10 Things I’ve Learned Dating A Wisconsin Man

I, a girl from the South, have learned a lot about Wisconsin as I've been dating a Wisconsinite.

I'm from Arkansas and, while there's a lot of crossover between the South and the Midwest (we all love casseroles and opening day of deer season might as well be a state holiday), there are a few things that are specifically unique to each area. I've been dating a guy from Wisconsin lately who is the first Midwestern guy I've dated (consistently at least) so here are 10 things I've learned so far.

10.

I love the outdoors, so this is fine for me, but I feel like Midwestern guys are so into outdoor pursuits, whether it's hunting, fishing, biking, rock climbing, whatever. I figured out quickly I need to get good durable sneakers.

9.

This man of mine mixes cottage cheese into apple pie filling. I was so confused the first time he did it but I grew fond of it really quickly. I had no idea you could replace fries with cheese curds as a side at Culver's until we went to one. Cheese is pivotal in a Wisconsite's diet.

8.

The thing that drew me to the Quad Cities was the phenomenon known as "Iowa Nice" and that same welcoming spirit apparently extends to Wisconsin.

7.

That isn't to say we don't have fish frys (fries?) in the South, but they're more like crawfish boils. In the Midwest, the all-you-can-eat Friday night fish frys reign supreme, especially during Lent for the Catholic fams.

6.

I had never heard of this game before I started dating a Wisconsin man. And honestly, I don't know that I have the brain cells to actually play it. He tried to explain the rules and I googled it and tried to understand it that way, but I'm not sure I'll ever have the aptitude to actually play it.

5.

Wisconsin is home to Miller, Leinenkugels, PBR, and New Glarus. Coors Light is brewed in Milwaukee too.

4.

I've lived in the Midwest for pushing two years now and I'm still not used to snow. My dairyland dime, however, isn't intimidated by it at all.

3.

Every time this song has popped up in my man's shuffle, he has a moment. And I can't blame him or Wisconsinites, since it's a bop.

2.

He loves brats and I think he would be fine grilling in 40-degree weather.

1.

My southern drawl can show itself every once in a while too but the drawn-out 'o' in a Wisconsin accent can pop out of even a neutral voice and it makes me smile every time.

What are some of your favorite Wisconsin traditions? Let me know in the app chat!