St. Louis is a unique city, and its splendor certainly isn’t lost on locals. We love our charming community, but it has imparted us with some unusual habits. Every day in the city is an adventure, but it is particularly adventurous if you’re a transplant that moved into the culture of this community.

1. It's rude to laugh every time a St. Louisan says "farty." A silent snicker is totally acceptable, though.
Doug Kerr/Flickr
Sure, it's funny, but you have to adapt quickly because you'll hear this accent everywhere. You'll often hear about traffic on "Interstate Farty Four." You may even wish to adopt this pronunciation yourself, just for "farts" and giggles.
2. If you speak French, you probably don't speak St. Louisan French.
Matthew/Flickr
Our vernacular and dialect here in STL are incredibly unique. Our French may sound odd to those unfamiliar with the area, but don't be dismayed. We still throw one of the most epic Mardi Gras celebrations in the country.
3. Locals have a love affair with Provel cheese.
Liza Lagman Sperl/Flickr
St. Louisans love to put Provel cheese on everything. We use it to garnish our pizzas and subtly accent the flavors of our subs. It's a delicacy here. You may not love it at first, but you'll learn to.
4. "Don't like the weather? Wait five minutes."
Daniel X. O'Neil/Flickr
You'll hear this quite a bit here in the Midwest. Our weather patterns are incredible, and you can absolutely experience all four seasons throughout a single week (or a single day).
5. You'll get used to wearing sandals and snow boots in the same week.
Patrick Buechner/Flickr
Even though the weather is kind of nuts here in The Gateway City, you'll adapt. You may even learn to keep your winter coat handy all year round... just in case.
6. East St. Louis is not the same thing as St. Louis.
Craig Dietrich/Flickr
Locals can be pretty boisterous about our neighbor across the river, and they're adamant about distinguishing themselves. If you take a trip into East St. Louis, you'll probably notice that the city does, indeed, have a different atmosphere.
7. The city may look urban and industrial, but it hides some breathtaking natural wonders.
Keith Yahl/Flickr
Forest Park is a whimsical escape from reality, no matter the season. In the summer, this verdant and aptly-named natural space has beauty that's worthy of Claude Monet's artistic attention.
8. St. Louisans really care about where you went to high school.
Morgan Burke/Flickr
"Which high school did you go to?" and other similar questions are commonplace in a typical meeting with any new person in STL.
9. Halloween is more about giggles than ghouls in St. Louis.
Amazing Brian/Flickr
Grownups expect costumed kids to tell them a joke before they can get a treat! It's tradition around here.
10. Our diet here in St. Louis is... different.
Chris Goldberg/Flickr
Locals may eat fresh produce from Soulard's Farmers Market and gourmet toasted ravioli in the same day. We have an incredible selection of food here, and some unusual popular dishes as a result. If you're an adventurous eater, you'll blossom in our city.

St. Louis is a unique place, but we wouldn’t want to call anywhere else our home. What did you quickly learn when you first moved to St. Louis? Share your stories in the comments below!

Love the unusual nature of the city? You’ll adore these unusual destinations around St. Louis.

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