1. You are no stranger to detours.

Oh really ... they are doing detours ... again. What a surprise. I mean, I guess it makes sense, when you are fixing four other sections of town, it only makes sense that you fix another one in the middle of the other projects.

2. You grow accustomed to explaining where it is in relation to Boston; then end up just saying you are from Boston.

Oh, I'm from a town 20 minutes outside of Boston. No I promise you won't know where it is. Because you just won't. Okay I'm from Framingham. Yeah, Framingham ... okay I'm just from Boston, does that make more sense to you? Yeah I thought so.

3. You feel it necessary to describe the difference between the north and south side of town.

Every town knows the difference between the good and bad side of town, Framingham is no different. This being said, no matter what side of town you live on, you are protective of that side. Especially to people who live on the other side.

4. The town lines between Natick and Framingham don't exist.

Wait, the Natick Mall is in Natick and not Framingham? I know, right! Crazy. Natick and Framingham are technically the same town, even though we have this crazy rivalry once a year at Thanksgiving.

5. Are we a city? Are we a town? Who knows?

Framingham is so big that it can take up to a half hour to get from one side of town to the other. Even though it looks like a city, sounds like a city, and even gets mistaken for a city, it's a town. A huge town we all grow in and learn to love.

6. You get used to hearing Spanish more often than English.

Framingham has a huge population of native Spanish speakers and we are so lucky to have so much culture in our world. I learned so much by just growing up in Framingham about people that were different from me and how to respect other cultures and traditions. It also made it easier to study Spanish when it came time for that.

7. The Thanksgiving Game brings out a tension between two towns that don't have any tension other than this.

If you ask anyone from Natick or Framingham about the rivalry between the two towns, everyone will bring up the Thanksgiving game but not be able to think about anything else. This gives an chance for college students and alumni to come home and cheer on the home town.

8. You come up with millions of nicknames.

In my 18 years that I lived in Framingham, I've heard over 100 nicknames for it. You give nicknames to things you love and are passionate about. Our nicknames are out of fondness -- we love our 'ham.

9. Even though the town is huge, you know everyone.

You hear stories about small towns and everyone knowing everyone. This doesn't often happen in big towns. Well here, its very likely that you know everyone even if it's just through someone else. It's a very tight knit town and we are proud of that.

10. Even though you say you hate it, the dirty Ham is home and you can't help that.

Framingham has prepared me so well for the real world and living on my own. It is so nice having everything right there where you need it. I never had to go very far for anything I needed. I grew up in such a great place and I am so proud of where I come from.