The Susquehanna Valley, YoCo, Amish Country, The Burg. Where one minute you're on the backroads with farmland and the next you're in a city. Home of the Hershey's chocolate bar, Field Hockey capitol of the US, and home of the Barbell. Being from the 717 is something you grow accustomed to. If you're from the 717 there's some things that are normal.
1. High school rivalries are real
When your High School Plays their rival on Friday nights, not only are the games more intense than normal, the cheering is 10 times louder, and the nights are themed, it's always an interesting time.
2. You're used to seeing farms, farms everywhere
It's really not unusual to be driving along a highway for example route 30, and see cows wondering in fields and random farms just pop up. Farms are definitely not a rare sighting.
3. And you usually have to stop for animal crossing
Cows, ducks, turtles, deer... Animal crossing is a norm
4. You've been to the Farm Show
You only get the cheese cubes, milkshakes and to see the butter sculpture once a year man.
5. Minor League Baseball Games are a must
York Revolution, Lancaster Barnstormers, and the Harrisburg Senators. Minor League baseball games with hotdogs and fountain soda is a summertime tradition in the 717.
6. You get Amish food every chance you get
You know the Amish make food that rocks your world, whoopie pies, pot pie, thinking about it just makes your mouth water.
7. You probably know people who are Pittsburgh, Philly, or Baltimore Fans
In parts of the area you can find Raven, Steelers, and Eagles fans, which causes may cause rivalries as real as High School ones.
8. You've probably had to make an evacuation plan in case Three Mile Island had a meltdown
If you lived in a 10 mile radius of Three Mile Island, you'd get letters from your town or school that says you have to be prepared and have a plan of evacuation just in case there was another meltdown. Basically we're all doomed but if you lived in a 10 mile radius you were extra doomed.
9. There are parades for every holiday
Halloween Parades, St. Patty's Day parades, you can usually find a parade to attend near the holidays, and you always sat on the curb when you were a kid and collected all the candy.
10. First Fridays are a thing
On First Friday's The cities of the 717 area celebrate their shops, and we've all heard of the amount of fun the first Friday's can be.
11. When you see the little white Statue of Liberty you know you're home
Whether you're traveling on 322 on the way home from college or just traveling through to go to Sheetz, when you see the white replica you know you're home.
Regardless of all the stereotypes the 717 has, you'll always be thankful for the weird traditions that you grew up on. You may not always admit it but you love your home.
