City transplants told BuzzFeed of Midwestern culture shocks: one Ohio respondent cited mayonnaise with everything; others mentioned grid-cut pizza and local terms. Some found locals friendly; others described less diversity, visible religion and feeling out of place.
Experiences varied. A Seattle transplant in Lincoln, Nebraska, said they could afford a home and had found a diverse, politically active community, though they missed varied restaurants and ocean access. Another respondent praised Midwest summers and activities around the Great Lakes.
A transplant from just north of Houston to East Central Illinois said their Texas commute went from 20 minutes each way in 2008 to 40 minutes within three years and could take over an hour by 2020. Their new trip to a neighboring city took a steady 15 minutes each way. They said they only realized after moving how much unpredictable traffic had affected their mental health.
