If you're from Bergen County, New Jersey, there is nothing in the world that you enjoy more than being home. As they say, "No one knows Jersey like Jersey knows Jersey", but let's be real: No one knows Bergen County like Bergen County knows Bergen County. Growing up, we all did pretty much the same things, and despite how cringey it may be, we're all gonna participate in our "201 rituals" when we come home for winter break; no matter how hard we try to deny it.
You come home for break. Your first Saturday home, you're going to go to your local bagel store and order an *insert choice meat*, egg and cheese on an everything bagel. This Saturday ritual will continue for every Saturday of break, regardless of how much weight you'll gain. We cannot take any bagel for granted. We've been deprived of them for months.
Following your Saturday morning bagel, Saturday night calls for a Route 17 Applebee's visit. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, it will happen. That's where your weekends were spent after every football game, and although there's no game, maybe you'll run into the usual Applebee's crew. You're going to act as though you don't remember your waiter's name, but there's no denying that you know every name of every waiter.
We may be in college, but what's a Saturday night without some Half-Price Apps at Applebee's? Or a trip to CARS? You can never go wrong with a Fat Tony or some mac and cheese bites. Or the milkshakes. Oh, the milkshakes.
Sunday comes around. You and your friends meet up in Ridgewood to catch the train to (where else?) New York City. You'll try to act tourist-y, but it won't really work given that you've been there more times than you can count (I mean, you live 10 minutes away). You'll stop by the tree, take ~that~ cliché picture in front of the tree, and like every friend group, you can count on a visit to The Sugar Factory.
You'll go to at least one of your high school's basketball games or wrestling matches, followed by pizza from your local pizzeria (because let's be real, we have the best pizza). Aside from that, you'll make sure to stop by your local deli to get an Italian hero (we have arguably the best delis around, also).
And we can't forget the diners. Whether it's two in the morning or noon on a Sunday, we have to appreciate our diners. We can't take those for granted either.
Overall, we are all one and the same. The 201 sticks together in all aspects of life, no matter how cringey they may be.
