After finishing my first two semesters at SUNY Oneonta and being a Long Islander myself, I've come to realize that upstate and the island are two very different places. Here 10 ten things that you're going to have to get used to if you're a Long Island native who's planning on heading upstate.
1. Where's the pizza, bagels, and Chinese restaurants?
Long Island isn't complete without having a strip mall at least every two miles containing a Chinese restaurant, bagel place, and pizzeria. Unfortunately, I believe this is only a reality on the island. This was something I had a very hard time adjusting to.
2. You no longer live on a pancake.
There are actual hills and mountains! Hiking will be your new favorite activity. When I came home for the first time over Thanksgiving break, it finally dawned on me just how flat Long Island is.
3. Anywhere you want to go is at least an hour and a half away.
You want to visit your friend at school? That's two and a half hours away. Albany? That's an hour and a half away. That cool gorge you want to visit? Two hours. Well, at least you don't have to worry about traffic.
4. You will be constantly praying that there's service while using your GPS.
Need I say more?
5. The beaches are lakes, and there's nothing salty about them.
As much as I love the ocean, I have to admit, swimming in a lake, and not being salty afterwards is pretty enticing. Also, just look at this view!
6. What's traffic?
Contrary to the headache that is the Long Island Expressway, upstate offers hours and hours of rolling hills and mountains with almost zero traffic. With the exception of the fall foliage insanity, bank on not having a problem getting where ever you need to go. As long as your GPS is working, it should be smooth sailing for you.
7. There are so many winter activities.
Do you like skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, ice fishing, etc.? The winter gives way to so many activities that are close to impossible to do on the Island. No matter where you are, a ski resort isn't more than two hours away.
8. The city is no longer a train ride away, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
There are so many scenic places to go upstate. While I was at school I visited Ithaca, Lake Gorge, Cooperstown, Woodstock, Howe Caverns, and discovered countless nature trails and beautiful lakes. I never really missed going to the city because there was so much to do where I was and I can go there whenever I want while I'm home.
9. Negative 10 degrees fahrenheit? No big deal!
You will experience a new type of cold, a cold you didn't know existed. Please, please, please make sure to start your car every day. You can thank me later.
10. An egg, sausage (or bacon), and cheese on a roll just isn't the same.
But the infamous cold cheese pizza is out of this world!
