10 Phrases I’ve Learned In My First Year Of Living In The Quad Cities

It's been a year since I moved to the Quad Cities from Arkansas and I've definitely expanded my vocabulary.

There are a bunch of Southern-isms that are also used in the Midwest so several things did translate. But there are a few terms that I was definitely unfamiliar with until I moved to the Quad Cities last January.

So without further ado, here's what you've taught me in the last year, my dear QC.

10. Ragbrai

If you would've asked me what "Ragbrai" was a year ago, I would've thought you were speaking a different language. I had no idea it was a big bike race.

9. Bix

I figured out quick that "Bix" doesn't only mean the name of the race. It also (most importantly) includes the tons of parties that happen on Bix weekend.

8. Knee High By The Fourth Of July

I had never heard this phrase before moving to the QC. My homeland's main exports are rice and soybeans. Unless they're mutant, they don't get knee-high at any point.

7. Ope

I had heard this and said it but never as much as I have since moving here.

6. Parking Ramp

This is a big one. I've only ever heard these things called parking garages, not parking ramps. The first time I heard someone say I could use a parking ramp when it snowed, I thought "what's a ramp going to do about it??"

5. Pop

Even though the gas station registers here call it a 'fountain pop', I will never call a soda or a Coke 'pop'. I don't think I could if I tried.

4. Bags (Cornhole)

I had never heard cornhole called "bags" until I moved here but whatever you call the game, it's definitely much more of a popular thing here than it is in Arkansas.

3. Midwest Sushi

I had no idea this snack existed before I moved to the QC. I'm not a big pickle fan so it's not my fave but it's a cute idea and so signature to the Midwest.

2. Maid-rite

I've never had one of these and I thought Maid-Rite was just a grocery store chain. I asked my pals if they were like sloppy joe's and was met with a hard and fast no.

1. Iowa Nice

I had never heard this phrase until I first visited the QC and I can confirm it tracks. People in Iowa really are just about Canada-level nice.