Kansas is full of surprises, and so are the people who live here. Of course, we’ve developed our communities into happy, friendly places that are rich in history and full of people with plenty of quirks. These Kansas quirks probably won’t surprise you, but we’ve never been anywhere that’s quite like us. All of these put together make a Kansan, through and through.
- Preferring to be outside when you hear tornado sirens.
Dylan Edwards/Flickr Once they go off for a real tornado and not just a test, you can bet most of us are out there lookin’ out for it. We just want a video, a couple photos, and then we’ll head for cover if need be. Unless we’re already out chasing, that is!
- Being ready for the weather to switch seasons overnight.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr I can remember a recent week where it hit 70° one day, and the next morning it snowed. Of course, that was last week and probably next week too. It happens all the time!
- Being the only ones who can pronounce many of our towns.
aNdrzej cH./Flickr It doesn’t have to be a hard word to say either, because people mispronounce Wichita and Salina all the time. I think they’d pass out trying to say Schoenchen or Osawatomie.
- Be a little more than polite to those we meet in passing.
DCvision2006/Flickr You don’t have to look crazy, but a simple smile and quick wave might just brighten someone’s day. Plus, it’s just polite when you see someone in passing.
- Our willingness to help someone in need.
Jan/Flickr Need help changing a tire? We’ll throw in a quick lesson on how to do it yourself next time, free of charge.
- Saying “R-Kansas river”
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr As soon as it flows out of Kansas, its name changes to the normal pronunciation of Arkansas, just like the state. Of course, some Kansans will refer to the state as “R-Kansas” as well, just to poke fun.
- Loving phrases like “ope” and “Do what?”
angela n./Flickr We embrace (and often don’t notice) just how much we say “ope” when people bump into us, when you drop something, or even just accidentally. As for the “Do what?” comment, refer to the prairie dog above for the confusion Kansans feel when they use this phrase. We’ve adopted it in place of “Excuse me?” when we don’t understand something, or we can’t believe it.
- Having entire weeks in the summer dedicated to city-wide garage sales.
Sandra Cohen-Rose/Flickr This might not be true everywhere, but it seems that most everywhere in Kansas has a citywide garage sales.
- Feeling a little claustrophobic driving through other states.
Doug Kerr/Flickr For some reason, we take comfort in being able to watch the skies and see our destination approaching on the horizon.
- Wearing shorts to school in the cold because you know it’ll be 75° by 3pm.
Michael Brace/Flickr Alternatively, going somewhere that same evening and wearing cold weather clothes because you know as soon as the sun sets, it’ll drop to 30° again.
- Eating foods named things like “S*** on a shingle”
Kurt Wagner/Flickr It’s just a meat gravy on toast, but you’d think it would taste terrible with a name like that. Most of us also abbreviate it to SOS for the same reason.
- Knowing just how important Bleeding Kansas was.
Ken Lund/Flickr It was an important turning point in our history, essentially starting the Civil War itself.
- Taking a photo of every gorgeous sunset.
David DeHetre/Flickr It’ll make sure you’re at least getting a few minutes of fresh air each night, but the sunsets here in Kansas (sometimes even when it’s storming) are spectacular.
If you still want to get out and explore this state that we’re so crazy about, why not start with these breathtaking locations?
Dylan Edwards/Flickr
Once they go off for a real tornado and not just a test, you can bet most of us are out there lookin’ out for it. We just want a video, a couple photos, and then we’ll head for cover if need be. Unless we’re already out chasing, that is!
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
I can remember a recent week where it hit 70° one day, and the next morning it snowed. Of course, that was last week and probably next week too. It happens all the time!
aNdrzej cH./Flickr
It doesn’t have to be a hard word to say either, because people mispronounce Wichita and Salina all the time. I think they’d pass out trying to say Schoenchen or Osawatomie.
DCvision2006/Flickr
You don’t have to look crazy, but a simple smile and quick wave might just brighten someone’s day. Plus, it’s just polite when you see someone in passing.
Jan/Flickr
Need help changing a tire? We’ll throw in a quick lesson on how to do it yourself next time, free of charge.
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr
As soon as it flows out of Kansas, its name changes to the normal pronunciation of Arkansas, just like the state. Of course, some Kansans will refer to the state as “R-Kansas” as well, just to poke fun.
angela n./Flickr
We embrace (and often don’t notice) just how much we say “ope” when people bump into us, when you drop something, or even just accidentally. As for the “Do what?” comment, refer to the prairie dog above for the confusion Kansans feel when they use this phrase. We’ve adopted it in place of “Excuse me?” when we don’t understand something, or we can’t believe it.
Sandra Cohen-Rose/Flickr
This might not be true everywhere, but it seems that most everywhere in Kansas has a citywide garage sales.
Doug Kerr/Flickr
For some reason, we take comfort in being able to watch the skies and see our destination approaching on the horizon.
Michael Brace/Flickr
Alternatively, going somewhere that same evening and wearing cold weather clothes because you know as soon as the sun sets, it’ll drop to 30° again.
Kurt Wagner/Flickr
It’s just a meat gravy on toast, but you’d think it would taste terrible with a name like that. Most of us also abbreviate it to SOS for the same reason.
Ken Lund/Flickr
It was an important turning point in our history, essentially starting the Civil War itself.
David DeHetre/Flickr
It’ll make sure you’re at least getting a few minutes of fresh air each night, but the sunsets here in Kansas (sometimes even when it’s storming) are spectacular.
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