Staten Island is often referred to as the forgotten borough. People constantly confuse us with Long Island, and some people do not even consider us a part of NYC. If you're from Staten Island, you learn to have a love-hate relationship with the little island.
Here are some things that you know if you're from Staten Island:
1. 7 miles could take you 30 minutes to drive.
2. No one has diners like we have. Staten Island is one of the only places where you could get a great quality meal at the diner.
3. Everyone complains about it, but after being away from Staten Island, you learn to appreciate it.
4. You can find something to eat 24/7. The city never completely shuts down.
5. Everyone knows everyone.
6. You say, "Everyone and their mother is here," despite that being so grammatically incorrect.
7. The battle of high schools is more intense than any rivalry on television or in the movies.
8. Ralph's Ices is a summertime staple, and you feel bad that people off Staten Island don't know what it is.
9. You refer to Staten Island as "the island."
10. Everyone is Italian, claims they're Italian, or wants to be Italian!
11. We have the BEST pizza, hands down, bar none.
12. Your accent comes out when you're super pissed off.
13. It annoys the living shit out of you when someone doesn't pronounce mozzarella, marinara, or calamari the "right" way.
14. Everyone knows an Anthony or a Joseph.
15. Sweet Sixteens are more intense, elaborate, and expensive than weddings in places outside NYC.
16.You know that the Conference House and the Old Bermuda Inn are haunted no matter what anyone says.
17. You travel to New Jersey for the beaches and Jose Tejas . . . and you wish they'd open a Jose on the island.
18. You have a million "cousins" that aren't quite your biological cousins, but if anyone questions it, you'll fight them.
19. Everyone claims they're originally from Brooklyn.
20. Little league baseball is more important than the MLB here, and rivalry of the little leagues is very intense.
21. Potholes are EVERYWHERE. They're totally and completely inescapable.
22. We refer to Manhattan as "the city."
23. You constantly need to combat stereotypes.
24. There's a constant battle between the North Shore and the South Shore.
25. You make fun of Staten Island, but if a non-Staten-Islander takes a stab at our precious little island, all hell will break loose.
26. We're known for having a drug epidemic, but we're working super hard to fix it. (Shoutout to Alicia, the amazing Addiction Angel)!!!!!
Although you may complain about the island, you realize that there is no place you would have wanted to grow up. We have amazing, caring, loving people, and a handful of wackjobs to keep us entertained.
