I'm Jersey born, Jersey raised, going to school in Pennsylvania. I'm not going to get into any sort of Jersey debates here, just want to share a few things I experience on a day to day basis regarding my home state...
1. "What's 'cawfee'??? Do you wawlk ya dawg in the pawk???"
I hear this on the daily, and I get that I have a bit of a Jersey accent. After a week of hearing this each time I brew a cup with my Keurig, it gets a little old. I remember I would make these stupid jokes to my friend from north Jersey... I am so sorry, Sam. And yes, I do "wawlk my dawg in the park", buddy.
2. "So like, Jersey Shore?"
NO! Not even a little bit... Not even at all! The cast of Jersey Shore is all bennies, hailing primarily from New York. Except for Sammi, who was from central, and was relatively harmless... But that's beside the point. It's just a stereotype from a shitty TV show that has nothing to do with the people that actually live in Jersey.
3. "What part of Jersey?"
People from Jersey love hearing what part you're from. Unless you're actually involved in the whole north vs. south debate. However, what I tell you depends on what you tell me. I usually say "Oh, right by LBI," "Exit 63," or "by the beach," to people that don't know my area. In reality, I'm from a town called Manahawkin in Ocean County.
4. "Oh wow! I'm from (town 15 minutes from me)!"
Hearing this exclamation while living in another state is honestly so comforting. Not a single person from my high school goes to my college (which is pretty sweet), so I don't see anyone from back home. It's nice hearing that someone came from somewhere relatively close to you and also knows these kinds of struggles.
5. "You're from Jersey?? But you're so-"
Don't even finish that sentence. You're going to tell me I'm so nice, good, classy, etc. for being from New Jersey. People that say this are typically from New York or Philly and have never stepped foot in the Garden State. Don't judge me because of where I'm from.
6. "Jersey drivers suck."
Okay, this is true. But I'm a good driver, just a little fast sometimes... But at least I park on the right side of the street. Between the parkway, highways, back streets, dirt roads, and everything in between, Jersey drivers have a lot to work with. Plus, can you get anywhere in your state within two hours? I think not.
7. "My (family member) is from New Jersey!"
Congrats, I'm sure they're a lovely human being, but I probably don't know who they are. NJ may be small, but it's not that small. My graduating class was almost 500 kids, and I barely knew the names of all of them.
