Going to college is hard. Going to college out-of-state is even harder.
With the obvious reasons of being away from your family and friends, you also have to learn to adapt to the new state and its odd (but only odd to you) features. I, personally, ventured from the busy, fast-paced New Jersey to the calm, low-energy state of Maine. I never thought going from the tri-state area to New England would be a big chance, but it definitely was. I had to learn things about the state that I never thought I would have to know. Adjusting to a new place can certainly be difficult, especially if almost everyone else is already adapted to the environment.
Here are a few things that everyone who is an out-of-state college student from New Jersey thinks about:
1. “I have to pump my own gas?”
In New Jersey, it’s actually illegal to pump your own gas due to the Retail Gasoline Dispensing Safety Act that was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in 1949. New Jerseyans drive up to a gas pump where an attendant who’s been through training pumps gas for the driver. Driving up to Maine for college for the first time was definitely a learning experience; it took my mother and me about 5 minutes to figure out how to pump the gas. It’s easy for New Jersey citizens to just sit in our cars where it’s nice and cozy, and it’s especially nice when it’s the middle of winter and we could stay inside a heated vehicle while other people do the work for us.
2. “I miss Wawa, good pizza and a proper bagel."
There is no Wawa in Maine. There are no good bagel places in Maine (or Pork Roll/Taylor Ham). There are no decent pizza places in Maine. Around every corner in New Jersey, you’re going to find one (or all three) of these delicious locations. New Jersey, by far, has the best pizza and bagels, and absolutely no other state can compare. Your state may have some good qualities, but I bet it doesn’t have a Wawa around every corner.
3. “Why does everyone think I have an accent?”
For some reason, everyone in Maine seems to think I have a New Jersey/New York accent, but obviously, I don’t believe I have an accent because it’s just how everyone in New Jersey speaks. People seem to believe how I speak is similar to how those in MTV’s Jersey Shore speak. I promise you, my “accent” doesn’t even compare to the accent that Mainers have. No matter what state you go to college in, more likely than not, someone is going to think you have an accent. It’s just best to go along with it and let them think what they want.
4. “I don’t know how to pronounce ANY of these towns.”
While driving up to Maine, I’ve realized that I don’t know how to properly pronounce any town names, and not just in the state of Maine. I’ve lived in New Jersey my whole life, so I know how to pronounce all of the little towns correctly. Going to any other state is always such a challenge because I end up butchering the town name and probably insulting so many people.
5. “New Jersey is better than [insert ANY state here].”
Growing up, I hated on New Jersey so much. After going to college in a different state, I have learned to appreciate everything the Garden State has to offer. New Jersey is a big community where so many residents have such enthusiastic spirit and New Jersey pride.
