As a kid, I was convinced all of New Jersey was the same. In my tiny mind, there was no North or South line. I mean, I didn't spend much time in North Jersey, so I had nothing to dispute my thoughts. However, I applied and was accepted to a university so far north I could see New York City's skyline from my dorm window. This further proved to me just how different my small South Jersey town was in comparison to this bustling place where it seemed like no one knew how to merge lanes. Since I've been living up here, I've learned quite a few key differences in my old way of life and my new one. Here are some quotes from fellow classmates that call North Jersey home:
1.) "I don't get why we're called the 'Garden State'. There aren't any gardens anywhere here."
Let's take a minute to bask in the stupidity of this statement. I can't make this kind of stuff up. I was perplexed that someone in my college class, who was supposed to be educated enough to know simple things, did not know how vast our crops and farmlands are in this small state. To give her credit, she seems to have never left North Jersey in her life, so she probably hasn't seen a farm up close, but c'mon. It's just a shame that South Jersey gets all the beauty of the tall crops of corn, red ripening tomatoes, and sweet blueberries while the top of the state gets the view of stretches of highways. I'd take a backroad with a 30 mph speed limit over a Nascar race on the Parkway any day.
2.) "I don't care what any South Jersey person says, it is Taylor Ham. It's not pork roll."
3.) "Do you say Jimmies or Sprinkles?"
If I'm from the South, what do you think?
4.) "You have how many Wawa's by your house???"
5.) "So do you, like, live in the woods? It's probably really slow down where you live."
Just to clarify: South Jersey is not the same as the south of the United States. Living by the Pine Barrens doesn't make the whole region Hickville. So no, uneducated classmate, the town and surrounding areas are not all located in the woods. We're actually pretty civilized down here, if you can believe it. Even if South Jersey was completely woodlands, I wouldn't mind. The woods and wildlife are beautiful down here. I will admit it's a bit slower-paced down here than up north, but I don't consider that an insult. I'd rather drive calmly than be stressed that someone is going to rear-end me every 5 seconds.
6.) "Did you just call a sub a 'hoagie'?"
.......... Sometimes I don't have the energy to deal with this nonsense. Of course I called it a hoagie because that's what it's called!! We have Hoagie Fest in the summer for a reason. It becomes apparent who was raised where when the validity of the sandwich is brought into question. I have never ordered a "sub" in my life and that is not about to change since I've moved up here.
And the most important quote goes to:
8.) "New York City is so much better than Philly, especially when it comes to sports teams."
Living in the seemingly foreign place called North Jersey has taught me a lot of things this past year. I love my slow-paced town and going down the shore and eating hoagies. I've also learned that no matter which region of the state you belong to, there is an incredible amount of pride to be a citizen of New Jersey. I mean, how can you not?
