Not As Sweet As Sweet Tea...

Enjoy this summer sweet...!

MINI MASON JAR STRAWBERRY CAKES

Cake Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of cake flour

1/4 tsp of baking powder

1/5 tsp of salt

1 stick and 1 tbsp of unsalted butter

1 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of powder strawberry gelatin

1 large egg yoke

1 large egg

1/2 cup of whole milk

1 1/2 tsp of vanilla

1/3 fresh strawberry puree

12 mason jars

Pam Spray

Frosting Ingredients

6 oz. of cream cheese

3/4 stick of unsalted butter

1 1/2 cup of powder sugar

3/4 tsp of vanilla

a shake of ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Pam spray the inside of jars

Place jars on a rimmed sheet

Mix all powdered ingredients together, except cake flour in a separate bowl

Mix all liquid ingredients together, except egg and egg yoke, in a separate bowl

Put mixer on low speed and slowly add the liquid ingredients to the powdered ingredients

Once mixed, add cake flour and egg/egg yoke

Mix until smooth (Do not overmix...or cake will be tough)

Fill jars under 2/3 full

Bake around 20 minutes...insert toothpick to make sure the center is cooked

Allow to cool...then seal jar with lids

How to serve

Place covered jars in a hot bath

Mix frosting ingredients together...then pour on top of warm cake

ENJOY!

What Zactly Y'all Sane?

It didn’t take us long to realize we were living in an entirely different world when we came down here. The dialect here is completely foreign to us. We seem to be catching on, but not too significantly. We just hope we don’t completely lose our northern accents!

We have noticed the language barrier everywhere we go; from talking to other students, professors, and even to the barista at Cups the hurdle seems to always exist. It didn’t take long for our friends to point out the mistakes in our dialect. We have been called out many times on how we say Nevada. We say it Nuh-vadd-ah, whereas everyone down here says Nah-vod-ah. We never really knew it was a north-south difference, but having it pointed out numerous times to us down here, we can finally pin-point the location for each pronunciation.

It didn’t just stop with Nevada; there is also a huge difference in our greetings. We had to get it pointed out to us yet again, but every time someone is introduced down here they insist on finding a mutual friend. They start to ask questions as to where you are from, what your maiden name was, or even what grade school you attended. For us, the mutual friend search in instantly over because we are from Minnesota and Alaska, and not many people down here know anyone from up North.

There is one word in particular we cannot seem to stop saying; y’all. What y’all doing for dinner? Have y’all gotten the homework done yet? It just doesn’t stop. We both use to say “you guys,” but that habit ended quickly. Now y’all has been consuming our everyday conversation, and we are embracing it in the best way possible.

On a recent trip to a nearby bookstore, we happened to glance through the writing and grammar section, only to find the shiniest gem in the bunch, “The Dixie Dictionary: The Way We Tawk Down South.” We must mention the excitement that overcame us when we both flipped through the pages.

A couple of words that caught our eyes were: zactly (exactly), ruts (roots), flow (floor) and sane (saying). We couldn’t help but laugh out loud because we have heard these words and have never been able to fully understand what zactly people were sane.

We have definitely come a long way from the “Oh yea you betcha’s” and “Oh sure’s” from up North, but we definitely have a lot to work on etiquette wise.

Upon arriving in the south, we both heard the general gist about manners down here. We heard men are gentlemen, and hold the doors open for ladies every chance they get. We also were drawn to the assumption that upon answering someone, it was always “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am.” All of these rumors hold true. We have never experienced such gentlemen behavior by the guys down here. They actually go out of their way to open and close our car doors for us! That is just something they don’t do too often up north. Let’s hope it makes its way up to Alaska sooner than later, hunh?

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Eudora Welty, strangely enough, has many things in common with us, one of which was her love for Southern culture. We had heard many times, on different occasions, that we must go visit the Welty house just down the street.

On a beautiful afternoon we took the nice ten minute stroll from Millsaps to the Belhaven community. We passed by all sorts of beautiful homes, and suddenly found ourselves exactly where we had to be, but only 15 minutes too late.

Upon walking in the house, we were greeted with fans, to keep us cool, and a film, to educate us on the life of Eudora. Once the video was finished, we realized we shared the same love of writing she once had. The books scattered about her home had the same feel our dorm room has; not one ounce of space that a book didn’t cover!

