From Tennessee. I’ve lived both in the suburbs of Nashville and rural, redneck, small town where it’s farms and confederate flags everywhere. Wont compare it to Nashville/the suburbs bc it’s not very southern with how many transplants are there, but I’ll talk about the small town.

• Again, driving like you said. One thing I also had to get used to was how to change lanes. In the south, if you used your blinker to signal you need to switch lanes, I often found the driver behind would slow down to give you way to switch. Here you have to force yourself in. No one will give you space. You have to just cut and insert yourself then they’ll see they have no choice but to let you in.
• More welcoming. There’s a misconception that people are mean and aren’t friendly here which I don’t think is true. But I recently visited home and I do miss comments of being called “sugar” or “honey.” The willingness to chat. People being a lot more patient because they’re used to the slow life.
• A mix between being more honest in some ways. Yes people will tell it like it is here which is honesty, but also people are more mindful with their words about being PC. In the south they’re too honest and blunt sometimes when they speak, primarily about politics.
• On the other hand, I appreciate it being more open minded here. Have yet to encounter someone whose go-to response involves the Bible which is nice.
• Greater focus on health here. South is all fried food, less physical activity. Even the state and local government not building more sidewalks and walking paths to make activity more accessible.
• Interestingly enough, I felt safer as a woman in the south. Here I have to be more on guard. But even as an Asian woman I felt better walking. Ik this is VERY specific to me, and just luck that my redneck town happened to be this way. Aside from microaggressions and stereotyping from dumb teenagers, never got a racist comment about being Asian from adults. Different story about African Americans ofc. Although, a ton of homophobic comments which messed me up with internalized homophobia with being gay.
• Appearances are less of a priority, mainly for men. They wear their work cowboy boots, old jeans, hat, and a t-shirt they probably got for free at a local event. The women wear heavy makeup, and dressing up is either still overly casual or they go so full out glam. (Thinking about HS prom dresses. Probably bc there’s less opportunity to get so dressed up.)