I grew up in Ridgewood New Jersey. For those of you who have no idea where that is, it is a small suburban "village" in Northern Jersey. We all have different backgrounds, come from different places, and when we're young, we have no idea of how big the world really is. I attend the University of New Hampshire, about five hours from my house, and although it is not too far from me, it still seems like a whole other type of living.

1. Blue Laws

Sundays around here are very boring. Why? NOTHING IS OPEN. We have these things called "Blue Laws" which basically bans the sales of everything on a Sunday. So around here Sundays are an excuse to watch Netflix and lounge around all day, all the while annoying your parents for doing absolutely nothing.

2. Grocery Shopping

What the heck is Hannafords? Only one of the main grocery stores in New Hampshire. While my mom is the one that grocery shops for my family, I have only known and been familiar with Stop & Shop. Which apparently doesn't exist either anymore or at all up north. Don't worry though, despite not knowing the aisles by heart, I was still able to locate everything alright!

3. The People

Now, I am not saying that people from Jersey aren't nice, because most people are. But in New Hampshire, in my single year of being there, I find that people are generally more welcoming, willing to aid, and just genuinely caring. It makes it very easy to make friends and feel safe, especially in a college environment. I don't know if it's because of the food they're eating or the air they're breathing, but whatever it is... Keep it up!.

4. The Food

One thing that my dad always looks for when touring for schools is the food. We are kind of spoiled here, with our Jersey bagels and New York/Jersey pizza. I do have to say, I do not have a problem with any of the food except for the bagels. I think that I can live without eating New Hampshire bagels for the next three years, and I invite all of you to try a bagel from here before you hate on me for hating on your bagels.

5. Aggressive Drivers

There are simply none. While we don't have any "masshole" type drivers, we do have the "Jersey-slide" aggressors. Like my dad. While there are the occasional nice drivers who will stop for you when you are trying to cross, as it is the law, most of the time I just walk out and hope that I am not hit. Or if I am, at least I have college tuition. Crossing the streets in NH is much easier, even if I am not in a crosswalk people stop all the time. No one is in a rush, they just want to be nice and carry on with their day.

6. The Snow

Now of course I am familiar with snow and the occasional snow storm. I love snow, that is part of why I chose this school. I, however, was not prepared for the amount that you guys get! How do you do it every year?? I was at one point waist high in snow and I feel like I was the only one that had a reaction to it, as everyone else was like "eh, it's not even the most I've seen." Sitting in this 90 degree weather I am excited for next winter to be in waist high snow again. As well as the snow days that go along with it. Yes that is me on one of our many snow days at 1 in the morning.

7. The Stars

I'm not much of a star gazer, but when there are a ton of stars I do not mind sitting outside and looking at them for a bit. I found myself doing that quite often in NH, the air is so much cleaner than here that I can actually see more than four stars! And the amount of times I pointed out the moon to my friends was too high, they started to get annoyed with me.

8. Outside

You people are always outside and I love it. There are so many things that you could be doing indoors that you choose to do outside, I've noticed a lot of people just sitting in hammocks between trees, or going for hikes in College Woods, fishing, skateboarding really fast to God knows where, or just sitting outside reading or talking to friends. I do not experience that very often here. I am an outdoorsy person, so walking to the reservoir to go fishing is something I did often with my friends, I even named my fishing pole: Rodney. After being home for these past few days, I have only been outside to either walk my friend's dog or attend my sister's softball games. Take me back to New Hampshire please!

9. Animals

There is a lot of farmland in New Hampshire, so seeing horses and cows and chickens has become an every day occurrence. One time I was walking to the reservoir with my friends as there was an equestrian match going on and we were walking beside, what felt like, thousands of horses and it was probably one of the coolest experiences I've had. I was waiting for the invite to ride one, it never came. Here I have my cats, other people's cats, and dogs. With the occasional deer, turkey, and fox. I would rather have a hundred horses in my backyard. I could live without the thousands of stinkbugs that invaded my dorm though, definitely do not need to see those disgusting creatures ever again.

10. The Cost

I have found that everything in New Hampshire is significantly cheaper than in Jersey. One time I even called my mom about all the food I got at Hannafords and how much I spent because I kid you not, I was so proud of myself for how uncostly the total was. In reality it had nothing to do with my savvy shopping, but rather due to the lack of expensiveness everything is. But don't tell my mom that. Despite all the money I spent, I probably would have spent twice as much if I was purchasing all that here. And that is WITH my Stop & Shop card.

11. Seatbelt laws

While I always wear my seatbelt, and always will, it is not required for passengers in New Hampshire. As neither are motorcycle helmets.I would probably also wear those, if I had my motorcycle license, or a motorcycle to wear one with... Still I think that it is a pretty cool concept that you are in charge of your own life. I mean Live Free Or Die am I right?

12. The Lingo

"Wicked"? Like the Broadway Play? Nope. a word that is thrown around New Hampshire so often that I even started to pick up on it. New Hampshire is starting to flow through my very own New Jersey blood and I love it! While you guys have never heard of "air sip" because you're weird and use "waterfall" when you want to take a sip of someone else's drink, I have never heard of "bubbler" which you use for "water fountain." Like what? "Wicked" is by far my favorite and I use it in my sentences now and my friends from home are like "Who are you?"