Moving from the big bright lights of New York City to the small street lit town of Lawrenceville, New Jersey was quite the culture shock coming into my freshman year of college. Here are a few things to expect moving from a big city to a small town for college.
1. Driving is actually a thing.
Hopping into the elevator and walking three blocks to the subway, or walking in general is almost the quickest form of transportation in a big city, but in a small town the nearest pizza place is a five minute drive instead of a block away... it's weird.
2. Nothing is open passed 11.
In the city I can start my night with dinner at 9 p.m., drinks at 12 a.m., and a midnight snack at a time closer to very early morning. In the suburbs I'm lucky to find a Wawa open passed 12 a.m.
3. Left turns stopped being a thing (at least in Jersey).
On the rare occasion that I drive in New York it's mostly to Connecticut, or within the state where i can turn left at a green light into a neighborhood or into a parking lot... In Jersey if you make a left turn, be prepared to see flashing lights behind you because you're about to get pulled over. Left turns aren't a thing.
4. Constellations really exist.
The only stars I see in the city are the ones coming off the top of the Empire State Building or from Times Square. Out here in Jersey it's stars galore, I even found the big dipper one night.. so cool!
5. Where is everyone?
Whether I'm walking down the street at 6 p.m. or 2 a.m. the streets of the city are filled with people coming from work or going to the bar. In Lawrenceville if you are driving after 1 in the morning it's only you and the hungry cops looking to give out tickets on the lonely, lonely roads.
6. Nice police officers exist!
Never before have I met a police officer that was not rude or nasty, but out here they are actually decent people. After accidentally cutting a cop off and having him drive really close to the back of my car, I pulled over. When I rolled down the window he said "Can I help you?" and I said "No sir, I thought you were pulling me over." and he responded with "No, of course not! Have a nice night." Never have I ever thought I would meet a nice cop!
To those moving from the big city to a small area, it isn't all bad!
