In case my username doesn’t give it away, I’m a native of the US State of Mississippi, now residing in New York City. I was talking to the cook at the restaurant where I work, who is originally from Ecuador. I asked him some questions about Ecuador, which he answered, then he asked me, “Where your country?”
“I’m an American,” I explained. “From Mississippi.”
At that, he gave me a look that could be expressed as :dubious: :rolleyes: Bitch, sell crazy someplace else, I ain’t buying it.
“No, really. It’s a state, like how New York is a state.”
Undaunted by my ridiculous statement that I was from a place called Mississippi that was allegedly an American state, he repeated his question: “Where your country?”
I could not get him to believe me that there really is a state called Mississippi, which is part of America, and that I am from there. I realize the name may sound a little weird if you’re not used to it, but I swear, it exists. It’s not just a river! And I’m not making it up, I really am an American! I think I know now how those people from New Mexico feel when they’re told that New Mexico isn’t a state.
Is it because of your exotic accent? Did you try showing him a map?
There’s a comedian who is asian, but has a southern accent (I forget his name), and you just can’t believe the accent isn’t part of his act. Are you not black or white? I guess that could cause confusion.
It says right in the second sentence “I was talking to the cook at the restaurant where I work, who is originally from Ecuador.” So no, he probably doesn’t know all the state names.
The first time I heard the name “Misisipi” I couldn’t believe it was real either… and then I saw all those double letters and just couldn’t stop giggling. Once we were watching a movie which took place in Mississippi, and my brother (who must have been 4 or 5) got this congested look and whispered to me “misipipí?” “no, misiSIpi” “aaaaah!” (pipí=pee) OK, Mississippi met the Acceptability rules, Misipipí definitely would have not.