When we were traveling from room to room we both couldn’t believe the stories we heard about her life in and out of Jackson. She even attended the University of Wisconsin, just as Emily did prior to Millsaps. She also craved new adventures like we always do. Rose has been all over the world, from India to France to even Switzerland, and Emily has traveled all over England, France, and Italy! We all must have had the same travel bug.

What surprised us most was the location of the Welty home. Eudora and her family moved into their neighborhood when it was still considered the outskirts, almost a rural-like setting, of Jackson. We just couldn’t imagine Jackson any other way than the Jackson we fell in love with less than three months ago. Imagine the roads surrounding Belhaven composed of gravel, and the neighborhoods less suburbanized!

As usual, we both lost track of time and had to end the tour before we even made it to the backyard garden. On our power-walk back to campus, to try and catch our classes, we both could not stop talking about Eudora and the face she made for herself here in Jackson. We both appreciate Jackson, and we especially appreciate others who share in our feelings. Jackson has so much to offer, people just need to slow down and take a step back, because it is right in front of their faces.

Life Stink? We've Got a Pew For You

The South has always been seen as the Bible Belt to us Northerners. After living in such a religious culture we decided it would be beneficial to experience what the Bible Belt has to offer. Coming from two completely different religious backgrounds, we both had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

We have been noticing the extremely flamboyant church signs that clutter the roads of Mississippi. Each one speaks for a different religion, but all are welcoming outsiders inside. With that being said we decided to take a plunge into a couple.

Our first experience was a Methodist Church, Christ United. From the outside, we felt a little intimidated. The entire complex looked the size of a hockey arena. When we first walked in, we were greeted by men in tuxedos. Once we passed by their hospitable welcoming committee, we came across a table with a giant wedding cake displayed in the center. We couldn’t help but think, “What the heck is going on?”

Once we were handed a pamphlet, our uneasiness was quenched. The topic of the sermon was commitment. Clearly, we both received many lessons on how to make a successful marriage; a subject in which neither of us needed to be educated on quite yet. Let’s just say, we left the service with a new aspect on marriage and a craving for a second piece of that giant wedding cake!

The second church we went to was a Presbyterian church, First Presbyterian. This was a completely different experience. The church was around the size of a house, and was located in a very rural setting. When we walked through the front door, we were instantly greeted by the pastor. He introduced himself and thanked us for joining him for that Sunday morning service.

When we sat down, there could have only been around 30 people in the entire worship space. We sang songs of praise and said prayers for the needy. The sermon consisted of stories and lessons that came out of them. This Sunday it just so happened to be on loving God with your whole heart. The service felt as though we were sitting in on an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. We swear Aunt Bee was sitting in the pew in front of us!

After the service, we were shown around the church and given so many historical facts we just can’t keep them all straight! People were just so glad to see a fresh face to show around.

Our next Sunday service was a Catholic one, St. Thomas the Apostle. Emily, born and raised Catholic, felt right at home. Emily had to explain the tradition involved during the service to Rose. One thing Emily couldn’t explain was that most Catholic churches, down here, did not put out those flamboyant church signs, but they still drew quite a crowd. 

No matter where we are, we always become drawn to reading those cliché church signs. “When God reigns, the Son shines.” We cannot escape them! They are entertaining, but they really give meaning to the Bible Belt. We feel like we really experienced the Bible Belt these past couple months, and we are excited to share our stories to family and friends back home!

Going Green

When we moved down south we were told to expect two big celebrations: Mardi Gras in New Orleans and St. Patrick’s day in Jackson. Mardi Gras in New Orleans made sense to us as a part of the cultural heritage of Louisiana; but St. Patrick’s day in Jackson, MS? We were both surprised to learn that Jackson celebrated with such vehemence its Irish roots. We returned to Jackson from spring break the day before the St. Patrick’s day parade took place and eagerly joined fellow Mississippians on Saturday afternoon lining the streets of the downtown to await the parade.

All the way up in Alaska, Rose had heard of the Sweet Potato Queens: legendary (and at times scantily clad) figures meant to be the crowning elements of the parade. A book about the Sweet Potato Queens describing the bouffant, red hair; glittery false eyelashes and modern day hot pants is known all throughout America and we both eagerly anticipated the sight of such cultural icons. Unfortunately, the Sweet Potato Queens did not appear at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. We learned later that they had been given their own special parade, to be held this Saturday in Fondren, as they were no longer deemed “family friendly.”

Despite missing the Sweet Potato Queens, we were both mightily impressed with the parade and felt that we saw more of the Jackson population turn out during those few hours of the afternoon than in all of our time in Mississippi so far. The St. Patrick’s parade in Jackson is rumored to be one of the largest in the country and the enthusiasm of the crowd decked out in green clothing and glitter beads, as well as the floats on the street, upheld their reputation.

