New Jersey: home to the best diners, pizza, bagels, and of course, people. Us New Jerseyans are definitely unique and different from most people you’ve encountered––but we’re also super proud of where we’re from. Categorized into Northern, Southern, and arguably Central, we all love the Garden State and the amazing things it has to offer. From our notable accent to the constant comfort of twenty-four-hour diners, here are just a few things that make North Jersey extra special. Keep reading for 15 signs you’re from Northern Jersey!
1. You don’t “go to the beach”, you go down the shore.
No one really knows where this originated from or why it’s exclusively a Northern Jersey thing, but we say it loud and proud (like a typical New Jerseyan). It’s not just a phrase––it’s a way of life.
2. You live in the region that’s home to the best malls in New Jersey.
Short Hills, Rockaway, Willowbrook, and the king of all Jersey malls: Westfield Garden State Plaza. Most of us are lucky enough to live within 20 minutes of a mall, so a cute outfit and a greasy food court are just a short drive away.
3. Early morning and late night diner dates occur on a weekly basis.
Though this isn’t just a northern Jersey thing, it’s a defining characteristic of any New Jerseyan (at least a REAL one). Diners are the perfect place for just about anything: breakfast with friends, late night bite after a party, first dates, group hangouts. Nowhere else reminds you more of home than the diner.
4. You love Taylor ham, NOT pork roll…in fact, you don’t even know what pork roll is.
Like the South has barbecue, we have Taylor ham…and we don’t mess around with it. Whether it’s served with eggs and home fries or in a THEC (for the non-New Jerseyans, a Taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwich), it’s an integral part of our culture.
5. You love going to the city.
This might not be true for everyone, but you’ve definitely gone to the city at some point. Thanks to the trusty NJTransit, NYC is just a train ride away (or a short car ride away if you’re patient enough to deal with traffic). And after a long, busy day in the city, we get to return to our (for the most part) quiet suburban lives back in New Jersey.
6. In the summer you shred waves, but in the winter you shred slopes.
New Jerseyans are fortunate enough to experience all the seasons, the best one being winter (obviously). Sweaters, fuzzy socks, hot chocolate, and of course…SNOW! Snow is probably the most exciting feature of winter since it allows for ski trips (or snowboarding trips, if that’s what you’re into), snowball fights, and snow days!
7. You know a lot of Italians.
When most people think of New Jersey, they think of the popular MTV show ‘Jersey Shore’. Some may find that offensive (especially since big stars, like Snooki and JWoww, aren’t even Italian!)… but we do have A LOT of Italians. In fact, 20% of our population is made up of Italians. And you guessed it, most of them are concentrated in the north.
8. You’ve eaten some of the best Italian food America has to offer.
Along with our large Italian population comes incredible Italian cuisine. Here in Jersey, if we want pizza, we don’t go to Domino’s…we go to our local pizzeria (no, not Pizza Hut either). I’m talking family-run businesses, some being generations old. These establishments serve up authentic Italian food that no chain can beat.
9. You don’t go to Wawa, you go to Quick Chek.
If there’s one thing South Jersey (and “Central Jersey”) does better than us, it’s their choice in convenience stores. It’s no lie that Wawa is the ultimate convenience store; they have any snack you could ever want and more. From F’real milkshakes to freshly made subs, they’ve got it all. Quick Chek’s great…but it’s no Wawa.
10. You’re proud to share a home with the Jonas Brothers.
Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, who are from South Jersey, are definitely timeless classics, but the Jonas Brothers were one of the biggest name bands of our time (by “our”, I mean us millennials). The teen heartthrobs eventually became A-list celebs, so being able to say you grew up in the same region as them is something to be pretty proud of.
11. You love hiking…or you absolutely hate it.
New Jersey is close to just about everything…beaches, cities, and yes, even mountains. When we go hiking, it’s pretty legit––not just climbing up a hill (that’s right I’m talking about you LA people). You walk and climb through miles and miles of woods on a barely paved trail, but the view from the top of the mountain is so worth it (at least most of the time).
12. You pronounce the names of certain things differently.
Two of the many words New Jerseyans are known to pronounce differently are ‘water’ and ‘coffee’. Luckily for us Northern folks, we actually say ‘water’ the right way: wot-er, not “wood-er”. However, we’re often associated with Staten Islanders and New Yorkers for calling our cup of joe “cawfee”.
13. You know driving in Jersey takes skill.
It’s no secret that New Jersey is notorious for having crazy drivers. We tend to speed, cut people off (and as a result, get beeped at and are given the finger), and deal with constant traffic due to accidents (go figure). Not to mention the complicated highways and jughandles…no wonder it’s so hard! But once you’ve mastered driving here, you know you can handle driving anywhere.
14. You know bagels from anywhere else other than New Jersey are gonna suck.
Like Taylor ham, bagels are a part of what makes a New Jerseyan, well…a New Jerseyan. Our bagels truly are perfection, with a chewy outer layer and a soft, fluffy inside. What sets our bagels apart from all other bagels isn’t the way they’re made, or what seasoning is used––it’s actually the water!
15. You know no matter where you end up, you’ll always have an amazing place with incredible memories to call home.
Going to college is one of the most exciting parts of your life. However, moving away from home, regardless of where you’re from, is extremely difficult. The people, food, and scenery are unlike that of anywhere else in the world, so saying goodbye definitely isn’t easy. But every time you come home, you just cherish the quirks and perks of New Jersey even more.
