Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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Minnesota is about to be overtaken by a bunch of out-of-towners.
 

 are expected to hit various game-related events in the Twin Cities leading up to the Super Bowl on Feb. 4. By another, 

it's only 125,000 visitors from outside the state.

 Whatever the number, it's going to be a lot of people. Some will be experienced pros who can tell Uptown from Lowertown. Others will be first-timers who never expected to set foot in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. 


Minnesotans: Some of those folks will be sure to offend, whether it's by asking us how often we go cow-tipping or referring to the popular children's game as "Duck, Duck, Goose." (


And that's where we come in, Eagles and Pats fans: Here are some dos and don'ts on how not to be a jerk while enjoying your stay in the North Star State. (And if you live here, feel free to send this along to those East Coast relatives who've just texted to ask if they can crash on your couch the first weekend of February.)

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 doesn't necessarily mean north, it refers to going to the cabin or the lake, wherever that is. 

 to say outright that something is dumb/a bad idea/we hate it so instead we use the vague 

 as in "I'm going ice skating. Wanna come with?" sounds like we haven't finished our sentences, but we're just asking if you'd like to come along. 

: Do not be alarmed by this sound — which, to the uninitiated, might sound a little bit like a yelp. It's just Minnesotans saying, "Excuse me, but I am in need of getting past you; please accept my apology for inconveniencing you; I hope you are doing well; thank you and have a nice day." 

The Sound Minnesotans Make Instead Of Saying "Excuse Me"

can never, ever, not in a million years, take the last piece of food.

Instead, we will halve everything — over, and over and over again — until nothing but a speck remains. And even then, we leave the speck. What if someone else wants it? Better to do the right thing and leave it.   

So we need non-locals to do what we can't: Take the last piece. Thank you for making the sacrifice.  

Compliment our fair state. Tell us how wonderful we are.

We're proud Minnesotans who delight in hearing how fabulous our state is — because we often feel like we get no respect (see: 

 below). When you top as many lists as we do, doesn't matter which — Did you hear that 

our airport is one of the most punctual in the world?

 — you want the rest of the country to take notice. 

A word of caution: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. 

 whenever anyone says anything less than flattering about us. 

Indignant Minnesotan is coming for all the state's haters

Anyone who walks up to native Minnesotans piling on the "you betchas" and the "don'tcha knows" is sure to get a side-eye or two because we do not all talk like ... whatever that was in the movie "Fargo." 

A crash course on the Minnesota accent

Sure, we're fond of our vowels, especially our "Os," and yes, some of us do say "oh yah" but for the love of 

our accents are generally not that over-the-top.

 
In fact, the film's dialect coach told two documentarians that the Coen brothers — Minnesota natives themselves — 

emphasized the accent in their original script,

 allowing for the dialect "to be almost another character."

A good bit of America seems to think that just because we're sandwiched between Wisconsin and the Dakotas, right in the middle of the country, we're devoid of anything remotely resembling culture and/or a good time.  

: The Vikings (football), Twins (baseball), Timberwolves (men's basketball), Lynx (

. Our Guthrie Theater and Children's Theatre Company 

.
 
And when it comes to the orchestra, take your pick: We've got the 

Also, you're welcome for Prince, Bob Dylan and Husker Du. 

Prince

Bob Dylan in Minnesota

Du You Remember?

Basically, what we're trying to say is that there's plenty to do, plenty to see, and we know what the internet is. 

Use Minneapolis and St. Paul interchangeably. Or call everything Minneapolis.

Here's a clue that the Twin Cities are not the same city: They have different names. 

And like other twins, they hate being mistaken for the other, because 

. Some see it this way: Minneapolis — the state's largest city — is hipper but somewhat elitist, while St. Paul — the capital city — is more laid-back but with a bit of little-brother complex. 

Here's a quick guide for where you are: The Super Bowl will be played in Minneapolis. If you head over to the ice palace at the Winter Carnival or check out the Minnesota State Capitol building, you're in St. Paul.

And if you go to the Mall of America, you're not in Minneapolis 

What'd you expect? We're a northern state and it's the middle of winter. The 

 in the Twin Cities is 26 degrees; the average low is 9.  
So yes, it's cold (though, actually, a Minnesotan would tell you 26 degrees is balmy). Yes, we choose to live here. And yes, we love it. 

The Futureboys & Girls - Coats, Hats, and Gloves  (Welcome to Minnesota)


Put on a coat and move on. If you didn't pack a coat...

Nancy Yang

Author

You might be a jerk if you do any of the following: Make fun of our accents. Call every city Minneapolis. Complain about the cold.

Visiting Minnesota during the Super Bowl? Don't 'Fargo' us, man

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