New Jersey has a special place in my heart and always will. We might get trashed on by every other state, but we're actually a freakin' great place! Yeah, the North hates the South and the South hates the North, but at the end of the day, we can all agree New Jersey rocks! So throw a fist in the air, and get ready to pump it! Here's a few of the many great things only New Jersey people understand.

1. Wawa

No, this is not just a gas station, a rest stop, or a convenient store. It is so much more than that. Getting through the day without a Wawa hoagie, iced vanilla coffee, or mac and cheese is almost impossible and is not acceptable. It's also extremely clean, has an extremely friendly atmosphere, and was the hotspot to hang in middle school at 10 right before curfew.

2. Full Service Gas Stations

Yes, I am an adult. No, I do not know how to pump gas. Why? Because I'm a Jersey girl, and Jersey girls don't pump gas! I can't even imagine getting out of my car on a cold morning when I can just sit in my nice warm car while someone does the job for me.

3. 3:00 am Diner Runs

A grilled cheese with french fries and a chocolate milkshake in the middle of the night with some of your friends? What could sound better! They're open 24 hours and are always there when you need them.

4. New Jersey Bagels

Bagels are all over the country, but they're nothing like New Jersey bagels. There's no way to explain how good they taste, they're just so much better here than anywhere else.

5. Philly Cheesesteaks

Okay, so technically, these aren't ours, but driving across the bridge weekly for some Pat's or Geno's is not uncommon. Oh and it's not cheese with onions, it is whiz wit.

6. Jughandles

New Jersey is known for their crazy drivers, but that's only because our roads are so different than yours! Like, what is a left turn on a highway? Jughandles might be confusing, but make life so much easier.

7. Surf Taco

This coastal cuisine is the most amazing tasting Mexican food you will ever taste in your life. Stopping by for a surf taco or quesadilla after a long day down the shore is the perfect ending to your day.

8. Defining Yourself By A Parkway Exit

Most people when asked where they're from answer with the name of a town or county; however, in New Jersey, you are known by your parkway exit number. And no, this isn't weird, and yes we know what the exit numbers mean.

9. Mischief Night

I was thoroughly surprised when I came to college and realized no one had heard of Mischief Night. You know, the night before Halloween where disruptive kids and angsty teens throw toilet paper and eggs at neighbors houses.

10. Jersey Shore Stereotyping

Sorry I don't meet your New Jersey girl standards, but no, I don't have orange skin, a bump in my hair, and I am not DTF.

11. Pork Roll

Whether you call it pork roll or Taylor Ham, we can all agree that is is the best thing to put on an egg and cheese on a bagel. No morning is complete without one of these.

12. Hoagies

Oh how heavenly hoagies are, especially from places like Wawa. 6inch, foot long, it doesn't matter, they're all delicious. And they're hoagies, not subs.

13. Being in an hour distance of the shore, the city, and the mountains

We might be considered the arm pit of the country, but that doesn't make any sense. We are close to beautiful beaches, the mountains, and Philadelphia and New York City. We have everything here!

14. BB&T Pavilion (Or the Susquehanna Bank Center)

You're not from South Jersey if you haven't taken the Riverline to Camden for a concert at the BB&T Pavilion. The food is overpriced and alcohol cops take their jobs too seriously, but its still one of the best places to spend your Saturday night.

15. There's more to Atlantic City than gambling

Atlantic City is known for nothing other than its miraculous casinos, but theres so much more than that. They have beautiful beaches, a great boardwalk, and huge shopping outlets where you can spend all your money made at the casinos.

16. It's Jersey, not Joisey

We don't all have a thick "Jersey" accent. In fact, I have never met someone who says "Joisey". I don't know where this stereotype came from, but it needs to go right now.

17. Prom Weekend

Prom weekend is the weekend after prom where all high school students go down the shore and party until school that next week. Many will rent houses on the beach that ultimately will get trashed from head to toe. Railings will break, people will get sick, and people will get belligerent. Best weekend of high school though!

18. Malls EVERYWHERE

Shopping malls are not scarce in New Jersey. There are three large malls in a fifteen minute radius of my house, and many other when you drive just a little farther. I may be broke, but I still love walking around and wishing I could afford all the cute clothes. These malls were also the best hangout spots between the ages of 13-16. Every weekend... Let's go to the mall!

If you don't want to visit New Jersey after reading this, you might need to get checked out.