Things You Realize when You Leave Buffalo | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Things You Realize when You Leave Buffalo

Little bits and pieces that you miss from the "City of Good Neighbors"

58
Things You Realize when You Leave Buffalo

There is something about being away from home that makes you fall more in love with the place where you grew up. Throughout high school, all I could think about was "When am I going to get out of here? When is my life going to begin?" It wasn't until I moved out of the state that I began to realize how special Buffalo is.

1) When you say you are from New York, people always assume you're from New York City.

No matter how far you travel, whether you're in Pennsylvania or China, everyone thinks "New York" means "New York City." New York is a pretty big, diverse state. You have leafy state parks, the mountains, small towns like Hamburg and Orchard Park, small cities like Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse, and then you have New York City. You get a completely different lifestyle depending where in New York you're from, so it can be slightly annoying when many people believe that the entire state is the city.

2) People make fun of you for your Buffalo accent.

Suddenly, you realize you say words very differently than most in the United States. Apparently, you went to elementry school, not elementary school. You drink soda, not pop. You pronounce "a"s like aaangry very naseally.

3) You have prejudice for Dunking Donuts because it's not Tim Hortons

When you're so close to the Canadian border, Tim Hortons because a normal way of life for a Buffaloian. Once you go down south, you realize that Dunkin' is basically a Tim Hortons' nicotine patch. You may not want to drink it, but it's going to hold you over than spending way too much money on Starbucks.

4) You begin falling in love with any "Buffalo" Merchandise

When I came home for the holidays, I found myself obsessed with any Buffalo-specific store. I loved necklaces, sweaters, and other trinkets that had "716", "Buffalove", and other classic Buffalo trademarks on the product. It reminded me of home, and I reminded me where I was from.

5) People respect your dedication to the Bills and the Sabres, but do not understand it.

There is a weird balance to being a Buffalo sports fan. Because of our (unfortunately) low winning record, many other fans don't actively hate us from a competitive standpoint. Many nod their heads at the fact that we defend our city's teams, but have no idea why we are so loyal to them.

6) You realize how unique Buffalo really is.

If you think about it, there are many parts about Buffalo that make it so different from other cities. Buffalo was a boom city, and is covered with abandoned steel mills, run down factories, huge silos, and full of refugee housing. Over the last few years, Buffalo has made amazing strides to use these characteristics to make Buffalo incredible. I have so many happy memories of kayaking through silo city, learning about cultures from volunteering in the refugee community, watching hockey games at Riverworks, and spending my summer at canalside. There always was something to do or to see, and when all else failed, there was always the Canadian border twenty minutes away.

7) People down south have a completely different mindset with traveling and time.

In general, the New York mindset is to get to next place as fast as you possibly can. We leave early. We grab our coffee on the go. We rush. I've noticed, the farther you get away from New York, the more people like to take their time. In some ways, it's really refreshing to enjoy life in the moment. However, when you're thirty minutes late and your friends will still not get their stuff together to leave, or when you nearly run someone over when you are trying to get to where you need to be, it can be incredibly frustrating.

8) You know that you need to run away when the menu calls it "Buffalo" chicken wings.

Whenever I'm somewhere away and see "Buffalo" chicken on the menu, I have learned to not even think about it. When someone calls wings or wraps "Buffalo", it is clear that they are too separate from what that food is and you will be highly disappointed with what they are putting in front of you, because it isn't prepared in the "Buffalo" way.

9) You realize certain brands that you love are only found in Buffalo.

When ordering a drink from a restaurant outside of the 716, don't ask for a Loganberry, or you'll get a lot of weird looks. If you're looking for some Perry's ice cream in a grocery store in West Virginia, you will have no luck. If you're craving some sponge candy, don't drive to a candy store in Pennsylvania. It won't be there.

10) As much as you're happy to be out in the world, you learn that you want to come home.

When I left Buffalo originally, I thought I was going to see the world and leave this small city behind me for good. However, the more I see of other cities, states, and countries, I learn how amazing Buffalo really is, and I can't wait to come back.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

15213
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Students walking on a sunny college campus with trees and buildings.

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

6592
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Power of Dressing Up

Why it pays to leave the hoodie at home.

4876
sneakers and heels
Sister | Brother Style - Word Press

For a moment your world is spinning. The phone alarm has just scared you awake and you’re flooded by daunting thoughts of the day ahead. You have three assignments due and little time to work on them because of your job. You’re running late because you’ve hit snooze one to many times after yesterday’s long hours. You dizzily reach for a hoodie, craving its comfort, and rush for a speedy exit, praying you will have time to pick up coffee. Does this sound familiar?

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Signs You Live At The Library As Told by 'Parks And Recreation'

A few signs that you may live in the library whether you'd like to admit it or not.

4295
brown wooden book shelves with books

Finals week is upon us. It is a magical time of year during which college students everywhere flock to the library in attempt to learn a semester's worth of knowledge in only a week. For some students, it's their first time in the library all semester, maybe ever. Others have slaved away many nights under the fluorescent lights, and are slightly annoyed to find their study space being invaded by amateurs. While these newbies wander aimlessly around the first floor, hopelessly trying to find a table, the OGs of the library are already on the third floor long tables deep into their studies. Here is a few signs that you may live in the library, whether you'd like to admit it or not.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments