If you’re thinking of moving to Nebraska, we think that’s a pretty great choice. You can’t just show up here and immediately assimilate, though. There are some finer points of Nebraska culture that you should really get to know before you put down roots here.
- Is it soda or pop?
flickr/Mike Mozart The state seems pretty evenly divided on this issue, so you’re going to hear some disagreement no matter where you go - just pick a side and stick with it.
- What’s a Runza?
flickr/Michael McLean If you don’t know these delightful pockets of meat and cabbage yet, acquaint yourself with them ASAP. They’re Nebraska’s signature fast food, and after you move here your belly will demand them pretty regularly.
- Do you knowhow to pronounce these town names?
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM How would you say Kearney, Norfolk, Beatrice, Steinauer, and Cairo? These - and other - town names are pronounced differently in Nebraska than you might expect. You might want to brush up on your Nebraskanese (the language of Nebraska, of course) before you arrive.
- How do you feel about talking to strangers?
flickr/Demo Trick question - there are no strangers in Nebraska! Only friends we haven’t yet accosted on the street and drawn into a long conversation about mutual acquaintances, sports, weather, or whatever else comes to mind.
- Why does this guy keep lifting his fingers at other drivers?
flickr/dornorozeto Don’t worry if you see other drivers lifting a finger or two as you drive past them. It’s a friendly midwestern greeting that’ll make you feel right at home no matter where you go in Nebraska.
- Do you have a tornado plan?
flickr/UCAR, Bob Henson We get a ton of summer storms every year, but most of them don’t turn into anything super serious. When they do, though, you’d better have a plan. A safe place to go, a weather radio, and a supply of water and food are pretty standard tornado-planning stuff.
- Do you love the beach?
flickr/viewfinderview Never mind that we’re literally the most landlocked state in the nation. We’ve still got plenty of gorgeous beaches to lounge on. This one at Lake McConaughy is one of the prettiest and most popular.
- How’s your reaction time when you’re driving?
flickr/Dvortygirl The weather here fluctuates so drastically and so quickly that our streets and sidewalks tend to become like rocky Swiss cheese. You’ve got to have a sharp eye and a quick hand to avoid driving straight into a chasm like this. Oh, and you’ve also got to avoid hitting other cars while you slalom down the road. Good luck!
- How much red clothing do you own?
flickr/Dontae Rockymore You’ll be expected to wear a Huskers shirt, hoodie, jacket, hat, or other appropriate attire around game day. You can get by without the official merch - just be sure you’ve at least got a red t-shirt on hand.
- Do you know what this sign means?
flickr/Jay Galvin No, seriously. It’s not just letting you know that there may be deer nearby. It’s telling you that this is a favorite spot for the gentle critters to hop across the road, usually directly in front of an oncoming car. Always keep your eyes peeled.
- Is there anything to do in Nebraska?
flickr/Shannon Ramos Oh, we’ve got you covered. Besides the world-class zoo, museums, sports venues, and historic districts, we’ve also got festivals happening just about every weekend, no matter what time of year it is. You’ve got to know where to look, but you can always find something awesome to do.
- Is “Nebraska Nice” really a thing?
flickr/Didriks It really is! We’re proud of our Midwestern friendliness and we really try to welcome all newcomers with open arms. We can’t wait to share our beautiful home state with you.
Do you feel a little more prepared now for life in the Cornhusker State? If you’re a transplant, what are some of the things you wish someone had told you about before you moved here? Give us your two cents in the comments.
flickr/Mike Mozart
The state seems pretty evenly divided on this issue, so you’re going to hear some disagreement no matter where you go - just pick a side and stick with it.
flickr/Michael McLean
If you don’t know these delightful pockets of meat and cabbage yet, acquaint yourself with them ASAP. They’re Nebraska’s signature fast food, and after you move here your belly will demand them pretty regularly.
flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
How would you say Kearney, Norfolk, Beatrice, Steinauer, and Cairo? These - and other - town names are pronounced differently in Nebraska than you might expect. You might want to brush up on your Nebraskanese (the language of Nebraska, of course) before you arrive.
flickr/Demo
Trick question - there are no strangers in Nebraska! Only friends we haven’t yet accosted on the street and drawn into a long conversation about mutual acquaintances, sports, weather, or whatever else comes to mind.
flickr/dornorozeto
Don’t worry if you see other drivers lifting a finger or two as you drive past them. It’s a friendly midwestern greeting that’ll make you feel right at home no matter where you go in Nebraska.
flickr/UCAR, Bob Henson
We get a ton of summer storms every year, but most of them don’t turn into anything super serious. When they do, though, you’d better have a plan. A safe place to go, a weather radio, and a supply of water and food are pretty standard tornado-planning stuff.
flickr/viewfinderview
Never mind that we’re literally the most landlocked state in the nation. We’ve still got plenty of gorgeous beaches to lounge on. This one at Lake McConaughy is one of the prettiest and most popular.
flickr/Dvortygirl
The weather here fluctuates so drastically and so quickly that our streets and sidewalks tend to become like rocky Swiss cheese. You’ve got to have a sharp eye and a quick hand to avoid driving straight into a chasm like this. Oh, and you’ve also got to avoid hitting other cars while you slalom down the road. Good luck!
flickr/Dontae Rockymore
You’ll be expected to wear a Huskers shirt, hoodie, jacket, hat, or other appropriate attire around game day. You can get by without the official merch - just be sure you’ve at least got a red t-shirt on hand.
flickr/Jay Galvin
No, seriously. It’s not just letting you know that there may be deer nearby. It’s telling you that this is a favorite spot for the gentle critters to hop across the road, usually directly in front of an oncoming car. Always keep your eyes peeled.
flickr/Shannon Ramos
Oh, we’ve got you covered. Besides the world-class zoo, museums, sports venues, and historic districts, we’ve also got festivals happening just about every weekend, no matter what time of year it is. You’ve got to know where to look, but you can always find something awesome to do.
flickr/Didriks
It really is! We’re proud of our Midwestern friendliness and we really try to welcome all newcomers with open arms. We can’t wait to share our beautiful home state with you.
If you’re still on the fence about a potential Nebraska move, maybe these 15 reasons Nebraska is the best will help you decide.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
