To all the other out-of-staters that travel across the country to go to school, here are 10 struggles that only we will understand.
1. We are constantly too cold or too warm
While most states go through all four seasons, it may be true that the state you are in feels like it does not. Whether it’s freezing your ass off in Michigan or melting in Arizona, the different temperatures sure take some time getting used to.
2. No one we know goes to our school
Most of your friends went to your state school, and if they didn’t, they’re most definitely not going to the same school as you. If you do know anyone, it would that one girl that sat behind you in your high school biology class. And those three people from Orientation that you haven’t talked to in 3 months.
3. Everyone comments on our “accent”
You never think you have an accent until you’re thrown into another part of the country and “Your accent is cool” and “Where are you from?” are both questions heard more than once on a daily basis.
4. We don’t know where any state towns are
When you ask an in-state kid which town they’re from and hear a town you didn’t even know existed, it’s only proper etiquette to pretend to know exactly where that is.
5. No one knows where we’re from
It goes both ways, so when people ask you where you're from, it’s only proper to give the most general of answers, because who would know your little suburban town in New Jersey anyway?
6. A sense of camaraderie when we find someone from our state
When you do find someone who knows where you live, it feels as if some soul-binding connection has happened, and suddenly you are hanging around them more and more until they involuntarily become your best friend.
7. We use different words for things and no one knows what we are talking about
Going from the east coast to the midwest means going into a storm of new terms, such as “pop” for “soda” and “tennis shoes” for “sneakers”. Are tennis shoes not just used for tennis?
8. Not being able to go home every weekend because home is a train or plane ride away
If you went home for the weekend, the trip would end up being a whopping $400 dollars just for plane tickets. I’m sure your parents would rather just Facetime.
9. Having to pay out-of-state tuition
When in-state kids complain about tuition, you must always remind them you are probably paying almost double the tuition and also double the suffering.
10. Knowing our home is always where our heart is
However, wherever you end up, the state and town in which you grew up will always have a special place in your heart.
