Recently, I made the move from Sacramento, California to Warwick, Rhode Island. I have never lived outside of Northern California in my life, much less spent more than a week or two away from the West Coast. And boy, I readied myself for the culture shock of moving East. I don't think I was ready for just how strange everything would be. I pride myself on my ability to adapt to change quickly, but some things about this little state have me laughing in disbelief. Whether you're a native Rhode Island-er or an out-of-state transplant like myself, no one can deny just how unique and quirky everything about Rhode Island is. Don't worry though, it's all part of the charm.

1. It has the longest name of any state

Rhode Island is just a nickname, apparently, as the full name is Rhode Island and The Providence Plantations. And yes, that is on the top of all official state documents.

2. It's the smallest state

But it has a pretty big attitude. The name may be longer than the width of the state.

3. Despite the name, it is not an island

But it does have some islands.

4. No one is willing to drive more than 15 minutes

For a point of reference, my daily life in California was spread out over an area the size of Rhode Island. But here, driving more than 15 minutes constitutes "packing a lunch."

5. Coffee milk

Who the hell made this the official drink of Rhode Island? It's just coffee syrup and milk. Why not just drink coffee with milk and sugar? (I may be biased since I drink neither coffee nor dairy milk, but it's still weird.)

6. Lobster is sold at McDonald's

It makes sense since it is so readily available out here, but for a girl from California this is a shock to my system. On the West Coast if you want lobster you better be ready to fork over some serious cash and put on your nice shoes.

7. Bubblers

The first time someone told me they needed to find a "bubblah" I wasn't sure if they were using some sort of code or if I had stopped understanding English. For non-Rhode Islanders, a Bubbler is a drinking fountain.

8. Unpredictable driving etiquette

Some days someone will wave you through on a busy street. On others, they'll honk at you for stopping at a stop sign. The line between incredibly polite and inexplicably angry is very thin here.

9. City names

This might also be my favorite thing about Rhode Island (aside from how beautiful it is). Names like Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Chepachet, and Narragansett are just so fun to say and there is no way it won't make you smile a little bit.

10. The unique accent

It's nothing like New York or Jersey, but it is definitely a distinct East Coast sound.

11. Everyone thinks they're meaner than they are

Every Rhode Islander I've met has been the nicest, yet they all seem to think Rhode Island as a whole is full of jerks (I'm feeling very lucky to have only encountered genuinely kind people so far).

12. No liquor at grocery stores

I don't personally find this to be weird, but my mother insisted I include it.

13. More weird names for common items

Because bubblers weren't enough, a shopping cart is also called a carriage.

14. The amount of construction is overwhelming

There's a saying that RI has two seasons, winter and construction. I'm starting to really believe this.

15. This state is really just a Fall Out Boy song

Because so many things are named very loosely. Number three on the list of confusing names is "cabinet." What is a cabinet you ask? Well, aside from being a storage space made of wood, it is also a term Rhode Islanders use to refer to a milkshake. Makes no sense.

16. Weirdest college mascot goes to...

The Rhode Island School of Design, for their 100% real mascot, Scrotie the Nads.

17. Party pizzas

Parties and pizza are two of my favorite things, but a party pizza is almost like the creation of a drunk college student. It's just frozen pizza crust with pizza sauce on top. No cheese or toppings, and it's often eaten cold.

18. Weird laws still apply

For some strange reason, it is written that no person may be sold a toothbrush and toothpaste on the same Sunday. Hmmm.

19. No one seems to realize just how pretty their state is

Every time I mention that I moved from California, I get the same reaction: "Why?!" Believe it or not Rhode Island is gorgeous. Lots of Californians think the same thing too