I was born and raised in Long Island, NY. There is a lot of things that come with being from Long Island and a lot of words that I say A LOT differently than many of my friends I've made in college.

Don't be alarmed when you move off the island, at how different everyone speaks, and how many times people make you repeat what you just said and then laugh and tell you that you said it weird. That just comes with being from the best place in the world.

With that said, let's jump into the 11 realizations you have when you leave Long Island for the first time and move somewhere completely new.

1. "OMG! Awww no way! You know her? She's my best friend's close friend from camp!!!"

Everyone and their mother went to camp back home and even if you didn't, when you meet someone at school who knows your best friend's best camp friend, you automatically have to become best friends. One of your first questions when meeting a new person is, "Did you go to camp!? OMG no way which one!? No way SAME!!" That's basically how college friendships start if you're from Long Island.

2. You automatically assume every bagel you encounter in a different state is horrific.

And you have to let the world know that LONG ISLAND, in fact, has the BEST bagels. That's cute that you think Panera bagels count, but you're simply wrong. I'm so sorry. Also, it's pronounced "bae-goals" not "begels."

3. Speaking of bagels, everyone has their one true bagel store love. Bagel Biz, you have my heart.

I know I am speaking for all of my friends from home too when I say there is nothing better than waking up with all of your best friends in the world, driving to, in our case Bagel Biz, and reminiscing on the night while feasting on the BEST BEC ever, and a large (32oz) iced CAWFEE, the way only a bagel store can make it.

4. Yes, I say "nasty," and no I won't repeat it 16 times so you can laugh at how I pronounce my A's.

The thing my friends on my floor make me and my roommate repeat constantly is the word NASTY. Apparently, no one says it off the Island as a constant adjective, or puts extreme emphasis on the A. Oh well!!

5. You have to apologize all the time for walking too fast.

Not only do I have the longest legs known to man, I also have been told my whole life by my ultra "New York" dad that if you walk fast, you can get twice as much done in a day than most people can, and honestly it's so true.

6. Making no eye contact whatsoever with the people trying to give you free things on campus and avoiding them at all costs.

They may be giving out free Camelbak water bottles on the lawn near my building but in the city, who knows what would happen or what they would give you if you took free things from people on the streets?

7. Calling NYC "The City" and people going which city... Philly?

No. Just, no. "The City" means THE city. New York City. That's literally all you've ever known and it's so confusing that people don't know that NYC is THE city and that's all you've ever known or had to say back home. And even though you've seen and smelled some ungodly things on the Long Island Rail Road, LIRR, for some reason, it doesn't bother you.

8. We put our clothes in a DRAW, not a drawer.

A drawer in my dorm room fell on my foot this week and naturally I had to tell the story to all my friends. However, when I was telling it they kept laughing because I said the DRAW fell on my foot, not DRAWER. Whatever drawer takes too long to say anyway.

9. The summers are everything.

I can not imagine a summer where a beach is not 20 minutes away or where little town beaches just aren't a thing. Jones Beach has my heart for concerts (if you know you went to BLI Summer Jam, you know you were there in middle school), plus Robert Moses and Crab Meadow; there isn't a summer without this combo.

10. When you say "Can I have a regular slice or a regular pie" and the person on the other end asks you if that means a "cheese pizza."

Yes, it means cheese but that's so foreign to us it takes a few minutes to fully comprehend why you wouldn't just call it a pie. Plus I don't need to mention that Long Island pizza is the best because if you even know where Long Island is on a map, you know that the "people from there" brag about the pizza. And I hate to say it, but we're right. Nothing like Long Island Pizza.

11. If you're not from Long Island and you're reading this, some of it probably came off as rude.

BUT if you're from Long Island, you understood EVERY little piece of sarcasm and probably could resonate with almost everything on this list. Coming to college, the biggest adjustment was having to realize that only about 1% of the population here understands my sarcasm, and when they don't, things get REALLY awkward and uncomfortable, but that's alright though, I swear we're super nice people.

I am SO proud to be a Long Islander and wouldn't have it any other way.