15 Signs You're Not In Illinois Anymore
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
Uh oh, Toto. You may not have stepped into a magical world, but there are still some signs you’ve left the state. Whether the twister dropped you far away or just over the border, there are some sure-fire ways to tell you’re not in Illinois anymore.
Strange sights and unfamiliar finds are your first clues. Click your heels and keep scrolling for 15 signs you’re far from home.
People from Illinois tend to drive fast, often over the speed limit, while some people (looking at you Indiana) love to drive just under. We may take advantage of the unwritten "five-over" rule, but that doesn't mean you can go five under.
It is illegal to sell most fireworks in the state of Illinois, so if you see one of these stands, you've gone out of state. Again, our neighbors to the east help us out with this one.
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If you stop seeing corn and soy fields, there's a good chance you're not in Illinois anymore. Eighty-five percent of the state is covered in crops, so it's rare that you go long without seeing some.
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Though much of the country probably doesn't look that different from Illinois with its green forests and expanses of flatlands, there are some definite signs you've left the state. If you start seeing mountains or deserts, you know you're in a land far from home.
Though Lake Michigan has some similarities, it doesn't compare to the girth of an ocean. If you see surfers and smell salt, you've likely found the coast and are far from the Midwest.
Most people in Illinois give directions in minutes, but elsewhere things are different. If someone tells you to go two miles down the road and take a left, you might be out of state.
Honestly, any apparel for a team that isn't in Illinois is a clue that you might be in a different state. If you see people with cheese blocks on their heads, though, that's a sure sign you've gone too far north.
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Like nails on a chalkboard, this mispronunciation of our state is grating to hear. Anyone who lives here, though, knows that the "s" is silent.
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If you start to hear a slow drawl or nasally accent, there's a good chance you've left Illinois. Each part of the United States has a unique way of talking. Most Illinoisans sounds like regular Midwesterners.
Of course, people will know you're from out-of-state when they hear your accent. We like to claim we don't have one because our speech is so plain, but anything different from what you're used to is an accent.
If all you can find is this flimsy thin stuff, there's a good chance you're nowhere near Illinois. Though it reigns in Chicago, this style of pizza can be found throughout the entire state, and we love it.
In some states, asking for a coke isn't so simple. They call all pop "coke" down south, so you have to be more specific. Still, there are other regions where "soda" is a more popular term. Though some parts of Illinois use it, pop seems to be the most popular.
These restaurants aren't really new, but they might seem so to you if it's your first time out of the state. Eateries like Zaxby's and In-N-Out Burger can't be found here, so it's a commodity and sure sign that you've left the state.
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If the entire day is filled with bright sun, there's a good chance you're not in Illinois anymore. We almost always have some sort of cloud coverage and windy days that make it feel like home.
Whether it's raining, snowing, or sleeting, there's almost always some kind of weather happening here. We get tornadoes, blizzards, flash floods, and all kinds of nasty stuff from the sky. If the weather seems just a little too nice, there's a good chance you're not in Illinois anymore.
On the other hand, one way to tell you are in Illinois is if you come across one of these seven weird museums.
What other ways can you tell you’re not in Illinois anymore? Share your tell-tale signs with us below!
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