11 Things I Didn’t Know Until I Moved Here

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There’s plenty of reminiscing about old South Coast hangouts, from Lincoln Park to the Bijou Theater to legendary jazz clubs in Onset. As a transplant, the best I can do is pretend I get it. While I can’t relive its good ‘ole days, I’d like to think I pick up on local nuances just because I’m not originally from around here.

Here is my list of 11 quintessential local traits that I was clueless about until I moved here seven years ago and counting (Putting whaling and all that jazz aside):


1.”Wicked” as an Adjective Equivalent to “Very”: Don’t roll your eyes. Yes, I had heard it in movies set in Boston and a certain New Kids on the Block SNL skit and Car Talk on NPR. But from a live human being as a regular part of conversation? Nope. I still do a double take when my kids inject that in a conversation.

2. Quahogs and the New England Clam Bake: Never knew about quahogs and the art of dredging them from the seafloor. (It was more fun than I expected when I actually got to do it). Had the sad distinction of misspelling the word “Co-Hog” in a weekly newspaper article. Yep: Most. Embarrassing. Moment. Ever. As for clam bakes? Haven’t mustered the courage to try them yet (Disclaimer: I’m from a landlocked state).

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About laurap

- Laura Pedulli is a freelancer writer and journalist in SouthCoast, Mass.

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7 comments

  1. wicked ahsum ahticle !!!!

  2. Great insight. Glad you like it here. hope you will learn to love the area like me and my fellow New Beige family.

  3. You did forget one amazing thing that surprised me. A lot of people born and raised in New Bedford don’t realize the full history of the city. I was shocked. I realized this when my kids were in elementary school and studied black history. The Underground Railroad ended in New Bedford. What an amazing tour and very informative especially if you like history. I’m a southern belle born and raised. I raised my kids in New Bedford an when my nest emptied I moved back home. I miss New Bedford

  4. Philip S. Whiting

    Number 12 should be see Fairhaven High School during open house.

  5. Have you learned how to pronounce scallop (scoll (as in scald or all) -up) correctly? it bothers the hell out of me when most every TV personality and TV chef pronounce it incorrectly. Since we land the most “scollups” in the country, we certainly know how to pronounce it correctly here in Greater New Bedford. Mic drop.

  6. What’s this “FAIR-haven” – “fair-HAVEN” nonsense?

    I grew up on Rivet Street.

    Everybody knows it’s pronounced Fai-ayve

    …..ai corisco…….

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