Whenever someone asks us where we’re from and we answer New Jersey, their reaction is always the same: unimpressed and smug as they ask us if we know Snooki. It doesn’t help that when we try to clarify that we’re from South Jersey, we immediately get asked, “Oh, you mean, like, Camden?” Yes, I do. Camden County, to be exact, and quite proud of it. While we might not have the best reputation, there are actually a lot of perks to living in South Jersey.
1. 24-hour diners.
After a long night out with friends, there’s nothing more satisfying than being able to walk into a diner and order a freshly cooked meal — even if it’s 2 a.m. No matter what you’re craving, whether it be an omelette or a piece of cheesecake, it’s perfectly acceptable to order regardless of what time it is. The waiters and waitresses who work the overnight shift will never judge you for it. Honestly, they’re just as crazy as you are.
2. WaWa.
Otherwise known as The Holy Grail of South Jersey. To outsiders, WaWa looks like any other convenience store, but to the people of South Jersey, it’s something else entirely: it’s a lifestyle. It even has its own annual celebration with Hoagie Fest — a groovy Woodstock-inspired event complete with its own soundtrack. Where else can you get made-to-order hoagies, signature iced tea, freshly brewed coffee, a variety of snacks and gas to fill up your tank? Oh, and did I mention nearly all stores are open 24 hours?
3. Full-service gas stations.
By law, we don’t pump our own gas. (And, just for the record, we don’t pump our fists, either. Only the wannabe guidos in North Jersey do that.) Call it lazy of us, but we’ll be the ones nestled warm inside our cars when it’s below freezing outside. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t tip the gas attendant.
4. Jughandles.
Need to take a left turn? Rather than getting in the far left lane and holding up traffic behind you as you wait to sharply cut someone off, simply loop around using a jughandle. Crisis avoided.
5. Cheesesteaks.
People outside of South Jersey refer to them as “steak and cheese", and rightfully so, because their version of it is more of an insult than anything. Then again, maybe we’re just spoiled with the original Philly cheesesteak. While Geno’s and Pat’s are tasty options, they’re also major tourist attractions. There are plenty of other places within the city and suburbs where you can get just as good of a cheesesteak, if not better.
6. Radio 104.5.
Philadelphia’s alternative is nearly everyone’s favorite radio station in South Jersey. How could it not be? Radio 104.5 hosts annual birthday shows with well-known headliners like Weezer, Twenty One Pilots, Foster The People and more. They’re credited with discovering Of Monsters and Men as well as exclusively premiering new music from Mumford and Sons.
7. Tastykakes.
Someone once made the mistake of comparing Tastykakes to Hostess products and a small part of me died on the inside. The only similarity between the two is the fact that they’re both prepackaged desserts; other than that, Hostess doesn’t even compare. In South Jersey, Tastykakes are what happiness and nostalgia taste like. There was a terrifying period of time when we all thought the company was going out of business, but thankfully they were saved — meaning, we can indulge in all the Kandy Kakes and Krimpets we desire.
8. The dialect.
The slang we use in South Jersey could very well be its own language. In case you’re ever confused as to what we’re saying, here’s a quick explanation: "water ice" is Italian ice, "hoagie" is a sub, "circle" is a rotary, "pork roll" is Taylor ham, "jawn" is interchangeable with "thing," "Jeet yet?" is us asking if you ate yet, "wooder" is water, "mad" is used in the place of very, "panzarotti" is like a deep-fried calzone without any meat and the list goes on. There's also "mummers," but we’re not too sure what those are, either. We just know they put on a fun parade every New Year’s Day.
9. Phillie Phanatic.
Has your team’s mascot been sued (four times) before? When he’s not in the courtroom or sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong, the Phanatic is busy at Citizens Bank Park, hyping up the crowd by dancing around and shaking his over-sized belly. Forbes even voted him the most popular mascot in all major league sports.
10. Sports.
As painful as it might be, South Jersey supports Philly teams — even if the city was recently ranked as having the worst sports teams in North America. Whether it’s the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers or Sixers, we’ll stick by their side no matter what, telling ourselves “maybe next season." You have to admire our dedication at least, right?
11. Mischief Night.
Remember all those shenanigans you used to get into the night before Halloween when you would egg or TP the homes in your neighborhood because “everyone else was doing it”? As it turns out, everyone else wasn't doing it. In fact, we’re one of the few areas in the entire country that actively partakes in Mischief Night, and apart from some other areas of the tri-state region, we're the only ones who refer to it as that.
12. Going down the shore.
In South Jersey, the summer season doesn’t officially start until we make our first trip down to the shore. Our childhood was defined by all the weekends and vacations we spent down in Wildwood, Ocean City or Sea Isle. There was nothing else more exciting than smelling the first hint of low tide as you drove along Ocean Drive. From its coastline that spans across 130 miles to its boardwalks filled with rides and arcades, the Jersey Shore is truly a unique experience.
13. Philadelphia.
Of course, a reason in and of itself as to why being from South Jersey is the best is because Philly is just a bridge (and $5 toll) away. Without a doubt, Philly is one of the most underrated cities in the country with its historic roots, site attractions and close-knit neighborhoods of various descents. It’s not called the City of Brotherly Love for nothing.
