It’s Always Surrey In Philadelphia

(I’m an obviously Caucasian woman whose Irish and Scots ancestors came to the US in the mid-1700s. I moved to Minnesota after spending most of my life in Pennsylvania. I am a customer buying a a new suitcase and travel-size toiletries.)

Cashier: “Going camping?”

Me: “No, I’m going home to visit my family in Pennsylvania.”

Cashier: *smiles brightly* “Oh, I’ve heard of that! It’s in Europe, right?”

(I laugh before I realize she isn’t joking.)

Me: “Um, no. PENN-sylvania. You know, below New York, above Maryland.”

Cashier: *looks baffled*

Me: “Where the Declaration of Independence was written?”

Cashier: *confused look* “Well, I think you’ll do really good here. You don’t even look foreign and you speak English really well! Enjoy your trip!”