As we walked back from the parade we both remarked how different the downtown looked with all the people walking about- it seemed alive and urban! We noticed how beautiful the architecture of the buildings and churches were; and that the tree lined streets created a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Every other time we have walked around the downtown of Jackson, it has been empty to the point of eeriness; the difference the crowd gave to the atmosphere of the area was incredible and we felt we were glimpsing downtown Jackson as it had the potential to be.

As we walked along, we asked ourselves what the downtown would look like is there were more local cafes, restaurants and shops? We envisioned outdoor patios where people could sit outside with their food and drinks and talk. There is a small park off of ---, called Smith Park, with a fountain running through it and an amazing stage area where musicians or theater groups could perform. Jackson’s downtown has serious potential, but until the time and money can be sunk into creating the necessary business to gentrify the area, it will remain a ghost of a downtown.

The turnout for the St. Patrick’s parade showed us that Jackson has the spirit and the numbers to create a truly vibrant atmosphere, so why not keep that energy alive year round? Support the efforts businesses are making to develop Jackson’s downtown and midtown areas, such as the F Jones Corner Bar and the Underground 119; as well as other projects aiming to bring the arts to Jackson such as the Figment Project. 

Not So New Side of Town

Before we decided to move to Jackson, we both did the usual online preliminary research: history of the city, as well as various statistics such as population and crime. After two months down here, Jackson’s slogan: A City with Soul, strikes us as poignantly accurate. To our minds, the concept of “soul” is neither simple nor homogenous. Jackson has grit, it has an underbelly possibly more dangerous than most; but what it also has is an incredible community of individuals, businesses and projects working together to bring out the positive aspects of the city and ameliorate the negative. An example of that within Millsaps’ own campus is the Gleaners program which works to stop food from going to waste and distribute it to those in need.

We heard about the project from fellow student Jayson Porter, a sophomore, who comes to the cafeteria every Friday at 7:30 am to pack up the excess food from that week and transport it to the Gleaners headquarters about 10 minutes down the highway. Gleaners, aka The Volunteers of Gleaners, was started in 1986 by Gloria Martinson, a Jackson resident who wanted to decrease food waste and effectively supply it to various shelters and charities around town. The name “Gleaners” comes from the term “gleaning,” a reference to the collection of leftover crops after a field has been harvested. Millsaps participated in Gleaners a number of years ago, but has only in the last couple of weeks re-committed itself to the project.

Porter invited us to participate in Gleaners last Friday and we gladly complied. It was a bizarre sensation walking through the doors into the cafeteria kitchen, an area not normally open to students. As we did, we realized, yet again, that even the most seemingly simple things always have another side, another reality that we only become aware of when we actively choose to acknowledge it.

Together, with another student, senior Anne Waldrop, we scraped over 250 pounds of cafeteria food into bags and deposited it with the happy volunteers at the Gleaners headquarters. On our way back, Jayson offered to show us around West Jackson, an area we had heard much about but had little experience with ourselves.

Heading west from West Street we drove past an old burger joint, once commonly frequented by Millsaps students. The buildings that came next were mostly businesses, and Jayson explained that efforts were being made to revitalize that street with art and music stores and events. Next we took a left at the train tracks and drove past row after row of abandoned, boarded up houses. However, not all the houses and neighborhoods were in sad states of disrepair: there were many beautiful and brightly painted homes, some of which were constructed by Habitat for Humanity.  In these neighborhoods you could see the community that existed on the front porches and in the streets and fields where kids play on sunny days.

Driving back to West Street we saw the fence around the Millsaps campus from another perspective: as one looking at it from the outside, rather than from within. We wondered how the community of West Jackson must feel when they look in at the world of Millsaps separated from them by an iron fence and barbed wire. We asked ourselves what the community of Millsaps owes to the city of Jackson, and how a fence reflects on its motto of community involvement.

We are not quite sure what our next adventure will be. We also do not want to be cut short of any experience anyone feels we should endure. So feel free to visit our blog: http://hankerinthroughthesouth.blogspot.com/2011/01/take-1.html, and leave us a comment! We would love for you to join us too.  

