Never in my life have I been told I have an accent.
It was not until recently that I began developing a regional dialect—but not from my native Long Island, New York. No, I think, slowly but surely, I am developing a Baltimore accent.
I’ll be honest. Having a Baltimore accent is something that I would be proud of!
Baltimore has become my home away from home, and there are a lot of really endearing things about this state that I am adopting in my own life.
First off, Marylanders say “Bawlmer.” It’s two syllables, and there is no ‘t.’
They also have a slight obsession with their flag. When you’re from Maryland, you hang a GIANT Maryland in your dorm room. 
You proudly wear Maryland flag-printed clothing.

Marylanders love their Old Bay seasoning. And make no mistake, it’s not just for crabs.
When you go to a restaurant, it is flat-out wrong to get an order of fries without Old Bay (or better yet, being handed a shaker so you can apply your own amount to your liking). Marylanders enjoy Old Bay wings, Old Bay chips, Old Bay on corn on the cob, Old Bay popcorn. The Charmery in Hamden makes an Old Bay-caramel ice cream. Living in Maryland means embracing Old Bay.

Lacrosse is a huge part of Maryland culture (despite that its not the state sport which is jousting). Keep in mind, I am from New York. Marylanders’ love of this sport is on a different level than where I grew up.
Personally, I love the state pride that Marylanders exhibit and some of the quirkier things that make this state and the city of Baltimore one of a kind.
And speaking of state pride, Maryland Day is this month. Maryland Day is celebrated on March 25, the day the first European settlers landed in Maryland, the third English colony to be settled by the British in North America.
Maryland Day also has a Jesuit connection. Of the 150 or so settlers aboard the ship that landed in what is now St. Mary’s County were three Jesuit priests and other Catholics seeking religious freedom.

It was these people who built the Baltimore Basilica, America’s first cathedral, which is less than two miles down Charles Street from Loyola’s campus and a beautiful place to visit.