What do you think of when you first hear the word Arizona?
Do you think of:
The Desert?
The Grand Canyon?
Phoenix?
Flagstaff?
Personally, I think of something akin to the Peoria Sports Complex:
I have lived in Arizona all my life and have traveled and visited a lot of the state.
I am also a vigorous user of the internet and an avid watcher of television & movies.
I honestly think that Arizona is one of the most stereotyped states out there. I'm not saying that other states aren't stereotyped, it's just Arizona is almost always viewed as this "Hot-and-Blazin-Desert" & "I'm-A-Lone-Wolf-Gun Tootin'-Cowboy" State.
So, here are some stereotypes I'd like to debunk about Arizona:
1. Everyone's really blonde, tan and really into sports.
This myth has had a recent boost in popularity thanks to SMeyer. I'd like to formally invite you too Arrowhead Mall on any given Friday Night. You can say hello to all the scene, emo, punk and goth kids for me. You don't have to have a tan to be an Arizonan, pale persons just work really hard not to get one. (As an interesting note people in Phoenix are more likely to get a tan during the fall because the weather's cooling down. Summers in Phoenix are miserable, and you probably won't see many pedestrians out and about. Children generally stay inside because temperatures can get up to 120 degrees outside - which rivals Baghdad.)
2. We all speak with a Southern, cowboy style drawl....
If you could give Arizonans an accent it would be a mixture of Californian and General American. The thing is, Arizona is a melting pot of people from others states. Heck, the majority here are non-natives. Those that are natives are more likely to be a first generation Arizonan. (I'm actually fourth generation on my mother's side, go me.) Having said this, any accents that come to Arizona will stay with the person the whole time they live here. (I've heard in my High School alone: General British, Scottish, Mexican, New England, Californian, New Jersey, New York, Texan, etc, etc.)
3. Everything here is desert:
There are three regions in Arizona: desert, plateau, and mountain. Two of those see snow every winter. Yet we're most known for the one that doesn't. Most of our early population was in these areas. Most of the more recent population in Metrozona (Metropolitan Arizona) is thanks to two things: Air conditioning and Frank Lloyd Wright.
4. But it's a dry heat!
Not so quick, bub. I'd like to inform you of this little thing called the North American Monsoon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_MonsoonThis can make some days in Phoenix, Arizona not only ridiculously hot, but also really humid.
5. Not really a stereotype...
Arizona has a huge retirement population. One that rivals Florida. I know of at least three towns dedicated to this group alone. (My favourite is Youngtown - because of the name) With the retirement centers comes resorts, golf clubs, country clubs, and even some rehab centers.
6. Hippies in Flagstaff
I'm not going to say anything on this one, and if you're ever in Flagstaff I'd advise you not to either. That's the one rule about Flagstaff - don't talk about the hippies.
~Fin
P.S. If you're ever in Metrozona, go out for some authentic style Mexican Food. It's delicious, and 10000x better than any Taco Bell you've ever had.
P.P.S. If you're going to use the stereotype of us as a Cowboy state or as a complete desert, please, include the Cicadas. Nobody ever includes the damned Cicadas.
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