1. The Night Usually Stops At Last Call
If there’s one thing you’ll miss more than anything else after leaving New Jersey, it’s all of the 24/7 diners. Serving up exactly what you need any time of the day, very few other states have half as many late night dining options.
2. The Closest Wawa Might Be A Flight Away
It’s no secret that tons of New Jerseyans are addicted to their daily Wawa fix. Unfortunately, this convenient store meets gas station gets much harder to find the moment you start travelling west.
3. Hope You Know How To Pump Gas
While pumping your own gas might be illegal in this state, unless you’re moving to Oregon you’ll be expected to fill up your own car. This can be quite the surprise for Jersey drivers that haven’t spent much time outside of the Garden State yet.
4. You’ll Never Find A Bagel Worthy Of Your Taste Buds
Growing up in Jersey means you’ve been spoiled when it comes to this early morning favorite. Once you leave the Garden State, expect every other bagel to be a letdown.
5. Forget About Finding Great Pizza, Too
Everyone in Jersey knows they’ve got the best pies on the East Coast. Unfortunately, that stays true pretty much true nationwide, meaning if you’re out for a slice anywhere else in the country, you’ll probably finish your meal disappointed.
6. You’ve Got Some Major Stereotypes To Overcome
New Jersey is one state that the media loves to rip on. Expect people you meet to let out a slight groan when they here you’re from the Garden State, probably followed by a worn out joke.
Don’t let this get you down. New Jersey is much better than most out-of-staters think it is. You’ll just have to convince them that everything they’ve been told is wrong.
7. But, Seriously, Everyone Will Think You Know Snooki
One of the most common sources that most people get their Jersey stereotypes from is the popular television show “Jersey Shore.”
Even though this program has been off the air for several years and the stars aren’t even from Jersey, people will still expect you to have the entire guido-filled cast on speed dial and will probably be surprised when they realize you don’t follow a strict gym, tan, laundry regiment.
8. Take Advantage Of The Ocean Before You Say Goodbye
Nothing makes for a better summer day than going down the shore. Most states around the country won’t make it quite so easy to get a little sand between your toes.
9. You’ll Discover You Have Quite The Accent
The first thing everyone you meet will point out is the way you talk. You might not have the exaggerated accent that’s heard on television, but it will still be easy for people to guess where you’re from the second you open your mouth.
10. Driving Won’t Be Quite So Intense
If you’re used to driving on the East Coast, anywhere else will seem like a breeze. A driving style that’s filled with honking horns, crowded lanes, and flipped birds, you might want to lower your intensity on the road if you leave this part of the country.
11. “So You Went To New York All The Time, Right?”
Just because people know New Jersey is close to New York, they’ll assume you live most of your life on the streets of NYC. After all, “why else would someone live in Jersey?”
Whether you make a trip there once every few years or you commute to New York City daily, make sure that everyone you meet knows that your heart will always be in Jersey.
12. People Will Still Be Surprised By Who You’re Cheering For
Even though most people assume that New Jersey is basically an extension of NYC, they’ll still question your loyalty when they discover that you’re cheering for mostly out-of-state pro teams.
It won’t seem as strange when they realize several of those teams actually play their games in New Jersey.
13. Cut Back On The Swearing A Bit
New Jerseyans are famous for their colorful language. In fact, according to studies on this subject, New Jersey always breaks the top 5 states across the entire country for profanity.
While this means that it’s not uncommon to hear a few select four-letter words slip into seemingly every Garden State conversation, some parts of the country don’t have such a relaxed view on cursing. You might have to tone it down a bit to avoid insulting your new friends.
14. You’ll Miss Good Italian Food
Regardless of whether or not you’ve got family ties in Italy, it’s hard to deny the impact that the Italian culture has on the Garden State, especially when you’re talking about food. It’ll be a lot harder to find authentic homemade pasta when you leave.
15. No More Jughandles!
A dreaded feature of New Jersey roadways, one perk of leaving is that this strange way of making a left hand turn isn’t too popular elsewhere in the country.
16. Some Might Assume You’re A Gambling Pro
While every Jerseyan knows that most of the gambling population in Atlantic City is made up of bachelor parties and retired folks, outsiders assume this is basically an East Coast Vegas. They’ll be shocked when your luck at the local casino isn’t somehow better than theirs.