Visitors ALWAYS Welcome

Since arriving in Mississippi nearly two months ago, both of us have been sending weekly (or sometimes daily) reports back home to our friends and families recounting our adventures in the south and this new culture we are slowly acclimating to. As the first members of both of our families to venture this far south within America for any extended time (in his youth, Rose’s father spent two weeks somewhere in Georgia learning the art of manufacturing elastic waistbands for women’s panties) our families are naturally curious about the people and lifestyles we encounter. Back home it seems, everyone has an opinion about this place, the south and Mississippi, that we are coming to love.

The reputation of the south, you could say, precedes it. Before leaving Alaska, over a dinner of pizza and breadsticks, Rose’s aunt left her some parting advice: “just don’t go down there and come back three times as big!” Rose laughed at her aunt’s words, but reflected that they really do represent the way in which many northerners view the south, and perhaps to a degree, how the south views itself.

Both of us have heard Mississippians jokingly proclaim themselves the poorest state, the fattest state, the state with the highest rates of infant mortality and the lowest rates of literacy. Whether these comments reflect a genuine sense of shame, joking indifference, or are a defense mechanism meant to keep criticism at bay, we are beginning to realize the way in which the south and southern identity exist in reaction to the view of the rest of the country- perhaps in the same way that we as Americans react to the stigma attached to our government and culture as judged and viewed from abroad.

The funny thing is, coming from Alaska, Rose could tell you a thing or two about how it feels living in the state overshadowed by the (beauty pageant winning!) figure of Sarah Palin; a state whose oil and coal saturated economy makes its living by exploiting the land of its resources.  In fact, upon reflection, Rose surmises that Alaska and Mississippi probably have more in common than one would initially think: vast tracts of rural, undeveloped land, a deep and abiding attachment to the second amendment; high rates of alcoholism, abuse and teenage parenthood. The list goes on.

When Rose’s sister, Paige, decided to spend a week of her school vacation visiting Mississippi, Rose was thrilled to introduce her to the world she was discovering. We made a list of things we wanted Paige to see and experience during her time here, including: a trip to Hattiesburg; the cemetery; southern fried EVERYTHING; excellent beer; a blues show; the Natchez Trace; the reservoir; a lazy afternoon fishing; Cool Al’s burgers; a walk through Jackson’s “urban” downtown; antebellum architecture; policemen riding horses?

We were not able to get through the entire list in one week, though we’d like to think we hit the most important things! Mostly we were happy to be able to share another side of the south: one including the positive aspects and giving at least a factual, rather than rumored, context for the negative. 

The Great Ol' Get Together of North Fairish Street

All in the Family

Since the both of us are far away from home, we cannot help but notice after one month that we are beginning to see Jackson in a completely different manner.

It all began one week ago when we asked each other what time we would be home for dinner. It has now escalated to finding our residence for next semester. Jackson is making us feel more and more at home. I mean, we must feel pretty welcome since we are considering another semester down here and all, right?

The people we have encountered this past month have really given us some southern comfort. When we came down with the flu, friends came to our bedsides bringing a wide variety of medicine for us to consume. We have also been cooked some astounding southern dishes; from savory seafood gumbo to a decadent bread pudding, the meals show the love and hospitality families and friends shower us with.

We also cannot forget to mention the company we have been fortunate enough to encounter. It is great to be able to talk to someone, or enjoy a Sunday dinner with a friend’s family, and feel so incredibly welcome. It is as if we have known them for years! They even send us back to our dorms with cookies and baked goods for our late night sweet tooth cravings.

Our new families even gave us advice regarding our latest adventure. We decided to find Jackson’s famous Greenwood Cemetery. We were told by many locals that Confederate soldiers were buried there; we just had to see it! We had looked up some directions on the Internet, but we decided to just go for a stroll downtown and hopefully run into it.

By mistake, we found ourselves off by a couple blocks and at the edge of what seemed to be an abandon neighborhood. After much thought, we decided we couldn’t put ourselves into a dangerous situation. We decided to stick to the main roads downtown.

The sights of the abandon homes we glanced at, gave us a feeling of fear. We, being two young women, could have easily been put into a dangerous situation. We know we keep telling you fellow Millsapians to venture out of the Millsaps community, but please never wander off alone!

A friend’s mother gave us her motherly advice, telling us to use our brains and to follow your gut instincts. She said Jackson has plenty to offer, you just do not need to travel off the beaten path to find it.

We finally run into the Greenwood Cemetery after a couple minutes of uncertainty.  We could not believe the history involved with this famous final resting place. We stumbled upon graves dating back to BEFORE the Civil War.  This was astonishing to us! We felt such an eerie presence as we walked between all the gravestones. We couldn’t help but imagine all of the stories buried with all those people. Who would have thought a cemetery could provide us with such entertainment?

Even though it took us an arm and a leg to get to the cemetery, we were extremely pleased we experienced such an encounter with Greenwood Cemetery. We just now need to use our instincts and make smart decisions for the other journeys and adventures we have planned!

We are very grateful for families and friends making us part of their families. It really makes Mississippi such a unique place full of people who care about us and our adventures we have planned!

The Rock That Holds Mississippi Together

The idea of snow seems foreign to us now that we have both made the big move down south. The local news stations are broadcasting snow advisories, and telling people how to drive on black ice. We both cannot help but laugh out loud! The snow does not stop us Northerners from going about our daily lives. We’ve both driven in blizzards to get ourselves that cup of jo, or even to buy that new cardigan that’s on sale at Gap. Snow is just one of those things that we have always overlooked, until now.

Winter weather advisories were out the night we made plans to attend a blues concert at a local venue on historic Fairish Street. We had stumbled upon this fun-filled evening because of a late night craving for music. We just had to go listen to Mississippi’s legendary soul music. The weather was not going to stop us. We decided to take our chances and endure the “dangerous” weather.

Our first impression of the Frank Jones Corner House was intimidating. It was the only building on the block that wasn’t tattered and run down. Oddly enough, it was the only business open on North Fairish Street. It took a little encouragement to get each other out of the car, but we both managed to walk into the deserted building.

Inside, we could not believe how cozy they could make such a cold neighborhood feel. We sat down at the bar, and were instantly greeted by a middle-aged man. He got us both something to drink, and began to ask us questions. Before long, we were indulging in historical conversations revolving around Jackson with the entire staff of this cozy venue.

They were quite impressed with our curiosity of Mississippi culture. Once they warmed up to us, they brought out historical archives pertaining to a variety of things; Confederate soldier’s graves, Tupelo, The King Edward’s Hotel, and Greenwood Cemetery. They told us how they wanted to “revitalize Jackson’s historical downtown one beer at a time,” which just so happen to be their bar motto.

The middle-aged man, who was the owner of the bar, told us he was proud of his state unlike most Mississippians. He said that while growing up, everyone he encountered associated him with negative attributes, because he was from Mississippi. In response to those sorts of comments, he said his father told him to tell those people that Mississippi did something great; they were number one in mule production. “Now that is something to be proud of,” he commented.

The music started at midnight, and the venue began to draw a small crowd of locals. The band that was set to perform called themselves the Amazin’ Lazy Boi. When they first began to play, we weren’t too impressed. The music sounded just like the garage bands we heard back home. Our minds quickly changed when a small man was called up to the stage. He was called “The Rock.” He was short, skinny, and had only one arm, but could that man sing! We both stopped talking and began tapping our feet to the rhythm.

He sang covers of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, which got the audience very hyped up. People began to steadily walk up to the stage, putting dollar bills in the tip jar. The mood of the venue had significantly changed now that “The Rock” had the microphone.

With the morning soon approaching, we decided we had to get going. The entire drive back to the dorms, we couldn’t stop talking about the music we heard. We finally got to experience the blues. The evening started with disappointment, but it ended with a life-changing experience. This evening was why we came down to Mississippi. We talked with locals who love their city, and only want what’s best for their fellow Jacksonians.

We highly recommend all of our peers to leave the gates of Millsaps and explore these hidden gems just down the street. Jackson has so much to offer, and after an evening full of blues and great conversation, we are only more motivated and excited for our next adventure. 

Elvis is NOT DEAD

Since the birth of America, the Mississippi River has served as an essential piece of history, as a speedy connector to valuable economic markets between two totally different cultures: the north with their frontier-like existence and the South notorious for their plantations and fashionable antebellum culture. The only thing the two had in common was Mark Twain’s legendary tales about newcomers and their adventures surrounding the river.

Since both of us are from the North-Emily born and raised in Minnesota- we have our own opinion of the Mississippi River. Far from cultural or even nice to look at, it is seen as a bland component of Northern scenery. When passing by the river, all we see is muddy water with barges strategically placed. Even with the Twin Cities boarding each side of the river, there seems to be no real culture connected with the Mississippi River.

The only story that comes to mind when we think of the Mississippi, is an unfortunate one: two girls decided to live life adventurously, similar to Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. They hopped on their own makeshift log raft to sail down the river. Of course, the ending is tragic; take a wild guess, both girls drowned.

