Dunkin' on every corner, not being allowed to pump your own gas, and a ban on plastic bags.
These are just some of the things that out-of-state students have come to expect of the Garden State.
There’s just so much that's different about New Jersey, so much internal conflict, that it feels like a whole other country, and it can be a lot to bear.
Taylor Boyd, a freshman anthropology major from Texas, has experienced this division.
“I feel [New Jersey’s] identity is divided,” Boyd said. “The Taylor ham versus pork roll, Central Jersey, down the shore versus going to the beach… I just never see Jersey people agree on anything.”
It’s not just those either. Hoagie or a sub? A cheesesteak with or without? Not to mention sprinkles are called “jimmies.” These types of debates have long rocked New Jersey. Luckily, it seems like most out-of-state students are not pressured to pick a side.
Cameron Harris, a sophomore finance and sports marketing major from Clearwater, Florida, also noted the pork roll versus Taylor ham debate.
“Everyone kept bringing up the pork roll-Taylor ham thing,” Harris said. “I thought that was a weird thing to obsess about.”
Others have their own strategies that involve themselves in the chaos.
“I just pick whichever one the majority is not going for to piss them off,” Boyd said.
New Jersey’s vast cultural differences are not the only things being noted, though. There’s also the stark difference between New Jersey and other states, as Isabella Tungjaroenkul, a freshman biology and physics major from Kansas, mentioned.
“A lot of things that are interpreted as rude in Kansas are seen as polite in New Jersey,” Tungjaroenkul said. “The easiest example is y’all’s usage of honking. You guys honk as a warning or a ‘oh you go first’ or ‘use the crosswalk.’ In Kansas, you don’t honk until after you already crashed.”
Edward Barber, a junior marketing major from Pennsylvania, has also noted the differences between South Orange and his home.
“The area I’m from is very suburban compared to here, so I was expecting a more urban environment overall,” he said. “I would definitely say I got that. I mean, you can take a train right up into New York City.”
One thing each student had in common, no matter where they’re from, was intense pride and passion for their home state. Everyone sang the praises of their home. It’s no different for New Jersey, either.
“I think a lot of people are proud that they’re from New Jersey,” Barber said. “I think New Jersey has a very strong culture when it comes to that.”
These current out-of-state students say to bundle for both the weather and the dialogue.
“Honestly, it depends on where they’re coming from,” Tungjaroenkul said. “But I’d say expect it to be colder than you’re used to.”
Matthew Koroski is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. He can be reached at matthew.koroski@student.shu.edu.
