If you’ve discovered that you’ve fallen for a North Dakotan, congratulations! Luckily North Dakotans aren’t very high maintenance but there may be a few things that surprise outsiders. To help you out, here is a handy list of things you should expect to come with the relationship.
- Meeting their parents will probably include hotdish.
Matthew Beckler/Flickr
- Taking a vacation with them probably means heading up to the lake.
Gary Eslinger/USFWS/Flickr
- Expect to have at least one outdoor toy… or many.
diamondbackcovers/Flickr ATVs, snowmobiles, boats… you better have some garage space!
- Don’t say they have an accent, because they’ll deny it.
Katie Wheeler/Flickr There is no “Fargo” accent! If you want someone with an accent, try northern Minnesota.
- They’ll always be able to one-up you when you complain about the cold.
Wes Peck/Flickr You think you’ve got it bad? Oh boy, have we got some stories of North Dakota winters for you.
- If you don’t like country music, you better get used to it.
robert_trudeau/Flickr Most of us like a good mix of country music and classic rock, so if you don’t… well, that’s just too darn bad.
- Don’t be surprised if their grandparents speak German or a Scandinavian language.
Alasdair Nicol/Flickr German is the second-most spoken language in North Dakota after English, and Norwegian is fourth. Many people immigrated from these countries to North Dakota just a few generations ago.
- And don’t be surprised if they serve some food from that region that you can’t spell.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr What’s shown above is known as fleischkuechle. Even if it’s hard to spell and pronounce, it’s still delicious! Unless it’s lutefisk… that’s an acquired taste.
- They’re probably tougher than you.
lance_mountain/Flickr Bison tough! Seriously, don’t mess with these guys.
- They value loyalty above all.
RichardBH/Flickr
What is some dating advice you’d give for people getting into a relationship with a North Dakotan?
Matthew Beckler/Flickr
Gary Eslinger/USFWS/Flickr
diamondbackcovers/Flickr
ATVs, snowmobiles, boats… you better have some garage space!
Katie Wheeler/Flickr
There is no “Fargo” accent! If you want someone with an accent, try northern Minnesota.
Wes Peck/Flickr
You think you’ve got it bad? Oh boy, have we got some stories of North Dakota winters for you.
robert_trudeau/Flickr
Most of us like a good mix of country music and classic rock, so if you don’t… well, that’s just too darn bad.
Alasdair Nicol/Flickr
German is the second-most spoken language in North Dakota after English, and Norwegian is fourth. Many people immigrated from these countries to North Dakota just a few generations ago.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
What’s shown above is known as fleischkuechle. Even if it’s hard to spell and pronounce, it’s still delicious! Unless it’s lutefisk… that’s an acquired taste.
lance_mountain/Flickr
Bison tough! Seriously, don’t mess with these guys.
RichardBH/Flickr
Here are some North Dakota stereotypes you should be aware of that AREN’T true – just to make sure you don’t offend the person you’re with!
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