When people move across state lines, they usually think about what their new place will be like, their new neighbors, their new town — in short, all the other changes that come with a change of address. But what most people don’t consider is the way that the move will change them, too.
Studies show that character traits, like anxiety and extroversion, vary from one state to another. There’s not only a New York state of mind; there’s also a Montana mentality and an Idaho id. But what does that mean for someone who’s spent much of their life hopping from place to place (like, say, this writer, who’s spent chunks of her life in both New York and Tennessee)? Can we transport an intact personality from place to place, like a piece of furniture? Or does each new move add a fresh coat of paint?
I – Word Understanding
Extroversion – enjoy being around many being rather than being alone
Chunks – a big part (of something)
II – Have Your Say
1. What are the character traits of people in your hometown?
2. Can you name some of the character prejudices in some prefectures/regions of Japan?
3. Have you ever transferred to another place? What do you think are the struggles and changes that happen to people who migrate to other places?
