This past summer, for the first time in my life, I spent a significant amount of time traveling the U.S. I met new people, tasted new foods, and saw sights I had never seen before. Among those experiences, I also had the pleasure of telling people I was from Arizona, something I’m proud of, but it was often met with a slightly incredulous look. That’s OK, because this state isn’t for most people–but it also meant getting some annoying questions about Arizona, including some ridiculous ones. Here are a few that I and plenty of other people have encountered over the years.
- Why is Arizona so hot?
Bob James/Flickr There are two possible answers for this. You could admit that the summer heat really isn’t that bad in most parts of the state except for when it hits over 110 for consecutive days in parts of southern Arizona. But if your plan is to prevent people from coming into the state just tell them, yes, it is hot all the time. Don’t come here, thank you.
- How do you put up with the heat?
Miyuki Kobayashi/Flickr Lots of water and shade usually helps.
- Have you seen snow before?
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr Oh my goodness–this is almost as bad as being asked if I’ve seen rain before because I live in a desert.
- Do you have electricity in Arizona?
Julia Swenson/Flickr I kid you not, I’ve heard this from someone who otherwise seemed quite educated. I guess appearances can be deceiving.
- How do you keep the dust out of your eyes when you’re riding your stagecoach?
Lance and Erin/Flickr We don’t ride these as often as you like to think.
- Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?
Joe Jiang/Flickr I personally have been there twice, (three times if you count when my mom was pregnant with me.) Other people go there every year or have never seen the canyon at all.
- Less of a question and more of a general misconception is that Arizona is a barren wasteland. Isn’t that how all deserts look?
Therealpetergriffin/Flickr Uh, maybe we can let them continue thinking this…
- Have you seen a real cactus?
Tyler Sichelski/Flickr Other cactus related questions are; have you seen a saguaro? Are they really as big as they say it is? Is it cactuses or cacti?
- How much does a horse cost?
BiggerPictureImages.com/Flickr Maybe Google can answer that question for you.
- Do Indians still live in teepees?
Aydin Palabiyikoglu/Flickr This is a head-desk moment; Arizona’s indigenous people have never lived in tipis, which are a structure used by Plains tribes. I can see how this could get confusing though, since the Native American Church uses tipis and you sometimes find them sitting across reservations.
What other questions have you been asked about Arizona? I’d love to read your experiences in the comments section below.
Bob James/Flickr
There are two possible answers for this. You could admit that the summer heat really isn’t that bad in most parts of the state except for when it hits over 110 for consecutive days in parts of southern Arizona. But if your plan is to prevent people from coming into the state just tell them, yes, it is hot all the time. Don’t come here, thank you.
Miyuki Kobayashi/Flickr
Lots of water and shade usually helps.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
Oh my goodness–this is almost as bad as being asked if I’ve seen rain before because I live in a desert.
Julia Swenson/Flickr
I kid you not, I’ve heard this from someone who otherwise seemed quite educated. I guess appearances can be deceiving.
Lance and Erin/Flickr
We don’t ride these as often as you like to think.
Joe Jiang/Flickr
I personally have been there twice, (three times if you count when my mom was pregnant with me.) Other people go there every year or have never seen the canyon at all.
Therealpetergriffin/Flickr
Uh, maybe we can let them continue thinking this…
Tyler Sichelski/Flickr
Other cactus related questions are; have you seen a saguaro? Are they really as big as they say it is? Is it cactuses or cacti?
BiggerPictureImages.com/Flickr
Maybe Google can answer that question for you.
Aydin Palabiyikoglu/Flickr
This is a head-desk moment; Arizona’s indigenous people have never lived in tipis, which are a structure used by Plains tribes. I can see how this could get confusing though, since the Native American Church uses tipis and you sometimes find them sitting across reservations.
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