Seated right across the Hudson River is New Jersey, a small sister state to New York that aspires to be a sixth borough.
New Jersey is known for many things, such as its beautiful beaches, its ban on pumping your own gas, its proximity to NYC, and how easy it is to travel there.
Many New Jerseyans eventually become NYC transplants, either moving to or commuting from home to work in the city, which is all good at the end of the day. But here are 8 telltale signs that you’re representing Dirty Jerz in NYC.
1. The last train home determines your night out
Sure, New York may be the city that never sleeps, but New Jersey definitely knows when to call it a night. You realize that the last train home is basically your curfew.
Also, let’s talk about transferring to the train that comes once every hour at Secaucus Junction. You’ll either head home around midnight, or you’ll be on the first train of the day when the sun rises. So with only seconds left until your train departs, you’ll jump down stairs and knock people over on the escalator in a fit of asthmatic rage... but there’s no doubt that you’ll be on the last train.
2. Your accent blends in
Anywhere else in the country, you’ll be outed for your pronunciations of “cawfee” and the toughness that accentuates your voice, but not in New York!
Just don’t give yourself away by asking for “wudder” instead of “wAH-ter.”
3. You cringe when New Yorkers act like New Jersey is so far away
When you tell New Yorkers you hail from the Garden State, they may be totally baffled by you and how you ended up here.
Sometimes, it almost seems like New Jersey is a far-away, magical land that totally isn’t separated from the city by the Hudson River or anything like that.
4. You think NJ pizza and bagels can compete with NYC pizza and bagels
The west and south might have their own ideas about what a “New York style” bagel or pizza is, but you definitely think that your home state has some bragging rights in these categories.
You may even be surprised to find that you prefer your beloved Jersey slice of home to NYC pizza. No disrespect to Artichoke Basille’s, of course.
5. Your relationship to NYC is proportional to where in Jersey you’re from
If you come from Northern New Jersey and the city is only a quick train or bus ride away from you, you find yourself telling strangers that you were “practically raised in NYC!” As you make your way down the state, the chances of you basically being a New Yorker become slimmer and slimmer.
Perhaps it was the two hour, thirty dollar bus ride that kept you away-- or maybe your urban allegiance is to... Philadelphia (barf).
6. You think Jersey should have claim to the Giants and Jets
Any NYC sports fan should know that the Jets and the Giants don’t play in the city-- they play in East Rutherford, NJ!
The New Jersey folk demonstrate a sense that the Jets and Giants partially belong to them, and how can you blame them when they provide the home turf for the football games, right?
7. Bridge and tunnel traffic ruins your life
Bridge and tunnel traffic is known to break the spirits of the strongest people. Remember 2013‘s infamous Bridge-gate scandal? It may not be THAT bad on a daily basis, but getting to places on time by car or by bus has the tendency to become your worst nightmare.
Patience is not a virtue common in both New Jerseyans and New Yorkers. When you’re on the bus and the estimated time to get into the Port Authority is “fifteen minutes to two hours,” you usually end up walking to where you need to go.
8. Going to the city used to be magical, now it’s a part of reality
It started when you were just a little kid, full of excitement and wonder as your parents took you to your first Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
When you were a teen, you felt super cool and free from your parents when you got to go to the city with a group of friends without parental supervision. Now, when your alarm rings at 7 a.m. every morning, you feel a little disillusioned and grumpy about going to work.
You're always happy to go, though, because while the Garden State is home... there really is no place like NYC.