Thoughts.com Blogs - South vs North?? Why so different??

I was born and raised in the South. I had visited the North on the occasional vacation, but never got a taste for it's differences until I was forced to move up here. I might as well have moved to a different country. The people and culture up here are as foreign to me as a trip to Germany! I would like to say that moving up here has been easy and fun, but it hasn't. I have been fortunate enough to meet some nice people and to find a nice church, BUT IT IS NOT THE SAME! I'm not making an assumption that everyone up here follows what I'm about to describe, but I will say that the shoe fits for most of whom I've encountered for the past year!

I miss common courtesy! It seems to be nonexsistent up here! I can't believe how many times I or my husband have been forced to sit on the ramp on the interstate because no one will let us merge into traffic. I can't believe how many times I've smiled at someone in the store just to be friendly and have gotten no response or even a smirk in return. I can't believe how many times I've let someone turn out of a shopping center in front of me in traffic and have never gotten a thank-you wave! The majority up here are so self-focused that others are not even second place up here....more like 5th place!
What concerns me most is that I have young impressionable children and I'm desperately trying to teach them to respect others in a society that doesn't!! What's wrong with these people up here?? I can't figure it out!
I was an educator before staying at home and I was used to the teachers being loving and nurturing to the children. That quality seems to be lacking in our Northern teachers as well. They may be able to teach, but their love for children has yet to be seen. It's all "business" up here! No emotions, no feelings, no true connection with people! It makes me very sad to be raising my children up here! I don't want them to have this fast pace, stay busy all the time, forget others attitude!
I just want someone to explain to me why the people up here are so unfriendly??!! Can anyone? Is it the dark gray winters that are all but mind altering and depressing? Is it the fact that there are no Sonic drive-in's around here with a truly good burger?
If anything, it has made me very thankful for my upbringing and has given me a determination to bring up my children respecting others even when they aren't shown it in return! God has a reason for relocating us up here, but He hasn't revealed it to me yet! I'm just hoping I learn whatever lesson there is to be taught and serve in the ways He wants me to, so in 3 years I can return to my own Southern comforts!! ;0)