Like many New Yorkers, when the time came to make the college decision, I ended up at a school still here in my home state. "Here" being a rather lose term, seeing as my school is 474 miles from my home town on Long Island. Nevertheless, how different could it be? It is, after all, still the same state, right? Well I've only been gone for a few months, but it didn't take even that long to see that the rest of the state of New York is like a whole other world compared to Long Island, and I have learned quite a few things about the differences between them.

For one thing, it turns out that not everywhere north of the city is considered "upstate."

Apparently, you need to get north of Albany for it to be considered "up state." I didn't even know downstate was a thing—isn't it just LI, The City and Upstate?

It also turns out that not everybody on planet earth calls The City, "The City."

What do you mean you're going to New York? This whole state is called New York.

If you're in western New York, do not try to pass off Buffalo Wild Wings or Applebee's wings as decent wings.

You will fail.

You will get eye rolls from everybody when you try and start the pizza argument, because they've all heard it before.

Every Long Islander before has already informed them about the inferiority of their pies—there is no need to rub it in.

But actually you have every right to start an argument about this weird thing they have called "sheet pizza."

Pizza only belongs in squares if it is Sicilian. That is all.

They are also already aware that their bagels just can't compare.

Apparently when you leave the downstate area, bagels must be toasted to be eaten.

Soda is called "pop" in this part of the world.

And here we were, thinking this was a Southern thing.

Apparently, there are ways to spend the summer months that aren't on the beach.

I'm not sure what these summers consist of, exactly, but they exist.

Spending free time in any season, for that matter, is just not a thing.

Going to the beach when snow covers the sand is really nothing out of the ordinary.

Going to half apps is not a nightly thing.

Again, not really sure what they do when they're bored, but unfortunately apps is not an acceptable way to end any evening up there.

And finally, no matter where you end up, you will find other Long Islanders who think exactly like you.

You will find your people wherever you go.