Whether you come from a small town that no one's ever heard of or you've always been a city slicker, moving to Pittsburgh is a one-of-a-kind experience. The first time I ever drove across one of the many golden bridges that lead you into the city, I had a feeling this place would become my home away from home. Moving away from home is a different experience for everyone, whether it's to go to college, start a new job, or just to start over. The people here are friendly, and the bustling, career-oriented city is more than welcoming, but if you're anything like me, you'd probably like to know a little more about the city you're going to be living in. For those thinking of relocating to the Steel City, here are a few things you need to know about life in the 'Burgh from the eyes of an outsider.
1. You will walk everywhere:
Pack your good sneakers. In fact, pack two pairs, because in most cases, walking is the best way to get to where you need to be. This is not only the city of bridges, but the city of HILLS. Your glutes and calves have never, nor will they ever, look as good as they do when living in Pittsburgh.
2. Pittsburghese is a real language:
If yinz aren't doing dahntahn to watch the Stillers game, then you're doing Pittsburgh all wrong. Yes, these words are real and, yes, people use them on a daily basis. The first time I ever heard someone use "Yinz" (a substitute for "you all"), I asked, "What the heck is a yinz?" If you're curious or confused, any Pittsburgh native would be obliged to fill you in on their unique slang.
3. Pittsburgh sports are not a joke:
As a serious Philadelphia sports fan, I solemnly swore that moving west would not compromise my loyalty to my teams, and while I'll never root for Pittsburgh teams, I do have a little respect for die-hard Pittsburgh sports fans. What I've learned is that if you aren't from around here, you should stand firm in your beliefs that your city's teams are the best, but that also shouldn't hold you back from experiencing a Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins game, even if you refuse to don black and gold.
4. An accurate weather forecast doesn't exist:
Here in Pittsburgh, one could experience winter, spring, summer, and fall all in single day. On any given October day, you could be wearing shorts because it's still miraculously 70 degrees. It's best to expand your wardrobe in order to be prepared for any weather during any time of the year, because you might still need that knee-length puffer coat in April when it randomly decides to snow again.
5. There is always something to do:
If you are the type that likes to always be doing something, you've chosen the right city to live in. Living downtown puts you within 10 minutes of all the major sports stadiums, dozens of restaurants in Market Square or Station Square, vendors in the Strip District, and cultural venues such as the Benedum Center theater or the Carnegie Museum of Art. Pittsburgh's beauty and cool urban vibe never disappoints.
