--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We lived in an ordinary suburb and had an…" description: "\"We lived in an ordinary suburb and had an ordinary childhood. It didn't feel like the 'South.' Everyone says Durham is a bunch of northern yankees tran..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/matt-duffer-7250_childhood_we-lived-in-an-ordinary-suburb-and-had-a_1538944.jpg" --- # We lived in an ordinary suburb and had an ordinary… ![“We lived in an ordinary suburb and had an ordinary childhood. It didn't feel like the 'South.' Everyone says Durham is a bunch of northern yankees transplanted to North Carolina. The stereotypical South does exist - if you drove 10 miles in the wrong direction you'd be right in the middle of it…” quote by Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/matt-duffer-7250_childhood_we-lived-in-an-ordinary-suburb-and-had-a_1538944.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/matt-duffer-7250_childhood_we-lived-in-an-ordinary-suburb-and-had-a_1538944.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/matt-duffer-7250_childhood_we-lived-in-an-ordinary-suburb-and-had-a_1538944.jpg) > “We lived in an ordinary suburb and had an ordinary childhood. It didn't feel like the 'South.' Everyone says Durham is a bunch of northern yankees transplanted to North Carolina. The stereotypical South does exist - if you drove 10 miles in the wrong direction you'd be right in the middle of it. We didn't grow up with that.” [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes growing up in a non‑stereotypical Southern suburb, noting that regional identity can be fluid and not always reflected in local culture. **In simple terms:** Suburban life can differ from regional stereotypes. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse local cultures. Themes identity regionalism stereotypes upbringing Mood contemplative curious Type sociological narrative When to use this quote - moving to new cities - teaching regional history - media representation - personal narratives Key Concepts Sociology cultural geography Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment shape your sense of place? - What assumptions do you challenge about regional identity? A Different Perspective Stereotypes may still influence perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carolina Stereotypical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carolina-stereotypical-5727454/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/durham/) [Grow up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-up/) [Like South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-south-1659476/) [North carolina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-carolina/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Stereotypical South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stereotypical-south-5727453/) [Transplanted North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transplanted-north-5727455/) [Wrong direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-direction/) ## Related quotes > [We grew up in Durham, N.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/we-grew-up-in-durham-n-c/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [We travel all over the world, and it seems like the South is the place where the people are nicest and they think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/we-travel-all-over-the-world-and-it-seems-like-the-south-is-the-place/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [Well, it's hard for me to call anybody my 'friend' because when I say 'friend,' like, I'm from the South and friends have grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-devayne/well-it-s-hard-for-me-to-call-anybody-my-friend-because-when-i-say/) [Chi Chi DeVayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-devayne/) > [People don't talk about small-town racism in Illinois or upstate New York. They're like, 'It's the South.' And it is. It's there. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/people-don-t-talk-about-small-town-racism-in-illinois-or-upstate-new/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I really like South Beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/i-really-like-south-beach/) [Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/) > [I hope every school or university treats women's sports like South Carolina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-hope-every-school-or-university-treats-women-s-sports-like-south/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I like the South because of the people. They are loyal. Once they love a team, they're fans forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-wilkins/i-like-the-south-because-of-the-people-they-are-loyal-once-they-love/) [Dominique Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-wilkins/) > [“I could tell she was one of those ridiculously gorgeous southern blondes. It was like the South had some special ingredient to raise them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-could-tell-she-was-one-of-those-ridiculously-gorgeous-southern/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [I like the South: Southern literature and that relationship between grotesqueness and living below the Mason-Dixon line. But I also understand that people view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/i-like-the-south-southern-literature-and-that-relationship-between/) [Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/) > [I'm kinda disapointed that Canada isn't like the South Park movie said it was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-madden/i-m-kinda-disapointed-that-canada-isn-t-like-the-south-park-movie/) [Joel Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-madden/) > [I like the South because it is so much warmer on the sidelines than it is up North.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-landry/i-like-the-south-because-it-is-so-much-warmer-on-the-sidelines-than/) [Tom Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-landry/) > [The Mississippi coast is not like south Florida, but it always seems warm enough for sandals and short-sleeved shirts, except for now and then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/the-mississippi-coast-is-not-like-south-florida-but-it-always-seems/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [I'm very loyal to my south fans and the industry there. So, it's hard for me leave all the love, respect, and admiration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajal-aggarwal/i-m-very-loyal-to-my-south-fans-and-the-industry-there-so-it-s-hard/) [Kajal Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajal-aggarwal/) > [The rose goes on the front, big guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crash-davis/the-rose-goes-on-the-front-big-guy/) [Crash Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crash-davis/) > [Commemoration of Brooke Foss Westcott, Bishop of Durham, Teacher, 1901 Be not afraid to pray... to pray is right. Pray if thou canst with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartley-coleridge/commemoration-of-brooke-foss-westcott-bishop-of-durham-teacher-1901/) [Hartley Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartley-coleridge/) ## More by Matt Duffer > [We grew up in Durham, N.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/we-grew-up-in-durham-n-c/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [We're really tough on everything we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/we-re-really-tough-on-everything-we-do/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [You know, there's nothing in 'E.T.' that earmarks it as really '80s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/you-know-there-s-nothing-in-e-t-that-earmarks-it-as-really-80s/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [What we loved about the movies we watched as children was the great character work. They are all about the place where the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/what-we-loved-about-the-movies-we-watched-as-children-was-the-great/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [Us and everyone in Hollywood puts so much time and effort and money into getting things to look just right and when you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/us-and-everyone-in-hollywood-puts-so-much-time-and-effort-and-money/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [I watched a little 'Beyond the Black Rainbow.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/i-watched-a-little-beyond-the-black-rainbow/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [We didn't go to any summer camps because we just wanted to be making movies and telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/we-didn-t-go-to-any-summer-camps-because-we-just-wanted-to-be-making/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [My brother and I played D&D. We just weren't particularly great at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/my-brother-and-i-played-d-d-we-just-weren-t-particularly-great-at-it/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [When we were growing up, some of those Amblin films, those Spielberg movies, led to the creation of the PG-13 rating because he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/when-we-were-growing-up-some-of-those-amblin-films-those-spielberg/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [We are such big John Carpenter fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/we-are-such-big-john-carpenter-fans/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [I think the PGA Award, when we won that, was so shocking to me. I thought, 'Absolutely no way.' I was barely listening when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/i-think-the-pga-award-when-we-won-that-was-so-shocking-to-me-i/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [Dragon's Lair' we played a lot as kids. It's a fun game to look at - it's not a very fun game to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/dragon-s-lair-we-played-a-lot-as-kids-it-s-a-fun-game-to-look-at-it-s/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [We're very socially awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/we-re-very-socially-awkward/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [Often it's scarier when stuff is weird and when you don't fully understand the motive. Pennywise in 'IT' is very weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/often-it-s-scarier-when-stuff-is-weird-and-when-you-don-t-fully/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) > [A debate about candy bars can get heated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-duffer/a-debate-about-candy-bars-can-get-heated/) [Matt Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) [Explore all 93 Matt Duffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-duffer/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We lived in an ordinary suburb and had an ordinary childhood. It didn't feel like the 'South.' Everyone says Durham is a bunch of northern yankees transplanted to North Carolina. The stereotypical South does exist - if you drove 10 miles in the wrong direction you'd be right in the middle of it. 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