Hello!
I'm planning my journey to USA next year and Mississippi is one of the states that I'd love to visit. I think my English is decent but my accent is really shining through so I'm asking (I'm sorry if this is silly) is there any prejudice towards Eastern European people, especially from Poland and Russia?
There's a statue of the general in a Tourist Information Center on the Natchez Trace Parkway at the edge of the town.
I warn you, I pronounced his name correctly in my college history class in 1984 and people thought I sneezed.
These two guys were in a restaurant there arguing about the pronunciation. Finally, they asked the waitress, “Can say very very slowly and clearly where we are?” She answered, “Daaaaaay-reeeee … Kweeeeeen.”
There is a Kosciusko subway stop on the way from Brooklyn to Manhattan. I got a kick out of hearing it pronounced the correct way after hearing it said the “ Mississippi “ way all my life.
I live in CT and go to NYC often. This always makes me laugh!
We feel the need to pronounce every last vowel in the word and add a few more. I like the sound of it but doesn’t sound very Eastern European coming off the Mississippi tongue
I think it's more downtown:
The town has grown around it in recent years.
I just imagined how it's properly pronounced and yeah, gesundheit.
Kahzee-esko
Nice gif … but cozy is not kahzy. Nails on a fucking chalkboard when people say Cozy. LOL. (It’s all good. Only arguing in jest. My dad grew up there.)
I took it in jest.
Nevertheless, 1/2 the things in Kosciusko refer them themselves as Kosy:
Kosy Party Rentals, Kosy Wing & Daiquiri, Kosy Nutrition, Kosy Martial Arts, Kosy Market, Kosy Whippets, etc.
Damn. You’re right. Funny thing. I live in Brooklyn. People refer to Kos-cue-so Bridge here.
Keep in mind, none of the online pronounciations take into account southern accents…and tradition.
Wait how is it supposed to be pronounced
Koh-shu-sco, short o sound in the 1st syllable like in Oscar.
The name of the town is pronounced our way…all y’all can pronounce the name of the general the way you want!
I was on a tour in Krakow and the guide showed us Kosciusko’s statue and told the group that there was a city in Missouri named after him and that was where Oprah Winfrey was from.
I’m normally not that guy, but I had to chime in.
Close, but it's Mississippi.
yeah, that’s pretty much what I told the guide.
I can Mack McAnally’s song playing…
I say let’s go, To Kosciusko,
Most people are very welcoming in Mississippi. Southern hospitality. No one really cares where you are from be nice and people will be nice back. It’s all about giving and receiving. Good vibes and have fun.
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My take is anyone saying racism doesn’t exist anymore in MS is def racist.
Racism exists everywhere obviously. I think some forms of it like antisemitism are less prevalent in Mississippi than California.
A solid general rule. The introductory clause of every racist statement is “I’m not racist, but …”
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You are buying into the media portrayal. Just don’t.
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You'll be fine.
There used to be a Russian restaurant in Jackson. The owners are from Belarus, and they still work in the food/hospitality business in the area. They have a following and are well liked folks..
Olga's...used to go there often.
Man, I loved Olgas.
The owners used to come into the Shell station I worked at in Flowood. I always loved their Vodka selection and the food.
Better to mention you are from Poland rather than Russia, in my opinion. Regardless I do agree with the previous post
eh sadly the way most of the state votes, they would be cool with Russia bc they're cool with trump
I'm not sure why you are getting downvoted. What you said was correct and wasn't offensive.
the trumpers don't like acknowledging that they're commies :)
Whoa please don't lump communists in with those guys. Trumpers or Dictators.
You sound brainwashed, notice non of the “protesters” in American flag aplearal have a Jewish or Israeli flag because they are AMERICA first not Russia or whatever else your main stream or leftist bias media told you to believe. They may vote for trump but that has nothing to do with Russia, none of them gives two shits about Russia Ukraine Palestine isreal ect
thanks for your comment. I quit reading three words in. 🫶
Not surprised your echo chamber walls are very thick
Wait are you one of those Russian bots I’ve heard about?
