yankee, I can relate to the language barriers!!
Merry Christmas to all, hopefully you will all be able to return safely home soon and spend the next Christmas with your families.
By Ann Barnes
December 23, 2005 12:03 AM | Link to this
I would like to take this time to wish ALL of our soldiers a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Please Stay Safe! I would like to wish my Husband, 1SG Bobby Barnes a very very special MERRY CHRISTMAS! I know that you cant’ be home this Christmas but I am so looking forward to next year when you will be home. I Love You so much and I am so very PROUD of YOU! I know, that you know, that “JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON”! May God Bless each and everyone of you over there and your families as well. Merry Christmas 148FSB, 48BCT, B. Company..
By Robert
December 23, 2005 12:44 AM | Link to this
Please, let’s have no regional stereotyping in the AJC coverage. Let’s just stick to the serious issues affecting our troops. Everyone over there are proud members of the 48th Brigade and we support them all. Also, I thought Jeremy Redmon has been back in Georgia now for awhile so how is this “story” just now surfacing?
I wish everyone in the 48th a Merry Christmas and hope you all come home safely.
Robert
By Phil in New York City
December 23, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this
I, too, can relate to this article. I am a native Georgian from the Valdosta area, now living in Staten Island, NY. I’ve definitely got a Southern accent and it draws attention when I speak around here. I actually feel I am in the inverse situation of those Brooklynites in the movie “My Cousin Vinny.” Everyone around here speaks like Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, and here I am with my Deep South way of talking. New York is a big change from the ag towns of South Georgia, but must say New Yorkers are nice folks, at least most of them are. They deserve more credit than we give them down South.
By Phil in New York City
December 23, 2005 10:26 AM | Link to this
I, too, can relate to this article. I am from the Valdosta area (deep southern Georgia) but now live in Staten Island, New York City. Its definelty different. My Deep South accent definitely gets noticed here. I actually feel like I am living the inverse life of the Brooklynite characters in “My Cousin Vinny.” Everyone here has the Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei accents, which I find very funny. I’m sure they get a kick with the way I talk, too. Anyway, New Yorkers (most of them) are nice folks. They are much friendlier that we give them credit for down South.
I also want to wish a Merry Christmas to my cousin, Chris White, with the 48th in Iraq. God bless our troops.
By Glenda
December 23, 2005 11:33 AM | Link to this
I would like to wish all of our soldiers with the 48th at Camp Al Asad a Merry Christmas even though you are so far away from your family and loved ones you are in our hearts,minds and prayers at all times. And to my husband Spc. Ramos, Guillermo with 1/118th, I love you sooooo much,Sophia and I will miss you greatly this Christmas, we pray that the Lord continue to protect and guide you. You Complete Us!! Merry Christmas baby and enjoy your gifts! Te amo mi amor, Tu Cuki xoxoxoxoxoxox