17. Good Luck Finding Fans To Cheer On Your Alma Mater With
Home to teams like the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Seton Hall Pirates, and the Princeton Tigers, you’ll struggle to find a bar showing your team’s “big game” outside of the Garden State. It’ll be even rarer that you bump into someone wearing the colors you love so much on the streets.
18. People You Meet Will Assume You Have Mob Connections
Thanks to popular shows like “The Sopranos” and “Mob Wives,” outsiders tend to assume that mob culture is still a huge deal in Jersey. Sure, there’s still probably a presence in certain circles, but the average Jerseyan won’t be able to just call up the neighborhood mob boss at will.
19. It’s Called The “Garden State” For A Reason
New Jerseyans are a bit spoiled when it comes to fresh produce, as this state’s extremely diverse and vibrant agricultural industry brings some of the tastiest and freshest products to grocery store shelves.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another place in the country that will meet your expectations when it comes to eating fresh and local. And you can just forget about decent cranberries.
20. There Is No North, Central, And South Outside Of Jersey
Unless someone you meet grew up in Jersey, they’ll probably have no appreciation for how diverse this tiny state really is. They’ll assume that it’s basically just a metropolis that’s just more of NYC.
The only way they’ll ever really understand what makes your state so awesome is if you bring them back for a visit.
21. Some Terms Don’t Travel
New Jersey has an entire set of words that are only really used in this part of the country. Expect terms like Bennie, Piney, and Shoobie, along with many others, to fall flat when new friends hear them.
22. No One Will Understand Your Bon Jovi Pride
A hometown hero in these parts, New Jersey has mad love for this aging rocker. Most people you meet in the rest of the country might be able to sing-a-long with a few of his hits, but they’ll never consider him family.
23. People Won’t Share Your Fear For The Jersey Devil
A legendary creature said to stalk the Pine Barrens of South Jersey, no one outside of Jersey has even heard of this guy. Don’t expect them to believe the horror stories stemming from this tale.
24. Get Used To Longer Drives
In a state that’s so small with so many people, drives to other Jersey destinations don’t take very long. If you move to somewhere that’s a bit more isolated, expect to spend several hours in the car before you reach your destination.
25. Good Luck Finding A Devils Fan To Watch The Game With
While this NHL team is very popular in the Garden State, their fan base is pretty much isolated to the North Jersey region. If you’re a die-hard fan that’s leaving, you’ll probably have to buy a special cable package if you want to catch any of the regular season games.
26. Toll Roads Aren’t Everywhere
While tolls roads are a way of life in Jersey, whether you’re paying for them or driving miles out-of-the-way to dodge them, many people around the country have never even been through a toll booth.
There’s a good chance you’ll be headed somewhere that doesn’t charge you every time you want to get from one place to another.
27. Most Places Aren’t In A War Over Meat
Every New Jerseyan is well aware of the battle raging between the people that call their state’s favorite meat the “pork roll” and those that prefer “Taylor Ham.”
People outside of Jersey don’t really care. You can even expect a struggle when you’re merely convincing new friends to try to pork-based processed protein, let alone getting them to weigh in on what it should be called.
28. The Exit You Take Probably Won’t Matter As Much
While you might be used to describing where your New Jersey home is by using a highway exit number, most people in the country don’t do this. Get used to saying your town’s name or expect that you’ll have to clarify.
29. You New Home Will Probably Be More Boring
New Jersey really is the best of both worlds. It’s got great beaches, access to several huge cities, and one of the most beautiful shorelines in the country. That’s a trifecta that very few other places in America can compete with.
30. You’ll Never Have More Jersey Pride
It can get a little hard being a New Jerseyan that’s not in New Jersey thanks to the many misconceptions that most Americans have about this state. But you’re a strong New Jerseyan, you’ll have no problem letting how awesome your state really is shine through.
Plus, even if you leave New Jersey, take comfort in knowing that your old friends will always welcome you back. Once you’re a Jerseyan, you’re a Jerseyan for life.
What do you miss about New Jersey? Tell us in the comments below!