You’ll be welcomed. We have people from everywhere, nobody is going to care if you’re from Poland or Russia. They might be curious about your accent and inquire where you’re from, but they’ll welcome you.
Howdy there! I am from Ukraine myself and have lived abd loved living in Mississippi around 20 years now. I think it’s going to be a great adventure! I live in one of the cities that is a suburb to Jackson. I would highly recommend Hattiesburg and The Coast, love love love our Coastal communities. During which month(s) were you planning your trip? Summer is amazingly HOT, you’ve been warned and yet, it’s still not enough to convey the intensity of heat and humidity here:) Bon Voyage! Успешных приключений!
спасибо, Татьяна))
I've been thinking about September and/or October.
I’d definitely recommend either the Coast or Hattiesburg!! As for being European, the coast, biloxi specifically, has a pretty good polish population! My past three priests have been polish!
September is good also.
I haven't noticed any prejudice, personally. In my area we have a noticeable community of Eastern Europeans, particularly Ukrainians. I'm sure you would be welcomed wherever you go. We're typically very happy to meet people in general, but prepare for a lot of "where are you from? How'd you end up all the way out here??" questions lol. We don't get many tourists, especially from another country.
Hahahaha Hahaha aha ha haha ha ha ha.
I hope you are able to visit and get to experience our amazing food, music, and culture!
May I ask what makes you want to visit Mississippi? I think it is so cool you have an interest in visiting being from so far away.
Thank you:))
I've been interested in the USA all my life, especially the South and Midwest regions. I really love your culture, especially cinema and literature. There are so many places I want to visit.
Ocean Springs, MS is wonderful. Check it out if you are near there
Yes OS and the Gulf Coast in general.
Just an FYI… it is hot as HELL in august. April and May.. early June is probably the optimal time to visit. More people milling about. If you do get to the coast and you have time, I recommend a trip out to ship island. And a meal at Mary Mahoneys ( she was from Yugoslavia) Keep in mind that the coastal area of MS was inhabited by the French long before America was a country so it has a different vibe than the rest of Mississippi
It is common that people in Mississippi are friendly and will ask where you are from.
As long as you speak English no one will care about your accent. You may find people are actually more friendly because of it. They will ask questions so be prepared to tell where you are from and a bit about your travels. We are a very welcoming people.
There is a large group of Russian and Slavic people in New Orleans which is not far at all from most places in Mississippi. As far as Mississippi, Jackson has good places, Natchez, Tupelo and the coast. I would strongly advise staying out and away from meridian. The crime and murder here is off the charts presently.
Welcome! Are you Catholic? The Catholic Diocese of Biloxi has more than a few priests originally from Eastern Europe (esp. Poland) who are currently serving in South Mississippi. No prejudice here! Come visit us in Biloxi!
I am catholic! :) I'll make sure to visit!
I'm a Bulgarian living on the coast and I love it
Come down to the gulf coast and holler at me! We’re one of the more welcoming communities in the state. We have a massive military population, so that lends a good bit to being open to different cultures.
We have a polish priest in Hattiesburg if you would like to have someone to talk. Also one of our cities, Kosciusko, is named after a polish fella. Unfortunately you will not find many pirogies here : (
Thanks for letting me know, that's really cool! Which church does he belong to? I looked around the Google Maps and saw that there's a lot of churches in the area
He's at Sacred Heart Parish in Hattiesburg.
Here's the list of parishes and churches in the Diocese of Biloxi
By the time you come to the states he will have changed parishes. He will be in Laurel Mississippi then. Fr. Powroznik
No, I think most will be curious and if you’re a good person they will probably like you a lot. Where are you planning on visiting?
Jackson and coastal area
Be careful in Jackson proper, definitely a high crime rate city. The coast is nice overall, but the beaches aren’t the nicest due to the barrier Islands. I believe you can still take a ferry to ship Island where on the south beach it has white sand a blue water if that’s your thing. Traditional southern food mostly around Jackson and the coast has more seafood options and some New Orleans influences. Have fun, but make a good plan of where you are going.
