If I had a dollar for every time I had to apologize for not being familiar with something during my first year at Birmingham-Southern College, I would have more money than half of Mountain Brook (kidding... maybe). The transition from New Jersey to Alabama is one that comes with a huge culture shock and a lot of learning in the moment. Here are just a few of the things I picked up on along the way. Keep in mind, I’m sorry; I’m just a Yankee from New Jersey.
Chacos
I was first introduced to these ‘Jesus sandals’ on the first day of fall orientation. My sister and I wondered how people, both girls and guys alike, could strap these hideous things to their feet. I knew I would never, ever put them on mine. Well three years, four music festivals, countless hikes and mixers later, I have to admit that I have changed my mind. I will never say that Chacos are the most fashionable shoes, but I will say that they are a necessary Southern staple. I have to apologize to Chacos here for my quick judgment. I am terribly sorry, I’m from New Jersey.
Pumping Your Own Gas
Learning how to pump my own gas was quite a struggle, one that my friends found hilarious. During the snowy days of the winter in New Jersey, I sit in my heated car while a gas attendant pumps my gas. I may sound like a diva, but in Jersey it's illegal to pump your own gas. Many of my friends from Alabama think this is stupid but I always argue that we are creating jobs. I have to be honest here and admit that I probably appreciate sitting in my air-conditioned car in the middle of July more than job creation but sorry, I’m from New Jersey.
The Cheese Pizza vs. The Plain Pie
When I order pizza in my home state, I order “One plain pie.” After some confusion, I realized that in order to get “one plain pie” in Alabama you have to say you want “a cheese pizza.” Never before did I have to specify that I wanted cheese on my pizza. I still can't figure that one out because pizza always has cheese, without it you’re eating some sort of weird flattened bread with sauce. I will also always argue that Jersey has the greatest pizza in the world, but that could be a whole other article. Sorry but I want a plain pie, because I’m from New Jersey.
Yes Ma’am and No Sir
Growing up in New Jersey “yeah” can be your response to anyone for anything, without thinking twice. In Alabama, I quickly learned that “yeah” is not the proper response to your professors, cafeteria workers, campus police officers, or athletic director. I think people actually froze and panicked for an entire minute when I casually replied “yeah” to our athletic director at a football game my freshman year. I tried to point out that I grew up in a world where “Yes Ma’am” is only reserved for people over the age of eighty and if you have no idea what her name is. I now understand that “Yes Ma’am” and “No Sir” are terms of respect in the South. I still find “Yes Ma’am” to be unnecessary and awkward but sorry to all of the people I offended, I’m from New Jersey.
Lilly Pulitzer
I have to apologize to the South because this is something we are just going to have to agree to disagree about. The first time my mom saw Lilly she described it as “something my old aunt from Florida with zero fashion sense would wear” and I agree. Lilly is ugly and that is my opinion. I am aware that I just offended about ninety-percent of the women below the Mason-Dixon Line with that one. Sorry, I’m from New Jersey.
If there is one thing I've learned these past few years it is that sometimes you have to just roll with the differences. I am not sorry I'm from New Jersey, and never will be. However, the state of Alabama has definitely taught me much more than how to put gas in my car by myself. I've adapted to the South in ways some people would not believe but I will never lose the Jersey part of me. So thank you New Jersey and thank you Alabama for this weird combination I've become.
