Things Cajuns Do That America Doesn't Understand

LAFAYETTE, La. (KMDL-FM) - When it comes to South Louisiana and Acadiana, we absolutely have our own way of doing, and saying things. If someone isn't from here or hasn't spent a few years getting to know how operate, they're usually pretty confused at some of things we do and say that is just woven into our DNA.

Louisiana culture makes perfect sense...if you grew up here. But for the rest of the country, Cajun life can feel like a whole different world. From the way we talk to the way we eat, here are some everyday Cajun habits that leave outsiders scratching their heads.

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We Eat Foods That Sound Made Up

Boudin, hog head cheese, cracklins, ponce, frog legs, chaudin, tripe...the list could go on forever. Folks not from Acadiana or Louisiana usually have no idea what most of these things are, or that it can actually be eaten. Oh, it can be eat alright, and it's delicious.

We Measure Distance in Time, Not Miles

Ask a Cajun how far something is and you’ll get “about 20 minutes” not miles. Traffic, bridges, back roads, and landmarks matter more than a map.

We Use Words No One Else Does

Lagniappe, couillon, sha, cher, and fais do-do sound like another language, and that's because it is. It's our own special kind of French, Cajun French. Obviously it shares a lot with what would be considered "proper French" but through the generation we've adapted and adopted our own special version of it.

TSM Staff Photo

We’ll Drive Hours for Food

An hour or so drive for plate lunches or our gas-station boudin is completely normal behavior. It's always worth it, and we know it...that's why we'll do it.

We Often Wear Short Pants

Sure, the rest of America calls them shorts, but we call them short pants. Isn't that precisely what they are, shorter pants?

We Save Things

This one has confused countless people when they visit or move to Acadiana. You see, we don't put things up or put them away, we "save them". To "save" something means to put it up, put it away, or put it in its proper place.

Let's say you have leftovers from dinner. You'll hear someone from Acadiana say to "save the leftovers". This means to put it in the refrigerator so you can eat it later. You might also hear someone tell their kids to "save" their toys. What they're telling them to do is clean up and put their toys away where they belong.

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Yes, We Really Do Have Drive-Thru Daiquiris Shops

This is another major head scratcher for out-of-towners and if we're being honest, this one has us a little amazed as well. As long as the straw in the daiquiris has half of the paper on it, on the part you drink through, it's not considered to be an open container of alcohol, much like an unopened beer or liquor bottle. See what we did there?

Oh, we also cook grind meat and get down at the store. We'll let you figure those out...