Thank you so much for the info. I'll be careful!!:)
👍
Yes, you are very welcome! Around our little town, there is a young family from Moldova. They are very nice people and fit in well here.
I hear no one speaking ill of Russian or Polish people.
Not at all! People will probably be more engaging after hearing your accident.
We used to have a Polish priest at my church. He wasn’t liked very much. However, I’m sure it was pretty much due to his being a complete asshole 🤭.
There's a pretty large Croatian population down on the Gulf Coast. Have big functions every year.
My only advice is don’t bring up anything politics related. Otherwise you’ll be fine.
I have met many Russian tourists when I used to work in Natchez. Clarksdale usually has lots of Europeans (particularly from the UK) doing "blues music" tours. There are folks of Croatian descent everywhere on the Coast. People in Mississippi are usually very welcoming. I hope that you enjoy your trip!
The Gulf Coast has a large Slavic population. Check out St. Nickoli Slavonian Benevolent Society of Biloxi MS on Facebook. The Coast is great to visit with lots of things to do. If you are there during the summer, take the excursion boat to Ship Island and take a show in at one of the casinos. Make sure you wear sun tan lotion. I hope you enjoy your trip!
Thank you!
You will be fine. The most interaction you'll get regarding being Eastern European is curiosity. People are going to ask you where you're from and why you're visiting. This is a friendly interaction, there will be no ill intent. Southerners in general are very welcoming and very chatty. Expect lots of conversation about yourself
Visit Bay St Louis all the way to Ocean Springs
Read the book “Transmissions from Pluto”. It’s written from the perspective of a British man living in the delta. It’s quite beautiful, glaringly honest, and acute.
There’s beauty in the least expected places.
My grandmother's family came here from Ukraine and they helped sponsor other families to come too! Never heard any of them say anything about dealing with prejudice. More recently, I worked with a Polish girl and a Ukrainian girl for a while in Hattiesburg too. There are several people from other countries in Hattiesburg because of the college and military establishments here. I don't think anyone would do more than ask some curious questions
Southerners are very welcoming !!!! Bring you and your accent and have a great time.
Do you have specific cities in mind or areas you’d like to visit? I’d recommend Northern Mississippi (Desoto County) to visit - bout 15 minutes south of Memphis. Lots of great restaurants, parks, shops, etc. I’m sure if you name drop a few cities, folks can pitch in with their favorite local places to try. Safe travels!
Thank you!
I'm thinking mostly about Jackson and then the coastal area
Just keep in mind the size of the states. Mississippi looks little but it takes around 6 hours to drive the length of it. So probably 3? maybe from Jackson to the coast.
I live near Bay St. Louis, and I’ve never seen any overt or even stealth prejudice. If it’s here, it’s well hidden.
I don’t think so! I had a Spanish teacher from Bogota, Colombia in high school who still had a pretty heavy accent despite knowing perfect English. I loved to listen to her talk, and I got to know more about regional accents with her help!
If you stop anywhere outside the Jackson metro area, let me know! I’m pretty fond of this place (born and raised and never lived anywhere else)
(My Reddit app just decided to let me not post this comment but alas I came back)
Look at the map and see how many cities just look wild to you in terms of pronunciation! Some of my favorites are Nanih Waiya, Belzoni, Kosciusko, Gautier, Byhalia, Toomsuba, Pachuta, and Shubuta
Thank you!! I'll remember:))
You probably won't notice the difference.
Honestly. We are not smart enough to decipher an accent like that even if we did care. They’ll just say you “sound funny” 😂
I’m curious why Mississippi?
What part of MS are you visiting and how long will you be here?
Coastal area and maybe Jackson too. I'm not sure how long I'll stay tho
There's no true prejudice amongst Mississippians toward European people honestly any people, oddly the few truly prejudice people are fewer than people would believe.