Since both of our moves down South, we have noticed a completely different culture associated with the river. Our first encounter with peers conversing about the Mississippi Delta region consisted of tamales and still-standing plantations, as well as stories related to the birthplace of blues, jazz, and rock n’ roll. Southern Living even goes as far as to call the Mississippi Delta “a back road traveler’s paradise.”

While browsing the visitthedelta.com website, we found it interesting that the site focuses solely on “serving homemade pies by day and living blues by night.” Looking beyond our new obsession for southern cuisine, we landed upon a whole new world of festivals; music festivals, literary festivals, holiday festivals, art festivals, and delta festivals. The Delta has it all!

Since our next chapter of exploration to the Delta leads us north, we have decided to take the beaten path to Holly Springs, Mississippi. After many recommendations from peers, we came to a decision that we NEEDED to visit Mississippi Native, Paul McLeod.  McLeod is the creator of Graceland Too, a homemade tribute to the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley. He has been obsessed with Presley for over fifty years, and there is no end in sight for this Elvis maniac.

The deal breaker for this pit stop happened after we did some research. We found out many legends associated with McLeod’s house of homage. For example, a fellow peer told us that once you visit Graceland Too more than five times, you get free admission for life. Other stories recount McLeod’s deep obsession with Elvis. Apparently you should never speak negatively about Elvis, because McLeod has a temper nobody should bump into. The best part about McLeod’s character is his hours of operation, stating: “Always open, just knock.”

Once again, Mississippi has shown two Northern girls what Southern hospitality is made of! With this next adventure in the works, both of us cannot wait to see what other “True Mississippians” we encounter!

Alligator Huntin'?

While at my internship I happened to tell everyone about our list of things to do...they found it hilarious. They also wanted to help as much as they could, so I received  a lesson on swamps and camping. 

An invite was even extended to go alligator hunting...I don't even want to think about it.  

Knockin' on Mississippi's Door

What would bring two northern girls down to Jackson, Mississippi?

When we were posed with the question, we both began to wonder why the south became so appealing to two girls such as ourselves.

Our answer: We crave that “southern experience.” We want to appreciate and explore this hospitable, musical, and food centered culture!

While on-campus we have encountered the friendliest and most sincere individuals. Never before has a group of people been more cordial and warm, even when our northern accents shine through so brightly. It doesn’t stop there; from gas stations to baristas at Cups, the people of Mississippi have welcomed us with open arms, and we enjoy every minute of it.

In what spare time remains after schoolwork, we have composed a list of experiences we wish to undergo while in Mississippi, including: swamp tours, eating Delta tamales, stopping by The Big Apple Inn to grab a pig ear sandwich,  see an alligator, and listen to local musicians sing what they sing best, the blues. Our list is currently endless, and we hope we aren’t setting ourselves up for failure with the excitement each item brings to us.

We both attended the Millsaps Arts and Lecture Series, “The Stories behind Southern Food,” on Jan. 18, and became completely obsessed with exploring the highways and byways of Mississippi. After the presentation was over, we were fortunate enough to try a Delta tamale.  Much to our surprise, both of us thought we needed to eat the corn shell that surrounded the tamale, and in conclusion you can only imagine the embarrassment that accompanied any onlooker’s reaction once we noticed our mistake.

When we tell fellow Millsapians about our list, many respond with wide eyes or a pathetic laugh. The most common response we have been given is: “we really haven’t really gotten to know the city of Jackson, let alone the state of Mississippi.”

We cannot believe that some people have no desire to experience such a unique culture. In response, we decided to create a documentary, to show our peers that there is more to this southern culture than just class and school activities. We have decided to title it, “Hankerin’ for the South.” Each week we made a pact to go out and explore some new aspect of the south, in accordance to our list. We plan on videotaping our reactions, so we can hopefully help stir up a sense of adventure in each of our peers!

Our first endeavor consisted of pig ear sandwiches from The Big Apple Inn just down the street from school.  Upon entering, we were greeted by two women who seemed to be watching Judge Judy behind the counter. As we watched the women make our sandwiches, we both noticed a bowl at the end of the counter. It almost looked like a soup with flesh colored triangles in it. After little contemplation, we realized it was the pig ears soaking in hot water, so they could be tender for the next hungry mouth that ordered them. 

The entire experience can be summed up in one sentence: Good thing we have meal plans. We definitely needed to get that taste out of our mouths. The sandwich was too rubbery for our liking, but the atmosphere gave us a memory we will never forget

Hankerin' for the South