Culture Shock

While in New Mexico visiting my friend I found it interesting that, even though there is only 400 miles difference between my friend and me, we have grown up in two almost completely different cultures.
For example:

New Mexicans may enjoy eating something like this on a regular basis:

 Burrito smothered in Green Chili

But Oklahoma cowboys enjoy eating this:

Ham, Eggs, and Fried Potatoes

New Mexicans enjoy decorating and making lovely decorations out of red peppers:

Oklahoma Cowboys forget the decorating and have Cow Chip Throwing contests:

It's true!! If you don't believe me, look HERE

And New Mexicans may suffer from Wild Fires, but if you ask them, they will agree that they don't have many of these:

New Mexicans have Wecks restaurants that smother a majority of their food in hot green chili, while Oklahoman's have Braums restaurants that serve a large selection of sweet Ice Creams.

New Mexicans give out lots of these:

But Oklahoma Cowboys tend to stick with these:

New Mexicans tend to look like this when they get in the driver's seat:

While Okie Cowboys still prefer to take their time to smile and wave at everyone they pass on the road:

New Mexicans have Hot Air Balloons.
Oklahoman's have Wind.
New Mexicans have awesome parties and fiestas all the time!
Oklahoman's have rodeos and cow chip throwing competitions once in a while (You know, I have never actually been to a cow chip throwing competition before. SHHH! Don't tell anyone!)


What is even more interesting is learning WHY we do things differently from the other person.
For example:
Oklahoman's have cow chip throwing competitions because (a.) We are cattlemen like our ancestors before us. Might as well find some fun use for the foul stuff! (b.) The farmers, ranchers, and pioneers who settled Oklahoma had to use buffalo and cattle dung for their fires because fire wood was so scarce.


New Mexicans eat a lot of food with hot chili's because chili's grow well and are easily preserved in New Mexico as a result of its stable climate. It is one of the very few vegetables that seem to grow in New Mexico. Chili's have a very hard time surviving in Oklahoma however because of wind, clay soil, and weird weather.


Oklahoman's eat a lot of Pork, Beef, and Potatoes because (a.) pigs and cattle have always been the main lively hood of Oklahoma ranchers. (b.) Pigs can survive almost anywhere and you can use everything a pig has to offer except its squeal. (c.) Many Oklahoma settlers were Irish immigrants. One of the main things that they knew how to grow was Potatoes. And Potatoes are one of the few edible plants that will grow well in Oklahoma. 


So yeah. Just some interesting things that I noticed while staying in New Mexico. It kind of took me by surprise to see so many differences in such a short distance, but it was fun learning from and watching the people of New Mexico!