If you can get your the coast, Mississippi has really built up nicely over the last twenty five years. Beautiful beaches, great shops(outlet mall and souvenir shops, casinos(quite a few and very nice), great restaurants, etc. All this within 5-15 min drives.
Then if you care for this in Kiln, Mississippi they have a really nice brewery where you can get good food while touring/walking around the place.
I personally prefer the lower portion of Mississippi(more things to do) than the northern portion. The state is beautiful as well.
Biloxi, Bay St Louis, and Gulfport are nice. Gulfport will have more of the tourist type attractions and Biloxi and Bay St Louis more of a chill and relax vibe.
😂😂😂 No…If anything they will be even more friendlier because of your accent we don’t get too many foreigners come here to visit
The coast is home to many Yugoslavian immigrants, especially Biloxi. We have a Croatian amercan friendship society.
You will find us very friendly and more than likely will want to move here we will welcome you with open arms
We actually have a pretty large immigrant base here imo. There’s a lot of Chinese-Americans who immigrated over years ago to start businesses. Same with a lot of from places like Pakistan and Iran. We have a “chain” of Mediterranean restaurants in Memphis (Tennessee) that have a cult following almost. Amazing food. And the owners have expanded into gas stations branching further out that carry their food as well. It’s really neat.
All that to say, in my experience, we really do tend to be pretty welcoming and accepting here. Some people aren’t fond of “different” but you’ll have that anywhere.
I know this is a stretch but - I run a small ranch in North MS, just south of Memphis. We raise cattle, pigs, goats, a range of poultry and waterfowl, and we farm as well. I love cooking for people and having visitors. I would absolutely love to have you over and share a meal with you if you pass through this way. ❤️ I don’t want to put too much info here but please PM me if you’re interested!
If you are in delta towns such as Clarksdale, they are used to foreign tourists making the trek down from Memphis. Biloxi area gets plenty of tourists as well as immigrants that work at the casinos. Be nice, be careful, have fun.
Why Mississippi? I live in Mississippi and there is nothing here. Tennessee is beautiful as well as West Virginia,
It's all good man, people here are very nice and as a foreigner I get asked all the time if I'm from Eastern Europe (which I'm not at all) as well and I just say I'm from a community in Northern Mississippi 😅
There are enough Russian immigrants here that both a close friend and also my youngest brother married Russian women that they met at college or at their workplace.
That’s honestly sad. Imagine being very heartwarming towards strangers in your own country. But not being certain you will receive the same thing back in USA let alone in the rest of the world. It’s unfair and bad.
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Probably don’t mention Russia. America in general is not a huge fan of that country at the moment. But you shouldn’t have any trouble from anyone in Mississippi. We are pretty welcoming in general, unless you try to promote a fight then issues arise.
I would assume most people could differentiate the people from the government. But perhaps I am naïve.
How do you know he is white?
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Don’t go there - it represents the worst of everything in America.
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I wouldn't mention ur from Russia, especially to rednecks lol
I don't think there is a consensus opinion on Russia among rednecks or anyone else in Mississippi. Our rednecks and others are also capable of distinguishing between the people of a country and what their government does.
Every redneck dreams of challenging a German or Russian to a drinking contest
Sokka-Haiku by Agreeable_Bag5982:
I wouldn't mention
Ur from Russia, especially
To rednecks lol
Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.
Bad bot.
I find it ironic that you mention Mississippians being hospitable while spouting pretty inhospitable rhetoric.
your visiting legit the last state anyone in the US to choose your vacation in good luck
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I simply don’t agree. MS went for Trump y’all. Nuff said.
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That’s probably one of the only good things about Mississippi, the people are generally pretty hospitable and will have a conversation with you no matter what race you are, as long as you speak english.
Don't go to Jackson, MS...Crime is too high, and the city can't fix their water system.
Blues Café in Bentonia, in Mississippi
There's a town in central Mississippi named Kosciusko (Named after Thaddeus Kosciuszko)
The locals pronounce it Kosy-es-co.
You'll be okay, from the standpoint you mention.