So you’ve moved to Nebraska. Congratulations! We hope you’ll love it here as much as we do! Remember to update your driver’s license and voter registration. But before you can consider yourself a true Nebraskan, we recommend having a few very important experiences. After you’ve done all of these, then you can consider yourself a through-and-through Nebraskan.
- Learn all of the words to “There Is No Place Like Nebraska.”
flickr/Kiley This is important. You will be graded.
- Visit a state park…or two or three.
flickr/Overduebook Nothing helps you appreciate Nebraska’s natural beauty quite like immersing yourself in nature.
- See the capitol building.
flickr/Ali Eminov Seriously. It’s even more amazing in person than it is in pictures.
- Successfully navigate through pothole/road work season.
flickr/Bossi Bonus points if you don’t mess up your car’s alignment or get a ticket for speeding through a work zone.
- Eat a Runza.
flickr/Michael McLean Notice I didn’t say “Eat AT Runza?” Yeah, that’s because you’ve just got to try that doughy pocket of meat and cabbage.
- And nosh on a big, juicy steak.
flickr/Shelby Bell Preferably not at the same meal, but whatever floats your boat.
- Down a red beer.
Facebook/Visit Omaha The unofficial grown-up drink of Nebraska. Not everyone likes them, but if you want to earn your Nebraskan card you should at least try it once.
- Take in a Huskers game.
flickr/Kiley Even if you can’t get tickets to see it in person, watch the game on TV. Even if you don’t like football, it’ll help you understand what everyone at work is talking about the next day.
- Watch one of our famous sunrises.
flickr/Mr. Nixter Multi-colored and bright, our sunrises are unrivaled.
- …And one of our even more impressive sunsets.
Steve O’Donnell Photography No matter where you are when the sun goes down, take a minute to stop and watch. It’ll take your breath away every time in Nebraska.
- Get stuck in “traffic” because there’s a slow-moving farm implement in the road up ahead.
flickr/Peter Mooney …And just hope they either turn off soon or you have the chance to pass.
- Master the “farmer wave.”
Mulewings This gesture, above all else, will help you fit in when you live in Nebraska. When another car approaches on a country road, lift a couple of fingers from the steering wheel, keeping the rest of your hand on the wheel. If you recognize the person or want to be extremely friendly, give a smile and nod as well.
Once you’ve gotten these Nebraskan experiences under your belt, it’s safe to say that you’re an official Nebraskan. What else do you think someone has to do to earn their Nebraskan status?
flickr/Kiley
This is important. You will be graded.
flickr/Overduebook
Nothing helps you appreciate Nebraska’s natural beauty quite like immersing yourself in nature.
flickr/Ali Eminov
Seriously. It’s even more amazing in person than it is in pictures.
flickr/Bossi
Bonus points if you don’t mess up your car’s alignment or get a ticket for speeding through a work zone.
flickr/Michael McLean
Notice I didn’t say “Eat AT Runza?” Yeah, that’s because you’ve just got to try that doughy pocket of meat and cabbage.
flickr/Shelby Bell
Preferably not at the same meal, but whatever floats your boat.
Facebook/Visit Omaha
The unofficial grown-up drink of Nebraska. Not everyone likes them, but if you want to earn your Nebraskan card you should at least try it once.
Even if you can’t get tickets to see it in person, watch the game on TV. Even if you don’t like football, it’ll help you understand what everyone at work is talking about the next day.
flickr/Mr. Nixter
Multi-colored and bright, our sunrises are unrivaled.
Steve O’Donnell Photography
No matter where you are when the sun goes down, take a minute to stop and watch. It’ll take your breath away every time in Nebraska.
flickr/Peter Mooney
…And just hope they either turn off soon or you have the chance to pass.
Mulewings
This gesture, above all else, will help you fit in when you live in Nebraska. When another car approaches on a country road, lift a couple of fingers from the steering wheel, keeping the rest of your hand on the wheel. If you recognize the person or want to be extremely friendly, give a smile and nod as well.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
